Cory Joseph battles leg injury, leads Findlay Prep to win on national TV

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 | 2:23 p.m.

Updated Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 | 4:06 p.m.

Findlay Prep point guard Cory Joseph showed a national television audience Monday afternoon why he is one of the most coveted basketball recruits in the class of 2010.

Joseph had 23 points and nine rebounds in leading the No. 3 Pilots to a 71-70 victory against top-ranked St. Patrick's of Elizabeth, N.J., in the Hoophall Classic at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. The game was shown on ESPNU.

Going head-to-head for parts of the game against St. Patrick's Kyrie Irving, a Duke signee who ESPN recruiting analyst Paul Biancardi described in the telecast as the nation's most complete point guard, Joseph more than held his own.

Joseph had 16 points, six rebounds and three assists in the first half, but was hindered with cramps in both calves in the second half. That's when Irving, who is rated as the nation's No. 6 overall prospect and No. 2 point guard by ESPN, did most of his damage in finishing with a game-high 30 points.

Irving's effort almost sent the game into overtime. He was fouled with one second to play as Findlay was ahead by two points. He made the first free throw, but missed the second as Findlay survived.

"Our guys knew the magnitude of this game and went it meant," Findlay coach Mike Peck said. "Players like Cory, Tristan (Thompson) and Nick (Johnson) stepped up for us."

Joseph, who is rated as ESPN's No. 30 overall prospect and No. 6 point guard, missed most of the third quarter with cramps and clearly was a step slower when he returned in the fourth quarter.

But he still proved to be a difference maker in the final minutes. His 3-pointer with 2:10 left gave Findlay a 65-58 lead and should have iced the game for the Pilots.

But Findlay connected on only two of six free-throw attempts in the final minute and Irving and Co. almost pulled out the victory.

Joseph did a little bit of everything — scoring, getting his teammates open looks and grabbing rebounds, especially in the first half as Findlay led 42-34 at halftime.

Joseph closed the first half by driving to the basket and passing to an open Thompson for an easy jumper at the intermission buzzer.

"He is extremely fast and he got inside our defense," St. Patrick's coach Kevin Boyle told ESPN at halftime. "He broke us down a lot. He is penetrating and getting good looks for everyone else. We have to do a better job with that."

With Joseph on the bench receiving treatment, including eating bananas for potassium, St. Patrick's mounted its comeback.

The Celtics went on a 10-0 run that cut their deficit to 52-51 at the end of the quarter. Irving had seven points in the outburst, including a 3-pointer that trimmed Findlay's lead to one point.

Joseph, who is considering Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, Villanova and UNLV, returned in the fourth quarter and helped Findlay open the final eight minutes on a 7-0 run.

Joseph wasn't the lone Findlay player to shine.

Junior shooting guard Nick Johnson, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, buried a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to increase Findlay's lead to four points. On St. Patrick's next possession, Johnson took a charge and Findlay was able to extend a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Thompson, who signed with Texas and is ESPN's No. 11 overall prospect, picked up two quick fouls in the initial four minutes and spent most of the first half on the bench. But his 3-point play with three minutes left increased Findlay's lead to 62-55.

The victory helps make amends for the lone blemish on Findlay's record. The Pilots (22-1) were defeated, 52-51, by Northland High of Columbus, Ohio, in mid-December on ESPN. The loss dropped them from No. 1 in ESPN's rankings to No. 3.

"This is first time in program history (four years) where we entered a game as the underdog," Peck said. "I also think the kids felt bad about that first game they played on ESPN and wanted to redeem themselves."

Thomas Laerke finished with 10 points for Findlay, while Thompson and Godwin Okonji each had eight points and six assists.