By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

For the third time in four years, the Crestwood Red Devils were crowned champions of the Bailey Simons Memorial Alumni Basketball Tournament.

Crestwood’s Trent Jakacki suspends in air as he looks for a teammate to pass to during Saturday’s alumni basketball tournament in Rootstown.
Tom Nader/Portage Sports

Crestwood’s Josh Jakacki goes up for a layup during the Red Devils’ semifinal victory over Field. Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

Crestwood defeated reigning champions Waterloo in the title game on Saturday at Rootstown High School in the annual event’s ninth year.
The Red Devils topped the Vikings 62-52 in the final, with Trent Jakacki leading Crestwood in scoring with 25 points. Mason Jakacki (10 points) and Aaron Czerny (10) joined him in double figures.
Crestwood’s winning team included Trent Jakacki, Cole Fannin, Mason Angle, Aaron Czerny, Mason Jakacki, Blaze Angle, Matt Czerny, Josh Jakacki and Tim Bilsza.
The team had won back-to-back championships at the tournament in 2021 and 2022. Waterloo had won the championship in 2023, with Saturday’s tournament final showcasing a championship rematch.
Waterloo’s leading scorer in the final game was Kameron Shockley, who finished with 17 points. Jack Sandel was also a double-digit scorer with 11 points.
To reach the championship, Crestwood had defeated Field (85-64) in the semifinal, while Waterloo bested Mogadore (57-53) in its semifinal.
First-round scores included:
Mogadore 46, Rootstown White 39
Field 60, Rootstown Blue 50

9th ANNUAL BAILEY SIMONS MEMORIAL ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024

AT ROOTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

FIRST ROUND

Mogadore’s Zeddie Pollock goes up for a shot during the first half of the Wildcats’ win over Rootstown White.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

MOGADORE 46, ROOTSTOWN WHITE 39

MOGADORE (46) — Lukas Swartz 0 0-0 0; Nick Coffman 0 0-0 0; Kody Jaber 1 0-0 2; Eli Robertson 1 0-0 2; Stephen Stott 3 3-4 10; Kole Jaber 0 0-0 0; Zeddie Pollock 4 6-6 14; David Wolverton 2 0-0 4; Luke Morris 4 3-4 14.

ROOTSTOWN WHITE (39) — Tyler Lane 3 0-2 7; Jason Urchek 0 0-0 0; Conner Formick 3 5-7 11; Tom Nader 2 0-0 4; TJ Riggie 2 1-2 5; Jay Buso 3 0-1 6; Nathan Moore 3 0-3 6; Josh Lane 0 0-0 0.

FIRST ROUND

FIELD 60, ROOTSTOWN BLUE 50

FIELD (60) — Caleb Gartner 2 0-0 6; Caleb Wohlwend 8 1-4 17; Preston Semler 0 0-1 0; Jake Lupardus 6 1-3 15; Joe Crawford 1 1-2 3; Andrew Johnson 6 1-4 19.

Rootstown’s Brandan Nicholas (right) goes up for a contested shot in the lane as Field’s Jake Lupardus defends.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

ROOTSTOWN BLUE (50) — Dom Shipp 3 0-0 9; Donny Birkett 4 0-0 8; Xavier Birkett 3 2-6 8; Nick Wanick 2 0-0 5; Adam Whitacre 8 0-0 18; Jay Buso 1 0-0 2; Brandan Nicholas 3 1-5 8.

SEMIFINAL

CRESTWOOD 85, FIELD 64

CRESTWOOD (85) — Trent Jakacki 14 0-0 31; Cole Fannin 2 1-2 5; Mason Angle 1 0-0 3; Aaron Czerny 5 0-0 10; Mason Jakacki 1 0-0 3; Blaze Angle 3 0-0 6; Matt Czerny 5 0-1 10; Josh Jakacki 3 0-0 7; Tim Bilsza 4 2-3 10.

FIELD (64) — Caleb Gartner 0 1-2 1; Caleb Wohlwend 11 2-4 29; Jay Wilson 3 0-0 7; Preston Semler 1 0-3 3; Jake Lupardus 3 0-0 7; Joe Crawford 2 0-0 4; Andrew Johnson 4 0-0 11.

SEMIFINAL

WATERLOO 57, MOGADORE 53

WATERLOO (57) — Kyle Shockley 5 2-9 12; Caleb Francis 1 4-6 8; Max Adelman 2 0-3 4; Navarre Alhassan 2 5-6 9; Luke Simons 2 0-2 4; Kam Shockley 7 2-8 16; Dale Miller 0 0-0 0; Jack Sandel 2 0-2 4.

MOGADORE (53) — Lukas Swartz 1 0-0 3; Nick Coffman 1 0-0 2; Kody Jaber 0 0-0 0; Eli Robertson 1 0-2 2; Stephen Stott 3 4-4 13; Kody Jaber 1 0-0 2; Zeddie Pollock 7 19; David Wolverton 2 2-2 6; Luke Morris 2 0-1 5.

CHAMPIONSHIP

CRESTWOOD 62, WATERLOO 52

CRESTWOOD (62) — Trent Jakacki 7 7-8 25; Cole Fannin 0 2-2 2; Mason Angle 2 0-0 5; Aaron Czerny 4 2-4 10; Mason Jakacki 2 5-6 10; Blaze Angle 1 0-0 2; Matt Czerny 2 0-0 4; Josh Jakacki 0 0-0 0; Tim Bilsza 1 0-0 3.

WATERLOO (52) — Kyle Shockley 2 3-4 7; Caleb Francis 2 1-1 5; Max Adelman 1 1-2 4; Jack Sandel 4 1-2 10; Navarre Alhassan 2 2-2 6; Luke Simons 0 2-2 2; Dale Miller 1 0-0 2; Kam Shockley 7 2-8 17.

Crestwood’s Mason Jakacki surveys the floor during a halfcourt set on Saturday.
Tom Nader/Portage Sports