The Cats are currently sitting at 4-2, with a 2-0 conference record.

They have a 52-43 win over Canfield, and a 70-55 win in Poland. The other wins were 81-79 in Liberty and a 19 point win in Campbell.

Their losses came against Lakeview 61-58 and in Salem 64-57. Jake Jacubec didn't play against Lakeview. I don't know what happened against Salem.

They've yet to play Howland, and Fitch will probably be a tough game as well. They don't play Poland again until February.

Thoughts?

They are playing decent, but nothing like last year.

Lots of good competition left including Howland twice, @ Fitch, @ Canfield, Strong Vincent, @ Liberty, and even though Poland is @ home lots of things can happen. BL might even give them a test.

Worst case scenario is about 12-8, however I could see them going 15-5 or better. If Jake stays healthy and the rest continue to improve, it'll be another great season for the Wildcats.

Best of luck to the Cats!

I agree, even Schmidt is putting up some numbers.. one BIG prob,....
NO INSIDE GAME!!!

Oh and Btrev, they also beat hubbard by 8
5-2

Forgot about that one. 5-2, 3-0.

I still haven't made it to a game yet this year. I did watch the Canfield game on TV. I'll get to one eventually... maybe Beaver Local.

Struthers improved to 6-2 (4-0) with a 79-71 win over Beaver Local tonight.

The Cats have 4 straight on the road, before coming home to play Campbell on 1/17. They have a big week next week, traveling to Howland on Tuesday, and then traveling to Fitch on Friday.

I can see them winning the conference and going to canton again, must stay hot from the perimeter when they get there tho, when they are hitting i dont see anyone around here beating them "excludes Warren Harding"

Anyone with size in the low post that gets good perimeter D out of their guards is very capable of beating them. I think Ursuline could take them, in addition to WGH. As for everyone else... there's bound to be a Dark Horse looming in the tournemant.

I agree though. They're definitely capable of making another run to Canton... IF they stay hot from behind the arch.

Howland will probably be their stiffest competition in the regular season.

I say... anywhere from 16-6 to 19-3. They still have a lot of tough games ahead of them. They still have to play Howland twice, Fitch twice, and poland again. Strong Vincent is there too.

Jake Jacubec is so smooth. He's going to get his... the success of the team will ride on the health of #3, and the support he gets from Sapp, Schmitt, Grewe, Kimbrough, and everyone else. Jake makes everything go... but he can't do it by himself.

Love seeing Struthers be one of the premier basketball programs in the area. Not Poland, not Canfield, Struthers!

Myvalleysports.com has the Cats beating Howland tonight 73-62 @ Howland. If correct, I'd say they are playing very well now.

Great job Wildcats!!! Bring on Fitch.

Spread All Day;1037093 wrote:Love seeing Struthers be one of the premier basketball programs in the area. Not Poland, not Canfield, Struthers!

You're not alone. I love it! Knowing what little respect people from Poland and Canfield used to show for Struthers at the basketball games, just makes it that much sweeter.

Sav has done a hell of a job. I couldn't be prouder.

Now the football program just needs to turn the corner.

The kids who play basketball play together as one Jacubec makes the team go round but he also trusts his teammates to knock down shots, they have been in foul trouble in a couple games this year and fought through it, Beat Poland at Poland Howland at Howland and Canfield at Canfield.

I thought they beat Canfield at home.

Still, they started out 0/12, despite some good looks and nice shots, and only scored 1 point in the 1st, and still beat Canfield by 9.

If they can make it through the next 3 games with only 1 loss, or unscathed, they'll be in great shape for the rest of the season.

Yeah it was at home, forgot about that one i went to it too! But yeah i agree they will have their downs in certain games just like every team does as long as they get hot come tourney time. If only we had a football coach who cared this much, maybe we do? Time will tell

To get to Canton they likely would have to beat Salem, and Salem already beat them. I think the guards from both teams match up fairly well but the Quakers have a pretty good size differential down low. No doubt Jacubec is one of the best around though, and if they are hitting the 3 ball then they are dangerous.

The Cats did not play all that well at Boardman last year. The district final I went to, we were lucky to win against Poland. Did not shoot the ball well against Mooney either.

It will depend like you say....if they start hitting 3's.....look out.
The three top teams at Boardman look like Struthers, Poland and Salem. The field is fairly even and I wouldn't be surprised if a darkhorse shows up.

Another thing about Salem. They've been giving away games this season. If they could've held on to leads, their record with be quite different.

Personally, I'd love to see a Struthers-Salem final.

Go Cats!

You are correct, the Quakers ought to be 6 - 1. They blew double digit leads against 3 teams that they should have put away, but I think some of that came from being relatively young. When they have it rolling they can play pretty well. Anyhow, I am sure Poland will find a way to be in the mix as well, as noted above.

Poland has tradition for decades. They'll be there without a doubt.

They will give either Struthers or Salem a rough time. They don't back down, especially in the tournament. Last year we clobbered them at Struthers, however they nearly beat us in the finals. They play better at Boardman than their own place. They have great fan support which makes them dangerous any night in Boardman. They are also well coached, as usual. Always a quality team.

If they ought to be they would be.With them coming to our conference I have scouted and watched them plenty.They play a very quick game at times to their advantage but mostly against them.Turn the ball over and too many quick shots.Non exsistant inside game.Rebound pretty well.Actually do have a very athletic team.In the NBC you MUST play defense.This Salem team could be very dangerous by end of season and into tourney.

Struthers Fan;1040241 wrote:Poland has tradition for decades. They'll be there without a doubt.

They will give either Struthers or Salem a rough time. They don't back down, especially in the tournament. Last year we clobbered them at Struthers, however they nearly beat us in the finals. They play better at Boardman than their own place. They have great fan support which makes them dangerous any night in Boardman. They are also well coached, as usual. Always a quality team.

That gameplan Poland had was pathetic. They held the ball for at least 2 minutes every time. Poland Basketball lost respect from a lot of people in the area last year.
As for Salem, Struthers played awful.
I don't see that happening again.
Would be nice seeing a Struthers v Salem finale. But Salem is VERY inconsistent.

Struthers now 8-2 win over fitch

Struthers: 60
Fitch: 58

Next up, Niles.

2 Losses came to lakeview and salem, the lakeview game Jacubec did not play similar to the labrae loss last season and the salem game he was not 100 percent still sick with flu like symptoms, they are hitting all strides right now especially Jacubec getting 32 against howland and 30 against fitch.

IRISHBUCK;1041232 wrote:If they ought to be they would be.With them coming to our conference I have scouted and watched them plenty.They play a very quick game at times to their advantage but mostly against them.Turn the ball over and too many quick shots.Non exsistant inside game.Rebound pretty well.Actually do have a very athletic team.In the NBC you MUST play defense.This Salem team could be very dangerous by end of season and into tourney.

We'll see which Salem team shows up tonight; # 3 Alliance coming to town.