Ready boys basketball team pulls away from St. Charles to secure CCL title
The Ready boys basketball team achieved what it hopes is the first of four goals.
Playing before a packed house in Joe Lang Gymnasium on Friday night, the host Silver Knights pulled away in the second half to beat St. Charles 59-40 and clinch their second consecutive CCL title.
Ready, the top-ranked team in the Division II state poll, improved to 18-0 overall heading into Saturday's matchup with Dayton Dunbar at Ottawa-Glandorf. The Knights then will participate in the district tournament draw Sunday, expecting to receive the No. 1 seed before pursuing their next three goals: district, regional and state titles.
The district tournament begins Feb. 21.
“Winning a CCL championship at Ready last year was a big deal,” coach Tony Bisutti said. “It just hasn’t happened that often over the years. To win back-to-back (titles) is a testament to the commitment and determination of our players.”
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St. Charles, which dropped to 11-8 overall, visits Gates Mills Gilmour Academy on Saturday. The Cardinals will participate in the Division I district tournament draw Sunday.
Ready is 6-0 in the CCL with league games remaining Friday against Watterson and Feb. 17 against Hartley. St. Charles, now 4-3 in the league, closes CCL play Friday against DeSales.
The Knights, who beat St. Charles 38-37 on Dec. 22 at Ohio Dominican, completed the season sweep by outscoring the Cardinals 30-19 in the second half.
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Luke Ruth and Kaleb Schaffer led Ready with 18 points apiece and Charlie Russell added 17.
“We have to come in as a team in this league,” Ruth said. “If you don’t play as a team in our league, you’re not going to win games. Me, Kaleb and Charlie, if we play individually, we’re not going to win many games.”
Chase Walker, a 6-foot-9 senior center, scored 20 points for St. Charles.
“There are things that compounded on us,” St. Charles coach Mike Ryan said. “They shot the ball very well and they’re capable of doing that. They have five guys who can all shoot, they can dribble and they can defend. They’re one of the best teams in the state in any division. They’re going to make a deep run in Division II. We need to be better defensively.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ready boys basketball beats St. Charles to win CCL title
