Game 1: SJ/Rogers

    The Road to Columbus begins in the small gym of Libbey for the Saint John's Titans.  The Titans will be playing their first state playoff game against the Rogers Rams.  Tonight's match up is not expected to be close, but you never know with players such as Rogers's Brent Jones on the court.  Brent is currently second in the City League in points per game with about 21.  Scoring most of his team's points game in and game out, expect for Mr. Jones to be guarded by Zach Hillesland.  All of Coach Heintschel's players know that the Road to Columbus takes one game at a time.  As a Saint John's fan the important thing to look for in the Titans/Rams match up tonight is not the scoring of BJ and Zach, but rather the scoring of the other key players on the team.  If the Titans want to yet again run the tables in the playoffs they are going to have to continue to get the excellent play they are receiving out of players such as Jon Dunn, Andrew Taylor, Mike Floyd, and Teddy Heintschel.  Teams are going to know that BJ and Zach are the key contributors to Saint John's offense.  That's why when a player such as Jon Dunn came in off the bench and put up 6 points and 8 rebounds, the Scott Bulldogs had so much trouble in the City Semifinals.  The City Championship was yet another great example of a Titan player stepping up.  Andrew Taylor nearly pulled off a double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds.  Rogers will for sure not be the hardest team the Titans will be facing in the State Playoffs.  The one solution is for the exceptional play of BJ and Zach to continue, along with the very helpful play of such players as Dunn and Taylor. 

 

-Chris Ballay