Start has been a member of the Toledo City League since the 1962-63 boys basketball season and, before last school year, had won only three championships in that sport — 1979, 1997, and 2013.
Although those teams celebrated their titles joyously under coaches Bob Pawlak (’79) and Gil Guerrero (’97 and ’13), it is hard to imagine any of them matching the emotion released when second-year coach Matthew Wortham’s Spartans put the final stroke on a masterpiece 19-3 regular season last Feb. 22 in the City championship game.
Leading 37-28 after three quarters, Start watched that lead evaporate in the closing minutes in the wake of a furious fourth-quarter Rogers rally. And, when Rams star and City League player of the year Christian Smith put Rogers ahead by two with 10 seconds remaining, the Spartans seemed doomed with no timeouts remaining.
But they worked the ball upcourt and found junior guard Brandon Lewis open along the left side between the wing and corner. Lewis, who was scoreless to that point, nailed a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired in a thrilling 49-48 Start victory.
“That was special for sure,” Lewis said Tuesday, eight months after the highlight of his athletic career. “The shot was actually a bigger moment than what I expected. I didn’t hit any other shots in that game, but it came down to the last shot, and I made it.”
Lewis indeed made it, Start had its fourth CL crown, and the valiant Rams were left heartbroken as the Spartans’ fans spilled onto the court in euphoria.
Wortham and Lewis perhaps realize that recreating such delirium is highly unlikely, but they are hoping to repeat their City championship in any way possible this year, and the CL’s coaches believe Start will.
The Spartans received four of the six first-place votes and 34 of a possible 36 voting points in a preseason poll of City League coaches.
“We embrace it,” Wortham said of the challenge to repeat. “We’ve got seven returning guys, and we’ve built the program to be at this point. We don’t talk too much about it, but I did let [the players] know we were picked to finish first.
“The kids kind of downplayed it. Last year, our No.1 goal was to win a City championship. This year, of course we want to repeat, but we’ve got other goals we want to accomplish with a strong team returning.”
Rogers picked up the other two first-place votes and collected 32 points for second in the poll, and Bowsher was tabbed for third at 24 points. Waite, Woodward, and Scott follow.
Along with Lewis, Start returns first-team All-City guard Devin Williams, who transitions back to basketball after a football season that resulted in Start’s fourth straight City championship, as well as Division I first-team All-Ohio honors for Williams at linebacker.
“It’s a great feeling,” Wortham said of the respect accorded his team. “It’s my third year as a head coach. The first year we were picked to finish fifth, the second year we were picked to finish third, and now we’re picked to finish first in the City.
“I was a little shocked at first [being voted No. 1] because I have a high respect for what Rogers has over there in their program, with two D-I [college] caliber players. I’m excited we’ve got the opportunity, but we’re the hunted now, not the hunter, so it’s going to be a tough road for us.”
Start
Coach: Matthew Wortham, third season
Last season: 19-4, 9-1 CL
Top players: Seniors Devin Williams, 5-10, PG; Alex Perry, 6-3, G; Brandon Lewis, 5-9, G; Tavieon McDonald, 6-2, F; Darius Bey, 6-2, F. Junior Adrian Michael, 5-11, G.
Strengths: Scoring balance, experience, perimeter shooting
Weaknesses: Post offense, post defense, overall size
Outlook: The Spartans enjoyed a highly successful season a year ago, falling just one short of tying the school record for wins and capturing the league title in dramatic fashion.
Lewis returns to the starting lineup along with team leader Williams (12.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists per game) and Perry (10 ppg, 5 rpg) as Start bids to repeat its CL crown. In all, seven letter winners return for Wortham, who will be relying on this experience in battling fellow top contenders Rogers and Bowsher.
“The City League should be stronger than last season,” Wortham said. “Rogers’ experience with two Division I caliber [college] players, Bowsher’s overall length and coaching experience, and Waite’s new energy will make the league a battle. I love my team’s work ethic and experience. Staying focused will be the key to our success.”
Rogers
Coach: Ketaan Wyatt, Sr., second season
Last season: 9-13, 8-2
Top players: Seniors Divontae Fitzpatrick, 5-10, G; Curtis Jackson, 6-6, F. Juniors Da’Sean Nelson, 6-7, W; Ketaan Wyatt, Jr., 6-3, G; Javonte Hayward, 5-9, G.
Strengths: Scoring balance, perimeter shooting, ball-handling
Weaknesses: Inexperience, overall depth, post defense
Outlook: The Rams were just a split-second away from winning the City championship last season. Now Rogers must try to get back to the top without the league’s top player, Smith (18.5 points, 5.4 rebounds per game).
But back are Nelson (11.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg), who joined Smith on the All-City first team, and Wyatt, Jr. (11.3 points), who was named to the second team. Fitzpatrick (5 points) also contributed. From there, Rogers’ fortunes this season may be dictated by the remainder of the roster, which includes no returning letter winners. On paper, it appears the Rams have a bit of everything, but how that plays out will be the key.
