The tournament championship Mogadore team included (left to right): Eli Robertson, Kole Jaber, Lukas Swartz, Nick Coffman, Stephen Stott, David Wolverton, Kyle Coffman and Corey Lehner.

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The Mogadore Wildcats won three games on Saturday to win the tournament championship at the 10th annual Bailey Simons Memorial Alumni Basketball Tournament that was hosted at Rootstown High School.

Mogadore’s Stephen Stott snags a one-handed rebound.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

To win the title, the Wildcats defeated Waterloo 68-64 in the tournament final. To get there, the Cats defeated Field in the first round and defending champion Crestwood in the semifinal.

It was Mogadore’s first tournament championship at the event.

Mogadore’s winning team included Kody Jaber, Kole Jaber, Lukas Swartz, Nick Coffman, Stephen Stott, David Wolverton, Kyle Coffman and Corey Lehner.

The title game was relatively close throughout, with Mogadore building out a 10-point lead just past the midway point of the second half before the Vikings closed the gap to make things close in the final moments.

Lukas Swartz hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to help seal the win, extending the Cats’ lead to the game’s eventual final of 68-64.

Swartz finished with 16 points, which was a team high alongside Stephen Stott’s 16 points. Corey Lehner also reached double figures in the final with 12 points.

Waterloo was paced by Kyle Schockley’s 21 points and Jack Sandel’s 18 points. Kam Shockley scored 16 for the Vikings.

In the semifinal rounds, Mogadore defeated Crestwood, 60-58.

In a close game throughout, the Red Devils had a chance to advance at the buzzer, but a 3-pointer from the right corner rimmed out.

Waterloo’s Kyle Shockley rises up for a two-handed slam off the left baseline.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

In the semifinal, Swartz scored 20 points for the Cats and Dekota Johnson scored 22 points for Crestwood.

In the other semifinal, Waterloo stormed back from a 15-point deficit late in the second half to defeat Rootstown, 62-60.

The Rovers opened up their sizable lead on a barrage of 3-pointers by Connor Formick, who buried five 3s in the second half alone, and Nick Wancik.

Facing the double-digit lead, the Vikings began a full-court pressure defense that created turnovers and points, including three different sets of and-1s during their comeback.

Kyle Shockley hit the go-ahead layup with 10 seconds on the clock.

After a Rootstown timeout, the Rovers’ final offensive attempt was disrupted by a Kam Shockley steal.

Formick led the Rovers in scoring in the semifinal with 20 points and Kyle Shockley led Waterloo with 23 points.

First-round scores included:

Crestwood’s Dekota Johnson lifts for a jumper over Mogadore defender Stephen Stott.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

Mogadore 64, Field 43

Rootstown 58, Streetsboro 56

10th ANNUAL BAILEY SIMONS MEMORIAL ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

BOX SCORES

FIRST ROUND

ROOTSTOWN 58, STREETSBORO 56

STREETSBORO (56) — Charles Ivory 8 0-0 17; Jerry Judd 5 0-0 12; Jack Batten 3 0-0 7; Trevor Murray 5 0-0 15; Avery Van Reeth 2 0-0 6; Nick Wilson 0 0-0 0; John Zelenak 0 0-0 0.

ROOTSTOWN (58) — Connor Formick 5 0-0 14; Nick Wancik 4 0-0 10; Donovan Birkett 3 0-0 6; Brandan Nicholas 5 0-2 12; Xavier Birkett 0 0-0 0; Adam Whitacre 3 2-2 8; Will Postlethwait 1 0-0 2; Tom Nader 1 0-0 2; Adam Bailey 0 0-0 0; Nathan Moore 3 0-0 6.

Rootstown’s Nathan Moore goes up for a second-half layup over Streetsboro’s Jerry Judd.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

MOGADORE 64, FIELD 45

MOGADORE (64) — Lukas Swartz 5 0-0 13; Nick Coffman 1 4-8 7; Kody Jaber 1 0-0 2; Kole Jaber 5 1-3 14; Corey Lehner 5 0-1 10; David Wolverton 0 0-0 0; Stephen Stott 2 0-0 5.

FIELD (45) — Caleb Wohlwend 2 0-0 5; Jaheim James 4 0-2 8; Jacob Gartner 5 0-0 10; Bryson Silveus 1 0-0 2; Caleb Gartner 1 0-0 2; Jay Wilson 3 1-2 7; Jake Lupardus 3 3-4 9; Andrew Johnson 0 0-0 0.

SEMIFINALS

WATERLOO 62, ROOTSTOWN 60

WATERLOO (62) — Gavin English 0 1-2 1; Navarre Alhassan 2 0-2 5; Jack Sandel 4 3-3 13; Kyle Shockley 10 0-2 23; Luke Simons 4 0-0 10; Dale Miller 0 0-0 0; Kam Shockley 3 3-6 9.

ROOTSTOWN (60) — Connor Formick 7 0-0 20; Nick Wancik 4 1-5 11; Donovan Birkett 0 0-0 0; Brandan Nicholas 4 0-0 10; Xavier Birkett 1 0-0 2; Adam Whitacre 4 0-0 10; Tom nader 0 0-0 0; Adam Bailey 1 1-2 4; Nathan Moore 1 1-2 3.

Waterloo’s Jack Sandel surveys the Mogadore defense looking for a cutting teammate.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

MOGADORE 60, CRESTWOOD 58

CRESTWOOD (58) — Dekota Johnson 9 1-2 22; Trent Jakacki 3 3-3 20; Cole Fannin 2 0-0 6; Austin Johnson 1 0-0 3; Mason Angle 1 2-4 4; Aaron Czerny 3 0-1 6; Mason Jakacki 1 1-2 4; Blaze Angle 0 1-2 1; Steven Lincoln 0 0-0 0; Matt Czerny 2 0-2 2.

MOGADORE (60) — Lukas Swartz 7 3-4 20; Nick Coffman 4 2-6 8; Kole Jaber 2 1-2 6; Corey Lehner 2 0-0 4; David Wolverton 2 0-0 4; Kyle Coffman 1 0-0 3; Kody Jaber 1 1-4 3; Stephen Stott 3 2-2 9.

CHAMPIONSHIP

MOGADORE 68, WATERLOO 64

MOGADAORE (68) — Lukas Swartz 5 2-2 16; Nick Coffman 1 2-4 4; Kole Jaber 2 0-0 5; Corey Lehner 5 0-0 12; David Wolverton 1 1-2 3; Kyle Coffman 3 0-0 9; Kody Jaber 1 0-0 3; Stephen Stott 4 4-4 16.

WATERLOO (64) — Gavin English 1 0-0 2; Navarre Alhassan 2 0-0 4; Jack Sandel 6 6-7 18; Kyle Shockley 9 1-4 21; Luke Simons 1 0-0 2; Dale Miller 1 0-0 2; Kam Shockley 5 4-10 16.