Cardinals Tame Cats
Wheeling Jesuit dominates Wesleyan from outset

By JIM ELLIOTT

Wheeling, WV, Jan. 9, 2010---West Virginia Wesleyan outrebounded Wheeling Jesuit and the minutes were equal, but the Cardinals were on the plus side of everything else in a dominant 91-74 victory against the Bobcats on Saturday at the McDonough Center.

Playing just their third game in 26 days - and first in 10 - Wheeling Jesuit led by as many as 21 points with 6 minutes remaining the the game.

So much for the rust.

Recardo Gaddy was the catalyst for the West Virginia Conference-leading Cardinals (7-2 overall, 4-0 WVC), as he hit five 3-pointers and wound up with a team-best 25 points.

''He answered the bell when we need shots,'' Wheeling Jesuit coach Danny Sancomb said. ''When they made their little run, he'd come back and hit a 3, pump fake and hit a two. He had a very good game offensively and defensively.''

About that defense. Sancomb didn't like it.

West Virginia Wesleyan was dangerously close to hitting half its shots. Clearly, it didn't take nearly enough of them.

''We lost our identity a little bit,'' Sancomb said. ''We're the best defensive team in the conference and they shot 49 shot percent. We weren't happy with that. We've got to get back at it. We know we're a defensive team and that's how we're going to win a championship.''

Wheeling Jesuit, meanwhile, did hit half its shots (37 of 74).

''Offensively, I was very happy with our execution,'' Sancomb said. ''We attacked the rim. We took open 3s, we made open 3s. We did a very good job of moving the ball.

''We've got quick guards that are able to get in. And our shooters moved to areas where they were able to get their shot off.''

Freshman Andre Harris added 16 points in 23 minutes for the Cardinals, who travel to Glenville State on Monday night. Brenden Bazillio added 15 points and six assists, while Steve Catich wound up with 14 points and a team-best nine rebounds.

Leading the way for the Bobcats (1-9, 1-4) was Justin Caldwell with 18 points. Dominique Ngniman added 15 points and nine rebounds, Neven Zeravica 11, and Shunsuke Hatano totaled 10 points.