Staff photo / Dan Hiner Canfield’s Jake DeLisio, center, splits a double team by Warrensville Heights’ Wayne Chappell, left, and Noah Chambers during the second quarter of Thursday’s regional semifinal match.

CANTON — The Canfield boys basketball team was within striking distance. But it didn’t have enough firepower to pull out a win Thursday night.

The Cardinals returned to the regional semifinals, and they drew a familiar face in Warrensville Heights, who the Cardinals bested in the same round last year. This time around, however, the Tigers came out with a 50-40 win at Canton Memorial Fieldhouse.

“I couldn’t ask them to play one ounce harder than they did. Absolutely gave every ounce of energy and focus that they had,” Canfield head coach Andy Vlajkovich said. “… I thought we executed some good things, it just came down to putting the ball in the basket. We had looks, good looks, from players and good shots, and the ball didn’t go in.”

A short 6-0 run gave the Cardinals the lead and held a 12-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Warrensville Heights started the second with nine straight points, part of a 12-0 run from the end of the opening quarter. A 3-pointer by Zyaire Chaney extended the Tigers’ lead to 18-12, forcing Canfield to call a timeout with 4:52 left in the half.

The Cardinals battled their way back and cut the deficit to 23-22, but a dunk as time expired by Wayne Chappell pushed Warrensville Heights’ halftime lead to 25-22.

“We fouled (at the end of) the first quarter intentionally with 2.6 (seconds left), which is exactly what we wanted to do. And they heave a prayer three … you play for that,” Vlajkovich said. “Then in the second quarter, I personally, got a little tentative on the fouling. The last time we fouled, they banged a three. So we don’t foul, we step uphill and they lob dunk it. … Some of that’s a little bit of bad luck to be honest with you.”

The Tigers’ talent started to make a difference in the third. They increased their lead to 38-28 after a steal and fastbreak layup with just under three minutes left in the quarter.

Warrensville Heights led 39-32, and the Cardinals had eight minutes to keep their season alive. However, the offense never manifested for the Cardinals. They went 2-for-11 shooting, and one more thunderous dunk by Chappell closed the game.

Canfield’s Jake DeLisio led all scorers with 18 points. Ben Weaver and Nick Lavanty both had seven points.

The loss brought an end to Vlajkovich’s first season coaching the Cardinals. Despite the new coaching staff, the Cards put together another deep playoff run.

Seven seniors helped make the transition easier. The seniors were Drew Shapiro, Ray McCune, Nic Folsom, Angelo DeLucia, Weaver, DeLisio and Lavanty.

“This senior class, all seven of them, has set a precedent for what it means to play basketball at Canfield,” Vlajkovich said. “It’s been the hardest working, most committed seven kids you could possibly ask for. They go 11 months a year with each other. They’re totally committed to each other, to the program. Personally, myself and the staff are forever indebted to the class of ’25. They’ve set the standard for what it means to play at Canfield.”

The senior class compiled three straight seasons of 20 or more wins. They also had a nice resume of playoff performances, and they made some memories on the hardwood this winter.

“I feel like it was a tremendous season,” DeLisio said. “Came to practice every single day just hungrier and hungrier. Obviously our main goal was to get to state, obviously we fell short. But I’m so proud of our team, and proud of what we did this year.”