STEVE GOLDMAN
KIRTLAND — There wasn’t a Cloud in sight, and there were stars out. Still, it was not a smooth night for sailing for the Perry Pirate boys.
In Wednesday’s Division II sectional title game, top-seeded Collinwood was forced to play without two of its senior stars, forward Otis Cloud and center Tiran Goins. However, the Railroaders were able to escape with a 61-57 victory at Lakeland Community College.
Cloud and Goins may well play in the district semifinals, according to a Collinwood spokesperson. In the meantime, a 28-point output including three triples by its other star, guard Gary Little, helped to fend off a 33-point, 14-rebound performance by post Anthony Kukwa.
“(Little)’s athleticism hurt us,” Perry coach Chad Frazier said. “He’s quick off the dribble, and he went by us, and we couldn’t contain him.”
After the Pirates had trailed by as much as 42-30, Brennan Sailors (9 points) followed in his own miss with 10.6 seconds left to make it 59-57. Kukwa rebounded Sailors’ ensuing free throw and missed and grabbed the rebound, but had the ball stripped by Brandon Stovall (16 points).
Stovall missed a one-and-one with 2.1 seconds remaining, but Deonte Cowsette followed it in.
Kukwa had very little help in the scoring column until late, and it cost Perry (8-14). After the Pirates were up, 25-19, the Railroaders (14-6) used a 17-2 stint that spanned the intermission to grab a 36-27 lead.
In the final seven minutes, Kukwa’s teammates were able to net 14 points, including four free throws by James McCallister (9 points) following two technicals. The Pirates closed within two at 57-55 on a pair of Kukwa foul shots with 1:54 left.
Little countered with a basket to make it 59-55.
“It took us too long to get our swagger; it really did,” Frazier said.
“We’ve run into (a situation where Kukwa is the only one scoring). And when that happens, we don’t win.”
Erik Petrecca had eight assists with five in the first quarter, despite some struggles with fouls.
DeMario Agee had seven thefts, and Joshua Ratliff nine boards and five steals for Collinwood.
Eighteen of Perry’s 24 turnovers came via steals, while Collinwood suffered seven of its 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter. The Pirates scored six less field goals (24-18) than the Railroaders, but were 20 of 25 at the line as compared to 10 of 18 for Collinwood.
“Twenty-one of the 27 points we gave up in the first half were (a result of) not taking care of the basketball,” Frazier, who related that it hurt his team not to have time to prepare for the absence of Cloud and Goins, said.
Goldman is a freelance writer from South Euclid.
