Fatimus keys balanced attack as Poland issues royal beating
Published: Sun, January 17, 2010 @ 12:00 a.m.By Joe Scalzo
POLAND — Inside the Poland locker room after Saturday’s 85-60 win over Streetsboro, several Bulldog players sang along with the hip-hop song playing overhead while donning Burger King crowns on their heads.
“We had to get our crown back,” said senior Luke Wollet, smiling.
Ten months removed from a heartbreaking loss to the Rockets in the district final, this year’s Bulldogs are looser, closer and even more talented.
Most importantly, they’re better.
“Hubbard kind of stole our mystique last year,” said Poland coach Ken Grisdale, referring to an 81-78 loss to the Eagles last January that set the tone for a disappointing season. “Then Streetsboro stole our crown.”
Looking out of his offices at the Burger King crowns, Grisdale shrugged and said, “You’ve always got to use your angles to motivate.”
For all of the talent on last year’s team, it was still a junior-heavy roster that never quite resolved the individual vs. team dynamic. Wollet has admitted as much.
“This year feels different,” he said. “I’m sure it looks different, too.”
At times last winter, Grisdale lost sleep worrying that the most talented class of his tenure would fall short of its potential.
Not this year.
“I said this year, ‘I’m not going to worry about it. I’m just going to do the best I can.’ ”
The Bulldogs (8-0) dominated Streetsboro from the start on Saturday, opening a 27-14 lead after one quarter and leading by as many as 31 down the stretch.
The Rockets (6-2) lost four key players to graduation and another returning starter to a back injury, but after getting two talented transfers, they’re still pretty good. But while Streetsboro’s guards did OK against Poland’s pressure, it had no one to finish near the basket.
“Any time you come in here against a Poland team, you know you’re going to get a great look against a great team, a well-coached team that’s going to bring a lot of pressure at you,” said Streetsboro coach Todd Muckleroy. “That’s good for our kids to see.
“Win or lose, it’s a win situation for us.”
Leon Hedgepeth scored 17 to lead Streetsboro, while Ben Gency scored 13 with seven rebounds and four assists.
Senior Niko Fatimus scored 18 points to lead Poland, which managed to score 85 points while shooting just 33 of 77 from the field.
“That’s the worst we shot all year,” said Grisdale. “But we played hard and we competed.
“I’m very pleased with the effort.”
Senior David Baker added 14 points and seven rebounds and junior Darius Patton had 14 points off the bench.
Wollet, meanwhile, had four steals, three assists and two rebounds but scored just two points due to foul trouble.
“It wasn’t my night,” he said, shrugging. “It was someone else’s night. That’s why we have 12 guys.”
Grisdale did play a 12-man rotation with 10 different players scoring, experimenting with different lineups in the second half. He’s still discovering what works best.
“I still have to figure out how to put all the pieces together,” said Grisdale, who has led three Poland teams to the state semifinals. “In the second half, I was mixing and matching more than I usually do.
“The chemistry is getting better. We’re far from where I think we can be.
“But I like the path we’re on.”
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