Findlay Prep races to easy quarterfinal win at ESPN tourney

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, April 1, 2010 | 6:33 p.m.

The Findlay Prep basketball team wasn't expected to be at full strength Thursday for its quarterfinal game in the ESPN National High School Invitational at Coppin State in Baltimore.

The Pilots' top two players — point guard Cory Joseph and power forward Tristan Thompson — played Wednesday in the McDonald's All-American game in Columbus, Ohio, and were supposed to be fatigued after immediately catching a flight to the tournament site afterward.

The hectic travel, however, wasn't a factor.

Findlay used its speed and athleticism to make quick work of Charlotte (N.C.) Christian, leading by double digits for the final three quarters in a 65-50 victory.

Joseph and Thompson, like they have all year, were in the middle of the domination. They appeared to be fresh all game, showing no signs of exhaustion from the travel.

Thompson led Findlay with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Joseph had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in helping the Pilots (30-2) inch one step closer to defending their ESPN national title from last year. Findlay, which is ranked No. 5 in the ESPN poll and in the top 10 in several other rankings, won the eight-team tournament last year to win the network's title.

"(The travel) is nothing new for them. They have done it before with summer basketball," Findlay coach Mike Peck said.

Findlay took the lead for good with an 8-0 run that closed the first quarter. Findlay forced Charlotte Christian into five straight turnovers and turned the miscues into easy baskets, including an alley-oop dunk by Nick Johnson off a pass from Thompson.

Findlay forced 10 turnovers in the 16-minute first half, also grabbing 11 offensive rebounds on 14 missed shots.

"We definitely felt we would have an advantage on the perimeter with our guards," Peck said. "We thought we would be able to dictate the tempo."

Findlay led by as many as 30 points late in the third quarter, but Charlotte Christian cut the deficit late against the Pilots' second team.

Johnson, one of the most highly sought-after junior prospects in the nation, finished with 13 points and helped speed the pace of the game early. Sharpshooter Marko Petrovic buried a trio of 3-pointers in adding 12 points.

The Pilots next play at 11 a.m. Friday against Mountain State of West Virginia in the semifinals. Mountain State upset perennial high school power Oak Hill Academy, 59-53, earlier Thursday. Findlay beat Mountain State, 79-53, in early January.

"They are better than they were in January," Peck said. "They are going to be very eager to play us again."