Four years ago, Elder cut Jake Bazeley from its freshman basketball team. On Saturday night, the senior point guard, scored the winning basket with 1.4 seconds remaining in the Panthers' 58-57 overtime victory over Western Hills in the regional semifinals.

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Jake Bazeley celebrates after hitting the game-winning shot in the regional final. 600 | 800 | 1024 (Jeff Swinger photos)

        The victory catapulted coach Joe Schoenfeld's Panthers into Friday's Division I state semifinals against undefeated and No.1-rank ed Columbus Brookhaven at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

        Bazeley's elation Saturday was a far cry from the heartbreak he felt as a 14-year-old.

        “I cried a lot, because I knew I was better than some of the kids who made the team,” Bazeley said. “It was the first time I was cut from a team in any sport, and it was tough to handle.”

        Schoenfeld admitted to being in on the decision to cut Bazeley from the freshman team.

        “I'm as much to blame as any one, and it was a mistake,” Schoenfeld said. “At the time, Jake was more like a forward than a guard, without ballhandling skills.”

        Four months later, Bazeley tried out for and made Elder's freshman baseball team. He regained confidence in himself as an athlete.

        “I wanted to go back the next year and try out for basketball, but I decided to play baseball during the summer,” Bazeley said.

        “Dad told me to keep working, but I didn't start getting ready for basketball until September. I hurt my back playing baseball and sat out for a month.”

Bazeley drives in the regional semifinal against Springfield South. | ZOOM |

        A more determined Bazeley showed up for basketball tryouts his sophomore year and earned a spot on the junior varsity.

        “My brother (Mike) played as a freshman and sophomore but didn't make the varsity,” Bazeley said. “When I came home and told Dad that I had made the team, he cried.”

        But Bazeley played sparingly until the final five games. Ironically, Bazeley was cut from the junior varsity baseball team as a sophomore, leading to his year-round dedication to basketball.

        Bazeley saw limited action on the varsity last season, playing behind senior guards Mike Kelsey and Sean Rowland, who both averaged in dou ble figures.

        When Rowland was hit in the head during the final game of the season against St.Xavier, Bazeley took over during the second half.

        “We beat St.X by three points, and I didn't miss a shot and had some assists,” Bazeley said. “It was senior night, and that was a big thrill.”

        After watching Bazeley play against St.X, Schoenfeld knew the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder would play an integral role this season.

Bazeley celebrates the win over South. | ZOOM |

        “The best thing that happened to Jake was playing behind Sean and Mike,” Schoenfeld said. “He was always going against them in practice, which enabled him to learn the position.”

        Schoenfeld described Bazeley, who averages 13 points and four assists a game, as the “complete player.”

        “As good as Jake is on offense, he's also aggressive and hard-nosed on defense,” Schoenfeld said. “He's very vocal and a good floor leader. He can drive to the basket, pull up for a short jump shot or hit the 3-pointer. He has no weaknesses.”

        Prior to the season, Schoenfeld offered Bazeley a challenge, one he accepted and achieved.

        “Coach challenged me to make first team in the (Greater Catholic League),” Bazeley said. “He told me it was mine if I wanted it.”

        Bazeley's ballhandling skills will be challenged by Brookhaven, which presses the entire game and tries to force the tempo.

        If Elder wins, the Panthers will play for the school's fourth state championship (1973, '74, '93), on Saturday against the winner of the Cleveland St.Ignatius/Massillon Washington game.

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