Cardinals Cannot Overcome Turnovers Against Shaker

Mentor Boys Basketball Coach Bob Krizancic is always concerned about turnovers.

He was concerned about them when his team was winning, and he's certainly concerned now that turnovers have caused his team (8-2) to lose against Shaker Heights, 72-66, Friday night.

Mentor turned the ball over 22 times and -- in the process -- squandered a 17-point lead.

"You can’t turn the ball over 22 times and beat good teams. You just cannot do that," Krizancic said told Ohio Varsity. "The same thing happened at the Arby’s Classic, but we lucked out and beat Melrose. We just aren’t playing well. We aren’t taking care of the ball and we aren’t passing well right now."

Mentor led 43-26 at half time, largely due to excellence behind the arc. They hit seven of 12 3-pointers in the first two quarters. However, in the second half, they only made four of 16 attempted threes.

Mentor only scored four points in the fourth quarter.

Kash Blackwell led Shaker Heights with 25 points and seven rebounds. Esa Ahmad also scored 18 for the Raiders.

Meanwhile, Caleb Potter scored 17 points for Mentor. Jeff Foreman and Conner Krizancic each added 10 points and Kade McClure tacked on nine points for the Cardinals.

Bob Krizancic said the Cardinals needed to find a point guard and people who want the ball at crunch time.

"I don’t think we are a bad basketball team, but we certainly aren’t a good team right now and that showed tonight against a talented opponent," Krizancic said.