Walsh Jesuit rings the Bell in win over Cuyahoga Falls at Tallmadge Holiday Classic
TALLMADGE, Ohio - Walsh Jesuit's Tyler Bell faked a 3-pointer, got the defender in the air, stepped back and let it fly from about 25 feet and the ball went through the net as time expired in the second quarter.
It was the fourth 3-pointer of the quarter for Bell and it helped propel the Warriors to a 64-51 win over Cuyahoga Falls in the Tallmadge Holiday Classic on Wednesday night.
"It's a tough shot, but I feel like I can make it sometimes," Bell said. "I was glad to see that one go in."
Walsh (6-2), trailed 18-17 in the second quarter before Bell went on a 14-2 run by himself against Cuyahoga Falls, including the four 3-pointers and a pair of free throws.
With the defense keying on Bell at the start of the third quarter, he found an open Jesse James, who knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 34-23.
"We saw them on tape and they always double the first pass," Wojcik said. "So we knew if we reverse the ball, we would have that shot and Jesse knocked it down."
James went on to hit another pair of 3-pointers in the second half and finished the game with 13 points.
"(Jesse) is just coming off an illness and he missed the last game," Walsh head coach Joe Wojcik said. "He played well today. He's a sparkplug. He's hard to guard. He can take it to the basket and shoot the three so he was very instrumental."
After such a big second quarter, Bell was willing to give the floor to his teammates in the second half, as James and Sean Spicer combined for 18 points in the final two quarters. Spicer finished the game with 10 points.
Tyler Bell led Walsh Jesuit with 17 points in a win over Cuyahoga Falls on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. Photo credit: Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
"I just got hot in the second quarter," Bell said. "But Jesse played well, Sean played well and it's whoever has the hot hand."
Walsh was not able to run away from Cuyahoga Falls, who fought back the entire second half. After trailing by 15 in the third quarter, the Black Tigers cut the lead to seven twice in the fourth quarter.
"They're a good team, they can shoot the three," Wojcik said. "We got caught behind some screens and sort of going underneath them and they made about five or six and that hurt us."
The lead catalyst for Cuyahoga Falls was Drew Huffman, who scored a game-high 29 points, including four 3-pointers.
"He can shoot the ball," Wojcik said. "He's the one guy that we wanted to do get up and make him a dribbler. When we did that, and then we doubled him, we were ok but when we played off him, he hurt us."
While Huffman was carrying Cuyahoga Falls, the Walsh head coach was glad he has Bell on his side.
"As long as we have him on the floor, we're pretty good," Wojcik said with a chuckle.
