Every team knows it’s coming. Everyone prepares for it, over and over. That relentless, full-court Mentor press that creates havoc and leads to easy points. You can simulate it in practice, but it’s still tough to deal with when the game is on. Mentor forced 11 turnovers in the first quarter an d took a 24-15 lead on its way to an 85-69 victory over visiting Cleveland Heights in a Greater Cleveland Conference battle Feb. 6. Sophomore Jack Kennedy scored a game-high 26 points and nearly had a triple-double with nine assists and nine steals. Senior Tony Katava added 23 points, on 9 for 13 shooting from the field and 5 for 5 from the line. Down, 48-31, at the half, Cleveland Heights battled back, cutting way down on the turnovers and forcing nine of their own while outscoring Mentor in the second half, 38-37. But the damage had already been done, and the hole was too big for the Tigers. @CardinalCage sophomore Jack Kennedy (Game-high 26 points) breaks down Mentor’s 85-69 GCC win over Cleveland Heights pic.twitter.com/lfvzApEla2 — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) February 7, 2026 “I thought it was great,” Kennedy said of the win. “In the first half we came out hopping, and in the second half they made some runs. It was all about staying composed, really. Our coach always preaches that from Day 1 of practice.” Although the Tigers were bigger overall, with two starters at 6-foot-5 and two others at 6-foot-3, the Cardinals nevertheless were able to harass them and force them into mistakes at their own end of the court on inbounds passes, or stealing the first pass after the inbounds. Action from Cleveland Heights-Mentor boys basketball on Feb. 6, 2026. (Noelle Witherite - The News-Herald) Kennedy, who stands just 5-foot-9, was like a whirlwind, moving quickly, making steals, gliding through the defense for layups or finding an open teammate with a pinpoint precise pass for a quick bucket. Kennedy finished the first quarter with 15 points and seven steals. Mentor (13-4, 8-3 GCC) turned a 16-4 run into a 38-19 lead in the second quarter. Katava added eight of his points in the frame, and sophomore Luke Gerard and freshman Mason Sauric chipped in with 3s, as the Cardinals scored another 24 points to take a 48-31 halftime lead. Cleveland Heights (9-8, 4-6 GCC) only turned the ball over eight more times after the first quarter, and just five in the second half. Senior Jamell Stephens, who finished with a team-high 25 points, scored 21 in the second half. In times when the Tigers were able to break the Mentor press, they were able to get the ball into the basket for easy layups. But that didn’t happen often enough for them. Cleveland Heights was able to push the ball down the court more in the second half and set up 3-point looks or use its size differential inside. The Tigers cut their deficit to 12 points four times in the second half, and once were even within 11, but the Cardinals kept the pressure on offensively, with Kennedy scoring nine more points and consistently finding the 6-foot-7 Katava on the low block. Katava scored 13 of his points after halftime. @CardinalCage senior Tony Katava (23 points, 7 rebounds) discusses Mentor’s 85-69 win over Cleveland Heights pic.twitter.com/DeWA8Q8cYS — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) February 7, 2026 “I thought the press got them in the first half a little bit,” Katava said. “They started beating it in the second half, but they were too worn down from the first half. Our whole goal is just to tire teams out, and I think we did that really well.” Sophomore Tommy Pavicic scored 13 points for Mentor, and Sauric added 10. Senior Noah Blue tallied nine points for Heights. @CardinalCage Coach Bob Krizancic goes over Mentor’s 85-69 win over Cleveland Heights pic.twitter.com/cOk0prbsoe — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) February 7, 2026 “Seven out of eight (wins),” Mentor coach Bob Krizancic said of his team’s recent hot stretch. “We thought we needed (points) in the high 80s to make it comfortable. We averaged 96 over the previous three games. “Other than the turnovers, I’m pretty happy. They’ve done a phenomenal job shooting for a young team. Every game we play, we want to get a ‘W’, (but the main thing) is getting confidence and experience and being better in the next one.” Mentor sank 18 3-pointers in a 100-61 win over Strongsville on Feb. 3. The Cardinals finished with nine triples this time, but were also 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. In a little bit of a scheduling quirk, Mentor will play Cleveland Heights again in its next game, on the road this time on Feb. 10. “We had to win this one going there,” Krizancic said. “It gives the kids a ton of confidence. I’m OK with (playing Heights again so soon). They’re very athletic, so it’s a great test for us. But we have prepped really, really hard, and the kids are gym rats.” THE SCORE Mentor 85, Cleveland Heights 69 ...read more read less