Friday, November 8, 2024

Lorain boys basketball finds new style of play at Euclid Summer League

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Lorain breaks its huddle after its game against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the Cleveland Am Pro’s 3rd Coast Hoops Summer League on June 12. (Credit: Mark Perez-Krywany)

There are teams that stick with their style year in and year out, but Lorain is a team that is not afraid to adjust according to its personnel.

After graduating its entire starting five, Lorain enters its offseason with the goal of increasing the pace of play, as shown in the Cleveland Am Pro’s 3rd Coast Hoops Euclid Summer League on June 12.

In contrast to its 2023-24 season that controlled the pace of the game, the Titans utilized their athletes that have length, ball handling skills and shooting capabilities to turn up the heat.

“They have really quick first steps,” said Lorain Assistant Coach Roe Pagan said. “Almost everyone on that court can get you. If they catch the ball the right way and attack the right way, they are going to get you. It’s just about finishing at the hoop,”

Lorain Coach Matthew Kielian was unable to make it to the summer league. Assistant Coaches Pagan and Greg Gabrie temporarily took the reins, as many assistant coaches earned the opportunity to do the same.

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“We did a good job pushing the ball up the court. That was one of our goals,” Pagan said. “The other one is to have consistent intensity on defense. We will talk about the rotations and all of that stuff in the future. Right now, it is just about the intensity and being consistently intense.”

The Titans may have been undersized, but showed grit to defeat Shaker Heights, 65-62, at Euclid. Lorain will meet the Red Raiders when they join the Greater Cleveland Conference in the 2025-26 school year.

“That (scrappiness) is Lorain and that is all I have to say about that,” he said.

As a team that needs to replace its starting five, the 2024 offseason is crucial. With no sole leader, it is up for everyone to hold each other accountable. According to Pagan, Julian Daniels played the most on varsity, but the returning players got roughly 14 minutes per game in 2023-24.

“It is huge that everyone is in and everyone is on the same page,” Pagan said. “Coach Kielian always talks about being on the same book, page, sentence and word. That is what we are trying to get to right now. On top of that, we are building each other up and being leaders. Everyone has to be a leader at some point.”

Lorain had a double-header at Euclid and played Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. The size discrepancy was more evident, but its press fueled easy baskets, which kept pace with the Fighting Irish. However, the young Titans ran out of gas in the fourth quarter in a 89-76 loss.

“We really picked each other up,” Pagan said. “It was hard playing two very good teams that are well-coached. I think we really matched their intensity and pushed the ball. We have had our ups and downs this summer so far. This is something that we can build off of.”

Lorain had a rollercoaster 2023-24 season, as it went 11-12 (6-4 in the Lake Erie League) and lost to North Canton Hoover, 59-47, in the first round of the Division I tournament.

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