I think Hiland has a chance to win this one. Obviously they would have to bring their A game for 32 minutes. Could Hiland recieve a whipping? Yes. Will Hiland administer a whipping to Benedictine? No.

This will be a good measuring stick as to where this young team stands up to a more experienced and overall talented team. More than likely a greater overall talent than they will see during the tourney.

What does everyone else think?

I am looking to go to this game. I won't be getting up there until 6:30 - 7:00. To those of you up north that have been in Bennedictine's gym, will I have any risk of not getting in?

I do not know anything about Benedictine, I am sure thary are fast, quick and big. might see a different style of Hiland basketball (I have know idea just guessing). This I'm sure will be a good measuring stick and the timing is good, (late January) I see this game as a win/win regardless of the final score.
I'm not making the trip either, I think it will be broadcast on wklm, not sure about thevoice.

Game will be on "the voice"

How did this game get put together? Sounds like a great matchup.

I take my son to therapy right down from Benedictine....if anyone needs good directions, let me know.

^^ what way do you recommend?

Hope Hiland wins, but I don't expect them to....I will say Benedictine by 8.

From what I hear there will be several mismatches that Hiland will have to deal with. Dylan will have to go off and Noah needs to be feeling it. They will have to have a superb defensive effort.

Hiland's final four team from 07 went down to Dayton Dunbar, played a decent game and lost by 20. Benedictine is AP top 10 (if that actually means anything) and another unnamed HS forum has them 3rd in their power rankings. It was interesting to watch our 6'1" and 6'3" posts guard 6'9" and 6'10". They were giving up a little there!

i went up to the Massillon game vs Bendictine fri 1-29 . they are the real deal, a big time show boat team but i guess when u got that kind of talent u can be. they will not take us, at all serious i can tell u that, they acted like that against Massillon. i lost count of dunks after about 15. they love to go to the basket alot. didn't shoot alot of three's,alot of give and goes and back doors cuts and of course alot of alley-oop's for dunk's. they full court press the whole game and when u get across half court they like to trap u.the 6'5'' Wright is for real he had around 27 pt's, 6'7'' Harney about 19pt's, 6'1'' Jackson 12pt's he is very fast and can dunk. 6'6'' D'mato descent player only white guy.only played about two off the bench. they have 6'7'' fresh. played some i guess an ok player. we will have to hit from ouside better then we have been shooting or it will be long night. if we can get to the basket, we have to do alot of head and body fakes to get them off there feet.they like to sky at the first movement u make around the basket. we must big time take care of the ball against there press.would love to see Dylan get a dunk on them. all we can ask if our guys can give it there all, and see what happens. either way hoppfully it will make us a better team down the road. i'm going up with some friends of mine, i talk to AD they don't have very good following at home so it shouldn't a problem getting in, gym holds around thousand they say

Anyone want to post directions from New Philly? Me and the kid have nothing going on today, so I thought about making the trip.

Just be aware that Benedictine is in one of the worst neighborhoods in Cleveland.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,12187873686127125061&fb=1&hq=benedictine+high+school&hnear=cleveland&gl=us&daddr=2900+Martin+Luther+King+Junior+Drive,+Cleveland,+OH+44104-4898&geocode=11990495397118675682,41.479807,-81.610221&ei=l2dkS9iyOoOGlAeesYSUCg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQngIwAA

I-77 N 80.3 mi
Take exit 161B for I-490 toward I-480 W/I-71/Toledo E 55th St 0.2 mi
Keep right at the fork to continue toward I-490 E and merge onto I-490 E 0.5 mi
Turn left at E 55th St 0.2 mi
Take the 2nd right onto Grand Ave 0.3 mi
Turn right at Kinsman Rd 2.2 mi
Turn left at Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Benedictine will be on the left 0.7

2900 Martin Luther King Junior Drive, Cleveland, OH 44104-4898

Someone keep me posted on the score, am at an adoption fundraiser thingy with loud games kids so can't listen.

Beneditine wins don't remember exact score but it was by about 30.

That was brutal. Don't get me wrong, Hiland would lose 10 times out of 10 to those guys, but they played terrible and scared. I have never seen a Hiland team that gave up as many easy looks because of defensive breakdowns. That Benedictine team is very athletic, but was not a particularly good shooting team. The one thing they had was bulk....they just shoved Hiland defenders under the bucket and got easy put backs after a missed jump shot.

I expected Hiland to lose this game, but their guards were scared to even have the ball. Dylan Kaufman was one of the few bright spots as he was the only one that could physically play with any of the Bengal players.

Nice analysis Wes. Bottom line this helps Hiland thoughout their Tourney run. They schedule up to give their kids a dose of reality, agree?

