INDEPENDENCE — Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has quietly put together a strong season. He averages 13.8 points to go with a team-best 9.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.
Ilgauskas is coming off a season-high 29-point, 15-rebound game Wednesday. He also tends to be overlooked because of teammate LeBron James, not that Ilgauskas minds.
“Once you play with LeBron
... (who) dominates a game as much as he does, you have to realize you have to play a smaller role,” Ilgauskas said. “I’ve never had an ego in my life. I realize how lucky I am to play with him, and how much he helps my game. I wasn’t very good when he was out for six games. You ... let him take the credit because he deserves it, and you just do you job.”
n CLOSING IN — Former Cavaliers great Brad Daugherty lost his franchise scoring record to James last week. Daugherty’s team rebounding record could fall to Ilgauskas early next season.
Ilgauskas’ final rebound Wednesday was the 5,000th of his career, making him the second Cavalier to reach that milestone. Daugherty leads the all-time rebounding list with 5,227.
“Oh, that’s next year,” Ilgauskas said when told how far away he was from Daugherty’s mark. “It’ll be an honor. Any time you achieve anything like that where you become a franchise leader ... it means you’ve been successful and been around for a long time.”
n THAT’S MINE, TOO — Ilgauskas jokingly reminded reporters that he already owns a Cleveland record, most career personal fouls. He’s been whistled for 2,198 in 10 seasons. His 35 career disqualifications also rank No. 1, as he passed former McKinley High star Phil Hubbard (33) this season.
n READY TO GO — For the second time in a week, shooting guard Daniel Gibson sounded optimistic after a practice about returning to action.
“Right now, I’m planning on playing (tonight),” Gibson said after Friday’s practice. “I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent. It’s still sore and there’s still certain things I’m limited in doing.”
But Gibson is confident he is more than healthy enough to contribute. The team, though, wants to make sure Gibson suffers no setbacks with the playoffs being a month away. He felt ready to go Wednesday, but the team decided to hold him out for an 18th straight game. Gibson went full-go in practices Thursday and Friday, and Brown said, “that’s a real good sign.”
n WHO STARTS? — Brown was uncertain who would start if point guard Delonte West (questionable, left ankle tendinitis) can’t go tonight. If Gibson can play, he would be a possibility. So is Damon Jones, who has been solid coming off the bench.
n NEW LOOK? — Gibson has gone old school in practice by wearing his white socks high. “I’m not sure if I’ll implement it for games,” he said.
n COMING SOON — Look for Gibson to appear, alongside team mascot Moondog, in TV commercials for McDonald’s. Because he asks for sweet tea in the ad, Jones has taken to calling Gibson “Sweet Tea” of late.
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Cavaliers Notebook: Z doing A-OK
Cavaliers center quietly having another fine year
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Riverside sneaks past Edgewood
Riverside wrestling coach Scott Blank learned a good deal of what he knows from Edgewood coach Greg Stolfer as a former Warrior great. Thursday, he used a bit of that knowledge to get the better of his old coach as the Beavers bested the Warriors, 31-28, at Edgewood.
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Madison rolls past Geneva
Madison recovered from coming out on the short end of a pin in the first match of the night by taking six of the next seven matches against Geneva and capped the night with pins from their last pair of grapplers in dismantling the Eagles, 49-17.
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Boys tourney returning to county
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Dragons dump Lakers in drink
Despite the fact his girls have been through a tough season, Lakeside coach Rob Livingston spoke as though he had sensed that better things might be around the corner.
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Mustangs dominate Heralds
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Clark, Francis help give Falcons Liberty
Paige Clark led an attack that saw three Jefferson players reach double figures and Rachel Francis had a triple-double as the Falcons blasted visiting Liberty, 59-17, in an All-American Conference game Thursday night in Falcon Gym.
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Scholastic Statistics:
WRESTLING
NON-CONFERENCE
Riverside 31, Edgewood 28
at Edgewood -
Scholastic Schedule:
FRIDAY, FEB. 10
Boys Basketball
n Lakeside at Madison
n Conneaut at Edgewood
n Liberty at Jefferson (WFUN)
n South at Geneva
n PV at Bloomfield
n Grand Valley at Southington
n Riverside at North
n Harvey at Perry -
PV prevails
Cody Miller and Zach Campbell knew what they had to do in order for the Pymatuning Valley wrestling team to complete a come-from-behind victory over Jefferson on Wednesday at triangular match at PV.
The pair delivered exactly that and the Lakers pulled off the win, 37-36. -
Eagles bounce back
The Geneva girls didn’t have much time to regroup. But just one day after a heartbreaking defeat, they were able to knock off a strong Perry team on the road, 39-33.
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