“We can shoot the deep ball from every position in the starting lineup,” coach Wyatt said. “We have a strong ball-handling group and decent size in the starting lineup, but we lack size outside of that lineup.”
Bowsher
Coach: Joe Guerrero, eighth season
Last season: 10-11, 7-3
Top players: Seniors Markus Ray, 6-5, C; Shawn Hoskins, 6-4, F; Dre Williams, 6-1, G; Damion Washington, 6-1, G. Junior Lamar Skipper, 6-0, G.
Strengths: Overall depth, size, experience
Weaknesses: Creating pressure, perimeter shooting, perimeter defense
Outlook: The Rebels were in the City League title mix last season but lost 70-68 to Rogers in the playoff semifinals. Bowsher’s biggest graduation loss is that of Ajai Washington (13.5 points), who was named first-team All-City. But the other four starters return, as do two other letter winners.
Ray (11.7 points, 8.4 rebounds), Hoskins (7.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg), and Skipper (7.4 ppg) will be expected to lead the offensive output, and Williams and Washington provide balance.
“We have a lot of experience returning, but our leading scorer graduated, so we have to replace that,” Guerrero said. “Our guard play will be a key factor in our success this season.”
Waite
Coach: Darren White-Owens, first season
Last season: 8-14, 2-8
Top players: Seniors Mark Randall, 6-1, G/F; Alex Boose, 5-8, G; Corvaun Howard, 6-3, G-F; Vinny Guerrero, 6-1, G/F. Junior Demond Allen, 6-0, G.
Strengths: Perimeter shooting, ball-handling, scoring balance
Weaknesses: Post offense, post defense, rebounding
Outlook: Last season, the Indians were the preseason favorite to win the City title under former coach Adam Rodriguez. But leading scorer Carl Banks was arrested on a felony charge, the Indians hit a few other hurdles, and the promising season never materialized.
Graduated from last season are the CL’s top rebounder, Keyshawn Leach (10.8 boards, 9.0 points), and Dominique Booth (11.5 points), who were both second-team All-City selections. Randall (10.9 points) is the top returnee and will be expected to lead in the transition to a new coach.
“This year’s team will have to depend on the leadership from returning starters Mark Randall and Vinny Guerrero due to a lack of varsity experience,” White-Owens said. “Our ability to shoot the ball at a high rate will allow us to compete with anybody in the area. Our team will be tough every night because of our aggressiveness of defense and ability to spread the floor.”
Woodward
Coach: Mark Knabbs, seventh season
Last season: 3-19, 2-8
Top players: Seniors Ty’Quan Porter, 6-4, G; G’onnie Ewing, 6-2, F. Juniors Delveon Lear, 5-7, G; Jonte Smith, 5-10, G. Freshman Dominic Chizmar, 6-2, G.
Strengths: Ball-handling, handling pressure, perimeter shooting
Weaknesses: Post defense, post offense, overall depth
Outlook: The Polar Bears struggled last season after reaching the City championship game in 2016 and getting back into the CL playoffs in 2017. But Knabbs has three starters returning, plus two other letter winners, so the prospects for being more competitive are good. The biggest graduation loss is that of Charles Robinson III (16.1 points, 7.2 rebounds).
Porter (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds), Smith (6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg), and Lear (5.2 ppg) should each elevate their offensive production this season.
“We definitely should be better than last season’s team,” Knabbs said. “This team is very athletic. If we shoot the ball as well as we have in the preseason, the sky’s the limit for this team.”
Scott
Coach: Rodney Martin, second season
Last season: 2-19, 2-8
Top players: Seniors Brandon Hendricks, 5-10, G; Perrion Jones, 5-9, G; Cedric Williams, 5-9, G. Juniors Kevin Woodard, 5-11, G; Daivon Leiba, 6-2, F; Genesis Warith, 6-4, G.
Strengths: Handling pressure, creating pressure, ball-handling
Weaknesses: Inexperience, overall size, post defense
Outlook: Considering the Bulldogs’ domination of the City League — especially between 1974-1992, when they won 12 championships playing in what was then one of Ohio’s top basketball hotbeds — it may be difficult for some to grasp how Scott has fared the past two seasons at 5-40 overall.
But that rough patch followed the Bulldogs’ 18th CL title in 2014-15, when former coach Fred Coogler’s team ended 21-4.
Martin is hoping to make the past two years seem only like a crazy aberration, but the trouble is he has no returning starters and just two letter winners returning. So, things may not change much immediately for a team that lacks experience, size, and on-court leadership.
“This season will be tough, being that we lost two starters for the season in Brycen White and Jalen Quinn,” Martin said. “However, this team is a joy to coach. The young men come every day hungry and willing to work. This group is unselfish and hard-working. Brandon Hendricks’ leadership, on and off the court, is a major part of the program’s growth.”
First Published November 30, 2018, 12:00 p.m.
