A team that is as fundamentally sound as Fairview can compete with any Division III team. If it’s littered with talented shot creators and willing passers, it’s almost unfair.
The Warriors’ lethal combination was in full-effect to pave a 5-0 start in a 74-58 win over Lake Catholic on Dec. 22.
“I think every team preaches (our style of play), but our kids live it,” Fairview Coach Ryan Barry said. “They are all about each other. They are about the right play, not the play for them necessarily. Our guys are always ready to knock it down. They work hard at it. I am proud of the way that they play.”
Fairview’s Burke Lowry (22 points), J.R. Beato (11), Collin Lucas (14) and Will Allen (17) reached double-figures.
Fairview’s offense starts with Beato at point guard. His speed and ball handling got past many Cougars. Once the help defense came, he dished the ball out to record eight assists.
“We run these sets every day in practice,” Beato said. “I know where they are going to be and how they are going to be. I don’t even look at the defenders. I just look at where my teammates are going to be and I know where they are going to be.”
PHOTOS: Lake Catholic vs. Fairview boys basketball, Dec. 22, 2023
Beato (junior) has had three years of varsity experience. According to Barry, his mindset is to do whatever it takes to win. Becomes a difference maker in the locker room.
“This is his third year playing varsity for us. He started as a sophomore and had a lot of minutes, even as a freshman. He is extremely unselfish and one of the kindest kids that we have in the program,” Barry said. “He wants to win. He doesn’t care if he’s scoring or getting hacked against pressure. He is going to do whatever it takes to get his teammates a win.”
Lowry had two points in the first quarter, as the Warriors led, 18-8. Fairview’s starting quarterback on the gridiron scored the other 20 points in the final three quarters, once he found his rhythm.
“It’s kind of about getting a feel for the game’s flow. In the first quarter, we are feeling how they are playing the zone and see what is open. After that, we just go (and attack),” Lowry said.
Like many games at Fairview, it had to overcome the size disadvantage that leaned in Lake Catholic’s favor with 6-foot-7 Cross Nimo in the paint. Fairview was outrebounded 27-17, but boxed out to allow eight offensive rebounds.
“We have been working really hard about meeting guys and keeping them where we need them (to get rebounds),” Barry said. “J.R. (Beato) had a displacement called because he moved his guy all the way out of the paint. I’d rather see that, than trying to outjump people.”
Beato thought Fairview had deceptive strength to contend at the glass.
“We are a strong team. We don’t look strong, but we lift all the time,” he said.
Lake Catholic Coach Matt Vespa thought Fairview had more energy on the court.
“I just thought the energy that (Fairview) played with compared to us kind of set the tone very early in the game,” he said. “They are a good and a well-coached team. I thought we dug ourselves a hole and I didn’t think that we (could climb out of it).”
Despite being on the losing end, Lake Catholic’s Peyton Budrys-Rini led the team with 19 points. Ace Peterlin (10 points) and Aiden Webb (11) also contributed with double-figures.
Fairview went on a 8-0 run in the second quarter, but Lake Catholic made the last baskets for Fairview to lead, 33-26.
The Warriors expanded their lead in the latter half of the third quarter, in which they went on a 17-7 run. The Cougars committed enough fouls to put Fairview in the free-throw bonus. Beato scored Fairview’s final five points at the free-throw line.
According to Barry, Fairview isn’t playing its best basketball, but has three wins over Division II and I opponents on its resume. Fairview has reached a 5-0 start for the second time in three years. The Warriors reached a 5-0 start in the 2021-22 season and advanced to the Division III Wooster final.
“We are thrilled to be 5-0. I am really proud of them. I don’t think a lot of people saw this but the coaches and players believed in it. They are out here doing it,” he said.
Lake Catholic has had a yo-yo-like start to the season, as it dropped to 3-3. The Cougar haven’t strung together wins or losses. Their next game will be at Perry on Dec. 23.
“We just need to be consistent. … This has been our story. We would have a really good win and we would follow it up with a bad (game),” Vespa said. “If we want to become the team that we can be and these guys say that they want to be, we need to be consistent.”
