Boys district basketball: R.J. Walgate leads Medina Christian over Mathews

MONTVILLE TWP. — R.J. Walgate couldn't wait for the Medina Christian boys basketball team's Division VII, Northeast 3 District semifinal against Vienna Mathews on Monday night, with his energy showing throughout the day. Once the game started, the 6-foot-7 junior turned in a dominating first-half performance, helping the sixth-seeded Knights to a 63-57 win, the first district semifinal triumph in program history. "As corny as it sounds for a district semifinal, this is really something that I've kind of dreamed about and I looked forward to all my life," Walgate said. "I remember being a second-grade kid at Medina, watching those Medina teams that were really good back in the day, and even traveling to watch them play in the playoffs, just thinking to myself, 'I can not wait to go do that."' Walgate took full advantage of his opportunity, scoring 16 of his team-high 18 points in the first half, with 12 coming in a 26-5 run that started with the final possession of the first quarter and spanned most of the second that gave the Knights (15-9) a 33-14 lead. "I'll be honest with you, there were a lot of late nights, staying up, watching film, worrying about this one, so get off to a hot start felt really good." said Walgate, who also led the Knights with 10 rebounds for a double-double. "I feel like we're a dangerous squad when we get out to hot starts." The teams played evenly in the third quarter, but eight-seeded Mathews (12-11) made it interesting in the fourth quarter because senior Jake Petak did all he could to keep the Mustangs alive, knocking down seven 3-pointers in the final quarter alone for 21 of his game-high 25 points. "I felt like R.J. had a hand in his face a few times, and he hit some great shots," Medina Christian coach Rob Walgate said. "I love high school sports, and I just hugged the kid. I know he's upset. It's the last game of his career, and I just hugged the kid and told kid and told him he was our game plan. He was the one we were worried about. That kid's really good, and he hit some shots that were amazing. All you do is shake his hand and say, 'Great shooting."' When push came to shove, the Knights were able to hold in part to the calm free throw shooting of their two seniors, Isaac Maletich and Nick Malicoat. They had each knocked down just eight free throws all season but stepped to the line and hit a pair as if they were former Cavaliers star Mark Price. "I got on them pretty hard today, maybe harder than I got on them all year," Rob Walgate said. "I told them in the locker room that one of the reasons I did that was because I know they didn't want to go out like that. I knew that they would respond, and they both stepped up and that's just what we talked about. Our seniors hit free throws at the end, and it was awesome." Junior Sam Dorman had 12 points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists for the Knights while not at his best physically after turning his ankle in the third quarter. "I just can't say enough great things about Sam," Rob Walgate said. "He wasn't 100%, but him not 100%, he's still really good. And just his heart, he doesn't want to lose. He tweaked his ankle, and I'm like, 'Are you good?' He's like, 'Not really, but I want to play,' so I'm not going to say no to that." For Dorman, he didn't want to feel like he let down all of the people who have helped him along the way and who were in attendance for the final home game of the season. "I work hard every day. I play hard," Dorman said. "I want to give all glory to God for the ability to come out here and play. I just want to play for all the people here supporting us and my teammates and I just want to be out there." Preston Collins knocked down three 3-pointers for the Knights and finished with 12 points. Maletich had eight points, Malicoat added five and Maddox Tousley and Jaxon Longsdorf scored four each. The win secured a matchup against second-seeded Fairport Harding in the district championship Saturday night at Smithville's historic Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse. After watching those Medina teams of his youth play deep into the tournament, now it is R.J. Walgate's turn. "It's full circle," Walgate said. "I'm so thankful for the position that the Lord's put me in. I really want to give Him all the glory. I've been vocal about in the past, what I love about Medina Christian is I hope that when you see us play, people can think, 'Wow, look at what the Lord's doing there.' Because not too long ago, we weren't even in the OHSAA. So for the Lord to just give us the opportunity to play at a neutral-site location in a district final, I'm so thankful." Contact Ryan Isley at sports@medina-gazette.com. Medina Christian 63, Mathews 57 Division VII, Northeast 3 District Semifinal VIENNA MATHEWS&emsp;9 9 13 26 — 57 MEDINA CHRISTIAN&emsp;10 26 11 16 — 63 Mathews — Kameron Kester 1-2-4, Anthony Marinkovich 2-0-5, Jake Petak 8-1-25, Drew Spagnolleta 2-0-5, Caden Brubaker 0-0-0, Dane Brubaker 2-0-4, Cody Kuhn 4-1-10, Caden Runner 2-0-4, Darien Butcher 0-0-0. TOTALS: 21-4-57. Medina Christian — Isaac Maletich 2-2-8, Maddox Tousley 1-2-4, Sam Dorman 5-1-12, Preston Collins 4-1-12, R.J. Walgate 7-2-18, Nick Malicoat 1-2-5, Jaxon Longsdorf 2-0-4, Troy Reidl 0-0-0. TOTALS: 22-10-63. 3-point goals — Petak 8, Kuhn, Spagnolleta, Marinkovich, Collins 3, Maletich 2, Walgate 2, Malicoat, Dorman. Rebounds — Mathews 22 (C. Brubaker 7), Medina Christian 24 (Walgate 10). Assists — Mathews 10 (Runner 3), Medina Christian 14 (Dorman 4). Records — Mathews (12-11), Medina Christian (15-9).