Szabo made four clutch free throws in the final minute to help CJ defeat Dayton Christian 57-51 at Trent Arena. CJ is now 1-7 in the boys basketball season. DC, ranked No. 3 in the Dayton Daily News Division III ratings, played well but fell to 5-2.
CJ has played one of the tougher schedules in the area, with close losses to Meadowdale, which is 4-2, Dunbar (8-1), Cincinnati Elder (4-2), Fenwick (4-3), Cincinnati Moeller (9-0), Thurgood Marshall (6-2) and Trotwood-Madison (5-0).
“If we had finished around the basket in those games like we did tonight, we’d probably be 4-4,” said Szabo, who had 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists. “We had the lead (45-38 going into the fourth quarter) and let it get away (going 5:07 in the quarter without a point).
“In past games, we didn’t come back. But tonight, we came back. Now we just have to keep it going.”
DC made 7-of-8 free throws while CJ struggled to tie the game at 45. An offensive rebound by Julian Harris (14 points, 10 rebounds) put the Warriors up 47-45 with 4:09 to go. Then they went dead from the floor, missing nine straight shots.
An Aaron LaSalle free throw at 2:32 put CJ up for good at 48-47. John Staley (22 points, 11 rebounds) got an offensive rebound off a Szabo miss for a 50-47 game. Then Szabo hit four straight free throws to keep the lead safe.
For the past two seasons, DC has been upgrading its schedule, getting the toughest nonconference opponents it can find.
“This was a game we’d obviously like to win, but it was a good measuring stick even with the loss,” said DC coach Chip James. “CJ is the most physical team we’ll play, and we hung with them.”
Mark Lieberman, a 6-foot junior guard, played an outstanding game for DC with 13 points, five rebounds and six assists.
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