Mentor Falls to Shaker in OT

The Mentor boys basketball team fell to Shaker Heights for the second time in 2013 after having a commanding lead.

The Cardinals were up by 17 in the fourth quarter before Shaker rallied and forced overtime, according to a recap from Ohio Varsity. Coach Bob Krizancic was not pleased with the result.

"The only way to categorize what just happened is we were weak,” he said. “The whole fourth quarter, we had weak passes, weak defense, weak rebounding. We needed somebody to want the ball. We needed to knock down some key free throws.

"That is a game we have to find a way to close out and win."

The Shaker Heights Red Raiders were paced by sophomore Esa Ahmad, who had 28 points. Mentor senior guard Jeff Foreman had 15 points, but fouled out late in regulation in what was a turning point in the game.

"When Foreman fouled out that was huge," Krizancic said. "But, no matter who is on the floor we should be able to put teams away. We have good athletes, but we have to find a way to be better in the fourth quarter."

The loss placed Mentor (16-4, 6-2) in a tie with Garfield Heights for first place in the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division. The two teams square off Friday night at Mentor High School.