No. 5 Central Catholic boys basketball team outlasts No. 3 St. Edward, 57-54

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Behind another great performance from their leading scorer, the Central Catholic Ironmen's boys basketball team defeated its best opponent yet in a 57-54 win over visiting St. Edward on Saturday night.

Senior Antwon Lillard led the charge with 26 points, including 10 in the first quarter of the nonleague game.

"He was our heartbeat," said first-year Ironmen coach Jeremy Holmes. "This is his team. And it was his team again tonight."

The Division II Ironmen, 16-3 and ranked fifth in the cleveland.com Top 25, led 23-9 early in the second quarter, and did not surrender the lead until under one minute remaining in the third quarter. The No. 3 Eagles (15-5) caught up, but could not maintain.

"We looked like we were coasting," Eagles coach Eric Flannery said. "We've done that a few games in a row now. We can't do that against good basketball teams. We were hoping to turn it on at some point."

Senior post Mike Ryan initiated a 30-15 Eagles run, which got them a 39-38 lead at the end of the third. He finished with 18 points. Derek Funderburk finished with 19.

Eagles forward Kipper Nichols could not get anything going from the field or the free throw line, as the Ironmen defense held him to just nine points on five missed free throws.

Play of the game

Nichols missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game at the buzzer. The attempt was well defended on a double team at the arc by Lillard and Montell McRae.

Crucial run

There were seven lead changes in the fourth quarter after the Ironmen stood on top until the end of the third. Lillard got hot again by scoring four straight, including the final Central Catholic basket.

Central Catholic sound bites

Holmes on Lillard: "This is his team. He scored early and late for us. He is our emotional leader and tonight was his night."

Holmes on beating the Eagles: "There is no doubt we know how good we can be. We beat a great team today. This was a big time confidence booster for us."

St. Edward sound bites

Flannery on the past three games: "We've made a habit out of coming from behind early. I was pretty disappointed with our effort tonight. We did persevere at times but our effort has to be better."

Flannery on easy baskets: "We missed a lot of those tonight. We were not very good from the free throw line either. Our players have to be more consistent."

Eddy Jansen is a freelancer from Strongsville.