Cardinal Mooney posts impressive 82-32 win over Mapleton
SALEM — One of the goals of the multi-talented Youngstown Cardinal Mooney boys’ basketball team this season is to win a district championship.
The Cardinals (20-5) edged ever closer to one here Monday night as they demolished a 16-win Mapleton team 82-32 in a D3 district semifinal game at Salem’s John A. Cabas Gymnasium.
“We really played well,” beamed Cardinal Mooney head coach Carey Palermo. “We’re a good basketball team and we were motivated. We were in this spot (the district semifinal round) last year and made it to the district final and didn’t get it done and these kids want to cut the nets down.”
What’s next for Cardinal Mooney?
With the one-sided rout, Mooney advances to the D3 district title game Friday night at 7 p.m. at Salem against the winner of No. 12 seed South Range vs. No. 19 seed Lake County Perry who play Tuesday night in the other district semifinal at Salem.
Monday was an evening of total domination by the Cardinals. Mooney forced 10 first-quarter turnovers out of the Mounties (26 for the game) with their swarming defensive pressure. The Cardinals raced out to a 29-11 lead after one, stretched it to 46-14 at halftime and started a running clock in the opening minute of the third quarter when its lead ballooned to 35 points (49-14).
“That’s what we do, we like to press and we like to defend,” stated Palermo. “We get after it and that’s the basis of our practices every day and I’m happy with it.”
Jibri Carter led Cardinal Mooney with 16 points
Offensively, Cardinal Mooney was on fire, placing four players in double figures while hitting 12 three-pointers in the game. Leading the Cardinals was 5-9 senior guard Jibri Carter who took game-scoring honors with 16 points, including a pair of triples. Teammates Ashton O’Brien and Nico Genova (three treys) added 13 markers apiece and Eddie Nieves (three triples and a slam dunk) finished with 11 points. A total of 10 Cardinal Mooney players scored in the contest.
Mooney has won six games in a row
The Cardinals are one of the hottest teams in the Mahoning Valley and have now won six games in a row.
“I feel like we’re playing our best basketball right now,” said Palermo. “When we shoot the basketball like we did tonight, that (a blowout) kind of happens.”
Leading Mapleton (16-8), a member of the Firelands Conference, was Scott Hickey with 13 points and Kyle Sloter who added nine markers.
The Cardinals built upon their large advantage as the second half progressed and took their largest lead of the evening at game’s end at 50 points (82-32).
“Jibri (Carter) always gets us going as our point guard,” praised the Cardinal Mooney mentor. “Ashton O’Brien played a big first quarter, Rocco (Turner) made shots and Eddie (Nieves) hit some shots early and Nick Pregibon off the bench has been great all year. And Will Desmond, he really doesn’t get the buckets, but he does all the little things, so they all were great tonight. We’re a team.”
Leading 65-23 after three quarters, Palermo played his backups much of the fourth quarter and pulled all of his starters in the closing minutes.
Mooney getting ready for Friday’s district title game
Now Mooney turns its attention to Friday night’s district title game. Whatever opponent it ends up being, Palermo knows the Cardinals will be ready.
“I’m happy everybody came out to support and we love playing at Salem and it would mean the world to these kids to get the district title on Friday night,” closed the Mooney head coach.