One way to measure a team’s improvement over the course of a season is to compare how it does against a team the second time. On Dec. 19, a young Mentor squad traveled to Greater Cleveland Conference for Shaker Heights and came away with a 71-65 victory. In the rematch at Mentor on Jan. 30, the Ca rdinals dominated from start to finish on senior night in an 88-57 rout. Mentor improved to 11-4 overall and 6-3 in the GCC. Shaker Heights dropped to 5-9, 2-7. For Mentor coach Bob Krizancic, it’s the tempo and pressure defense that makes the difference. When he sees his team create havoc all over the court defensively, and sees steals turning into points in waves, that’s exactly what he wants from his players. The Cardinals pressured the Red Raiders all over the floor, including on inbound passes after baskets. They forced 22 turnovers and had 14 steals by six players. Junior Bernard Gnjatic scored a career-high 24 points to pace five Cardinals in double figures. Sophomore Nate Sabin added 15 points off the bench, and sophomore Jack Kennedy (13), senior Tony Katava (12) and sophomore Connor Witte (10) also tallied in double digits. @CardinalCage Coach Bob Krizancic breaks down a dominant, 88-57 win over Shaker Heights pic.twitter.com/LTe1xby1oU — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 31, 2026 “We’ve had two in a row like that,” Krizancic said. “At (VASJ) we shot the ball really well, and had 93 after three (quarters). That’s such a great omen. We’ve been waiting for that all year. My philosophy coming in to this year was to get wins and build confidence, and I hoped by February we would be able to compete with the best. “I think a lot of our sophomores and freshmen are growing up. Tonight was a really good game for them, it was home, and you could see them gaining confidence.” The good omen that Krizancic was referring to started with Gnjatic, who knocked down each of his first three 3-point attempts, all in a 12-2 run to open the game. “Once I felt it I just kept getting hot,” Gnjatic said. “My teammates kept finding me, so it just felt good.” @CardinalCage Gnjatic brothers, senior Daniel, (to the left, 5 points) and junior Bernard (right, team and career-high 24 points, including six 3s) talk about Mentor’s 88-57 rout of Shaker Heights pic.twitter.com/TvBCAd0gv8 — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 31, 2026 Gnjatic ended up 6 of 9 from outside the arc for the Cardinals, who were 12 of 30 on 3s as a team. Mentor shot 62% from the field overall (37 of 60). The Cardinals took just three free throws, making two, while Shaker Heights was 19 of 27 at the line. After Shaker junior DeJuan Fuentes drilled a 3 to bring the Red Raiders within 17-10, Mentor went on a 16-0 run going into the second quarter to take a commanding 33-10 lead. The Cardinals turned the Red Raiders over eight times in the first quarter, and then another eight in the second, with most of those reversals resulting in points. Mentor's Tommy Pavicic eyes a layup Jan. 30 against Shaker Heights. (Tim Phillis - for The News-Herald) Gnjatic and Kennedy each scored 11 points in the opening frame, and Gnjatic went on to add eight points and Katava seven in the second, as Mentor took a 58-30 lead into halftime. “Our locker room’s been great. Our energy has been great,” said Bernard’s brother Daniel Gnjatic, one of just two seniors on the Mentor roster along with Katava. “Our shooting the last two games has improved like crazy, so hopefully it improves throughout the whole season.” Mentor extended its lead to 81-41 through three quarters, as Sabin, another young guard whose potential Krizancic is excited about, scored nine of his points in the third quarter. Fifteen players got into the game for Mentor, as reserves played the fourth quarter during a running clock. Sophomore Tommy Pavicic had three assists, Witte grabbed eight rebounds, and Bernard Gnjatic and sophomore Luke Gerard each had three steals. Senior Jacire Eaddy led Shaker Heights with 25 points and six rebounds. The Red Raiders did match the Cardinals in one area: rebounding, with each team corralling 28. @raidersofshaker Coach Danny Young discusses Shaker Heights’ 88-57 loss at Mentor pic.twitter.com/inKbSislRu — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) January 31, 2026 “They played Coach K basketball,” veteran Shaker Heights coach Danny Young said. “Coach K is never going to change. He’s my favorite coach in Cleveland. We have a great relationship, and nothing but mutual respect for one another. “They shot the lights out. I tried to emphasize to my boys that you cannot turn the ball over, because they capitalize.” Mentor is 5-1 over its last six games, and hopes to keep its momentum going with two home games next week against GCC opponents Strongsville (Feb. 3) and Cleveland Heights (Feb. 6). “We were on the road the first eight of nine games, and we finish with a strong homestand,” Krizancic said. “Both games next week are at home, we’ve got Medina at home and Glenville at home. So, it’s great to be here.” THE SCORE Mentor 88, Shaker Heights 57 ...read more read less