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CPD

2/11/06

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ST. EDWARD 71ST. IGNATIUS 64

<H1 class=red>Eagles stay poised, sweep away Wildcats

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Saturday, February 11, 2006 Eddie Dwyer


Plain Dealer Reporter

No, it wasn't a victory at the district, regional or state level.
But to St. Edward and St. Ignatius fans, it is as big as it gets.
So big that Eagles senior guard Jeff Aerni described his post-game feelings as "truly amazing."
St. Edward, with Aerni playing a major role down the stretch, held off the Wildcats, 71-64, Friday night in front of a crowd of more than 2,500 at St. Ignatius' Sullivan Gymnasium.
With the victory, the Eagles improved to 13-4 and swept the regular-season series from the Wildcats for the first time since 1997-98, when St. Edward brought home the Division I state bas- ketball champion ship. That season, the Eagles defeated St. Ignatius three times as the two longtime West Side rivals matched up in the state championship game.
"It doesn't sum up my [school] year, but it feels great," said Aerni, who hit two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and was one of five Eagles in double figures. "I've been thinking about this game for months."
St. Edward, ranked fifth in The Plain Dealer's Top 25 poll, came out with the hot hand and on the strength of four 3-pointers led, 24-16, after the first eight minutes.
St. Ignatius (10-6), the area's 12th-ranked team, responded behind the hustle of senior post John Ryan, senior guard Rudy Kirbus and senior guard/forward T.J. DiSanto. A 3-pointer by DiSanto and a free throw by Kirbus put the Wildcats in front, 31-30, with 1:59 remaining in the first half.
Keeping their composure, the Eagles answered with senior guard Reid Anderson's third 3-pointer and took a 35-31 lead to the locker room after 6-8 sophomore Delvon Roe canned two free throws.
Kirbus dropped in 13 of his game-high 25 points in the first 16 minutes.
"I was struggling in the first half, but coach [Eric Flannery] told me to stay confident and keep shooting," said Aerni, who scored all 13 of his points in the second half, including three 3-pointers. "They all felt good, but they weren't dropping. But I knew eventually they would."
After St. Ignatius took a 52-51 lead on a three-point play by senior guard Robby Parris, Aerni followed a strong drive by Anderson with two high-arching 3-pointers that extended St. Edward's lead to seven points. Anderson led the Eagles with 17 points.
A putback by Roe and two free throws by junior forward Kyle Hubbard enabled St. Edward to maintain a seven-point lead with 2:04 remaining, and the Eagles withstood 3-pointers by Parris and DiSanto.
"I think this is one of those character-building games, and it builds so much confidence for us," said Flannery. "Our two seniors stepped up tonight - Reid Anderson going to the basket and Jeff Aerni knocking down those threes. It's nice when your superstar [Roe] doesn't have a great game offensively and you still find a way to win. Especially in a place like this."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
edwyer@plaind.com, 216-999-5169