^^^I think it does help them. A young team like Hiland does need to know that they are not unbeatable. My issue after seeing them against a team that was quicker than them is that they are sloppy with their passes and the ball handling is suspect at best. Also, in order to make a deep run in the tourney, they need more balance. It was Kaufman and that was about it tonight. I know another kid ended up with a bunch of points, but he never hit a shot until they were down by 20.

wes_mantooth wrote: That was brutal. Don't get me wrong, Hiland would lose 10 times out of 10 to those guys, but they played terrible and scared. I have never seen a Hiland team that gave up as many easy looks because of defensive breakdowns. That Benedictine team is very athletic, but was not a particularly good shooting team. The one thing they had was bulk....they just shoved Hiland defenders under the bucket and got easy put backs after a missed jump shot.

I expected Hiland to lose this game, but their guards were scared to even have the ball. Dylan Kaufman was one of the few bright spots as he was the only one that could physically play with any of the Bengal players.

I agree that the guards were very timid. As you said they were physically man handled around the rim. It was one shot and out for Hiland. Dyland did well. He and many on the team have a couple more years grow. Maybe this will help them become more physical. And two or three shots on possession for Benedictine. The Wright kid form Benedictine shot the ball well from 3pt range.

Hiland is young and Beneditine had some experinced 4yr starters that will be playing DI ball next yr. Hiland will look back on this and appreciate what it will teach them in the long run. They will not see a team with this level of talent any where in the tourney. This will give them plenty to work on.

Wes I was sitting down by the door where everyone would come in. I got a kick out of those Benny fans that were used to showing up and sitting down just prior to tipp off and had no reserved seats. There were several that walked in and were like, what the?

haha...yeah, and you had to appreciate all 15 people in their student section. I told my boy that I guarantee you that they have not seen a crowd like that in that place.

Also, I thought Hiland was going to start the game with the lead. The officials were talking about teeing up the Bengal players for a couple of dunks during warm ups.

All in all. Hiland played Dunbar in Dayton in 07. They do that for a reason. Anything short of a State Trip for them won't be sucessful. IMO I do expect them to be in Columbus.

september63 wrote: All in all. Hiland played Dunbar in Dayton in 07. They do that for a reason. Anything short of a State Trip for them won't be sucessful. IMO I do expect them to be in Columbus.

I am iffy about that. It is tough to go deep in the tourney without balance and I just don't see it happening. I think this team is a year away, but they are still a pretty good team. It does help, that their region is traditionally weak, so they do have a shot. Not sure if Lutheran East or any of the Cleveland teams are real strong this year.

september63 wrote: All in all. Hiland played Dunbar in Dayton in 07. They do that for a reason. Anything short of a State Trip for them won't be sucessful. IMO I do expect them to be in Columbus.

How come Hiland can't get a match up with your Dover Tornadoes? Hiland is only 25 minutes down the road. It be a great game. Packed house. Two good coaches.

wes_mantooth wrote:

september63 wrote: All in all. Hiland played Dunbar in Dayton in 07. They do that for a reason. Anything short of a State Trip for them won't be sucessful. IMO I do expect them to be in Columbus.

I am iffy about that. It is tough to go deep in the tourney without balance and I just don't see it happening. I think this team is a year away, but they are still a pretty good team. It does help, that their region is traditionally weak, so they do have a shot. Not sure if Lutheran East or any of the Cleveland teams are real strong this year.

The Cleveland teams are not that strong this year. Youngstown Christian will take their place. I believe they picked up a couple of transfers since last year. They were also in the regional last year. I have seen them called the "Youngstown Allstars" on other forums because of the transfers. I believe they have only lost 1 or 2.

Youngstown Christian surprised me last year, because I thought LE would beat them by 40 after seeing the first regional semifinal game last year. I couldn't believe that they hung in there with them.

Don't count out McDonald in that region they only lost to YC by a couple in the District Final last year.

A little sad to hear Hiland didn't play better but is kinda of expected playing against that big and athletic of a team. This will only make them better in the long run and that's what it's about. Going undefeated in the regular season means nothing if you don't bring home the title IMO, just ask New Knoxville last year.

don't forget that Noah Boyd scored about 15 in the second half and finished 5-9 from 3. Yes, it sounded like the guard play was kinda timid, but Coach S took the team up there for a reason. They do need greater balance offensively, and I know that YC has some pretty decent strength, but no one that we meet down the road will have the incredible bulk that Benedictine had inside. For Jalen Miller and Schmucker to be outsized will happen frequently, but they won't see anything like this again.

Once more on the timid thing. Young guards get bussed to Cleveland. A siren blairs and out of the lockeroom come 3 or 4 guys looking like they are ready for DI college ball now. As wes_mantooth noted if Hiland played ten games with Benedictine they would probably lose all ten. But I guarantee you after 3-4 games the timidness would wear off and they would adapt to their environment. Thats why it is important to get these kinds of game now. So if Hiland were to run into a team that brings something similar, that mental aspect has been experienced and the kids will be better able to adapt in the tourney.

I think Hiland will play Benedictine again next year @ Hiland. I expect a much different result.