Field basketball finds more consistency, picks up first win

MANTUA — The Falcons started strong in last Tuesday's loss to Streetsboro.

They picked up their defensive intensity in the last quarter-plus of last Saturday's tight loss at East Canton.

On Monday in Mantua, Field started strong and finished strong for its first win of the season, topping host Crestwood, 56-46.

"We lost to East Canton Saturday and we started playing defense late third, fourth quarter and lost by two," Falcons coach Steve Beshara said. "I was challenging guys with, 'Why did you wait?'"

Field (1-7) didn't wait Monday.

The Falcons trailed just twice — both times by a single point.

They responded immediately both times — and all night — which was important for a team that had lost seven straight and couldn't afford to fall far behind.

"Just from the start, playing with that lead really helped us get going," Field senior Braxton Baumberger said. "A lot of times, we fall behind and we just can never catch back up and we just give up, but I think once we play and start with the lead, that's what we really need is to keep that lead and keep that energy."

Trailing for the first time after the Red Devils erased a 20-13 deficit with an 8-0 run, the Falcons surged right back ahead as senior Joe Crawford ripped a jumper from just inside the top of the arc and sophomore post Drexal McAmis hauled down a defensive board and sent a heave to Crawford for a layup.

Down 29-28 early in the second half, Field junior Manny Smith connected on back-to-back baskets, hitting a short fadeaway off a dish from Baumberger and angling off the baseline for a layup off an assist from Crawford.

Crawford, who led the Falcons with 18 points, helped expand the lead with a dish to McAmis for a bank shot, followed by a corner 3 for a six-point lead (37-31) with 1:40 remaining in the third.

"They came out the aggressors and got us in early foul trouble," Red Devils coach Josh Jakacki said. "[They] made plays, played with more urgency, played with a fire in their belly, and unfortunately, our guys didn't."

Crestwood's Dekota Johnson heats up in the fourth, Field finds an answer

Not that Dekota Johnson, who led all scorers Monday with 21 points, and the Red Devils would let the Falcons secure their first win without a fight.

Johnson, who Crawford defended brilliantly for much of the night, ripped a pair of 3-pointers to begin the fourth.

Both times, Field had an immediate response.

After Johnson's first 3 from the corner, Baumberger responded with a trey of his own, off a baseline inbound from Crawford.

"I knew once I heard 'switch' and I saw the kid dive off, I was having an open shot," Baumberger said. "I felt like it's senior year, I got to take that role to step up and hit the shots that we need, so I felt like it was my time to do it."

After Johnson's second 3 brought the Red Devils within four (43-39) two minutes into the fourth, the Falcons answered as speedy sophomore Grady Eader tore by his man, racing in from the elbow for a layup.

Eader, who had seven of his 11 points in the fourth, and the Falcons were just getting going.

When Crestwood beat Field's press on one occasion, Eader raced in from behind to knock the ball away and prevent a fast-break layup.

Seconds later, it was Baumberger's turn to make a defensive play, as the senior, a standout free safety in the fall, jumped a Red Devils pass for a "pick-six" layup and a 47-39 lead nearing the midpoint of the fourth quarter.

"We strive on playing defense and, really, that's what got us going tonight is our aggression on defense," Baumberger said. "That play right there, I feel like it swung the momentum of the game and gave us a big jump into the lead and kids got more confident after that moment."

Then, Baumberger made another standout defensive play, smacking the ball out of Red Devils junior Ty Fannin's hand after Fannin appeared to have gotten by Baumberger with a slick crossover.

Eader later found McAmis at the tail end of a press-break for a layup and a 49-41 edge with 2:10 left, and the sophomore tacked on a pair of free throws to push the visitors' lead to double digits with 1:41 remaining.

All told, the Falcons flourished from the field, shooting 52.6%, including 68.75% in the first half. Crawford went 6-for-6 from inside the arc, while Baumberger and Eader joined him in double figures with 11 points apiece.

"I mean I love this type of atmosphere," Crawford said. "Going to away games, all that type of stuff, I don't know, for the first win of senior year, so I hope there's more to come."

For the Red Devils, who were coming off a promising win Saturday against Conneaut, the key is being more balanced, according to Jakacki, after Johnson accounted for 11 of their 15 fourth-quarter points.

"Everyone knows he's our best player and the guy who's going to carry the burden of the offense for us, but guys got to step up," Jakacki said. "It's just to the point where guys have just got to step up. We've taken the burden of this last year and you get to a point where you feel like you got to turn the corner and we're just still on the straight and narrow path. We're not at that corner yet, which is frustrating because I thought we were getting there, especially after the win on Saturday, but we'll get back at it tomorrow and keep grinding away."

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Field basketball finds consistency, picks up first win at Crestwood