It was a physical battle from the get-go, with the Watterson defense smothering the Stallions in a CCL rivalry game. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Logan Gapen)
On the heels of an unbeaten Division III state football championship, Watterson’s basketball team – despite a late start as a unit – may also have the tools for a deep tournament run.
Columbus, OH – After capturing the Division III state championship with a perfect 16-0 record, seven members of Watterson’s football team took a day off to celebrate and/or rest before dragging themselves off the sofa for basketball practice Monday.
Mind you, they already had missed five weeks of preseason workouts and scrimmages.
“I would have given those guys a few days off if they had asked for it, but every one of them reported on Monday ready and raring to go,” veteran coach Vince Lombardo said. “As you would expect, they were in great physical shape but not in what you would call basketball shape. That takes to time to acclimate to. Chemistry-wise, it all came together surprisingly well right off the bat. They didn’t miss a beat.”
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Senior captain Landon Johnson said the Eagles made the best of it with the football players out.
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“Fortunately, we have a lot of guys who can play and that time without the football guys actually helped some of the other players develop because they took on bigger roles in practice,” Johnson said. “Once the football guys got back, it was just an added bonus. Everything just clicked.”
Don’t look now, but yet another Watterson team may have all the ingredients needed to make a deep tournament run.
From the opening tip, it was evident that this would be your typical, physical game between these storied programs.
Ranked No. 1 statewide by MartinRPI.com and No. 3 in the MaxPreps Division III rankings heading into the week, Watterson solidified its claim with a decisive 59-41 win over age-old Central Catholic League rival DeSales Friday.
Six-foot-five senior standout Dominic Theado racked up game-high totals of 21 points and 17 rebounds to pace the tall and talented Eagles (8-1, 1-1). Theado also excelled at tight end/defensive end for the football team.
“I think we had a little pent-up aggression since we sold ourselves short last week (in a 48-38 loss to Hartley),” Theado said. “We really like what we have going here. We knew all of DeSales’ tendencies, and the game plan was to be aggressive in attacking them, but at the same time keeping our poise and sharing the ball.”
DeSales (9-4, 1-1) trapped and pressed virtually the whole game. The ploy paid dividends early as the Stallions created a frenetic pace, capitalizing on a handful of turnovers in taking an 8-2 lead.
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But Watterson was quick to adjust, sharing the ball, making the extra pass and either freeing Theado for one-on-one matchups or finding open snipers on the three-point line.
Johnson, Noah Holsinger and Carter Bellisari each knocked down threes in a 15-0 Eagles run that gave them the lead for good. Although the Stallions fought back to within three, separate surges of 9-0 and 16-3 hiked the margin.
Carter Ward goes to the glass over Landon Johnson.
Bellisari (also a football standout) added 15 points and eight rebounds and Johnson 13 points for Watterson, which showed its diversity in hitting eight three-point shots and blocking eight shots. Bellisari and 6-6 sophomore Jack Schuler each had three blocks and Theado two.
“As you probably know, my teams through the years haven’t exactly been known for shooting a lot of threes, but this group has a lot of confidence shooting the ball,” Lombardo said. “They have the green light as long as it’s a good look and we got plenty of the those tonight because we were sharing the ball and making the extra pass.”
PJ Noles was the only player in double figures with 15 points for DeSales, which has dropped three games to Division I opponents. On this night, The Stallions couldn’t solve the Eagles’ tough interior defense and also committed 22 fouls trying in vain to contain Theado and the shooters.
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“We felt like this was a must-win for us in regard to our chances in the CCL and a statement game for the district as well,” Johnson said. “It kind of looks like it might be us, Hartley and DeSales facing each other a third time somewhere down the road.”
Dominic Theado lines up a jump shot from distance.
The win also gave Watterson a 66-65 edge in the storied rivalry dating back to 1962.
Watterson owns one state title (2013), one runner-up (2014), nine district titles and nine CCL crowns under the venerable Lombardo, who is 523-425 in 41 seasons as a head coach – the past 32 at Watterson.
By contrast, DeSales also has one state championship (1987), one runner-up (2021), five regional titles, nine district crowns and eight CCL banners in its rich history.
“It really is a great high school rivalry,” Lombardo said. “I think the main reason is we’re so similar in size, philosophy and the quality of kids, coaches and families we have. I always enjoy playing those guys and I know our players do, too.”
