NEW CARLISLE — After a promising first half, things quickly went down hill for Bellefontaine in the second half here Friday night.
The Chiefs led Tecumseh by two points at halftime, but the host Arrows outscored BHS 45-22 over the final two quarters to cruise to a 76-55 win.
Bellefontaine drops to 0-10 overall and 0-5 in the Central Buckeye Conference, while the Arrows improve to 2-10, 1-4.
The Chiefs struggled to get out on Tecumseh’s outside shooters in the second half, and offensively, they had trouble attacking the Arrows’ pull-court pressure defense.
Bellefontaine committed 12 turnovers in the third and fourth periods.
“We talked about running them off the three-point line,” said Bellefontaine head coach Jason Calton. “It was the same philosophy as we had against Ben Logan on Tuesday. For a half, I thought we did a pretty good job of making them drivers. But then they started screening us in the second half and we didn’t battle through their screens well enough.
“I am proud of our guys for fighting until the end. We just have to stay locked in defensively for four quarters.”
The Chiefs had no answer for Tecumseh guard Easton Lewis in the second half. Lewis scored 21 of his game-high 30 points after halftime.
Bellefontaine did have a bright spot in the loss as junior post player Hunter Warner scored a season-high 14 points.
“I knew Hunter would come out and play well tonight because he had a great practice Thursday,” said Calton. “It was nice to see him get it going tonight.”
Jarrid Baughman and Declan Ashcraft also reached double figures for Bellefontaine with 11 points each. Simon Stolly had seven points and Carter Sterling chipped in six points.
Bellefontaine faces a quick turnaround as it travels to St. Marys for a matinee contest today. The junior varsity game begins at 4 p.m., with the varsity to follow.
“It’s important that we stick together as a group and block out the outside noise,” said Calton. “We are excited about going up to St. Marys and playing a good team on the road. Our guys will be ready to go.”
In the junior varsity game, the Arrows defeated BHS 70-65. Dylan Breckler led the Chiefs with 27 points and Nolan Smith had 16.
Tecumseh won the freshman game 54-42. Declan Shannon led the Chiefs with 16 points and Collin Deitsch added 12 points.
TECUMSEH 76, BELLEFONTAINE 55
BELLEFONTAINE (0-10, 0-5)
K. Smith 1 0-0 2; Stolly 3 0-0 7; Ashcraft 4 3-6 11; Sterling 2 1-3 6; Baughman 4 3-5 11; Calton 1 0-0 3; Belser 0 1-2 1; Warner 6 2-2 14. Totals: 21 10-18 55.
TECUMSEH (2-10, 1-4)
Toops 2 1-2 6; Lewis 9 6-11 30; Dysinger 5 0-0 13; O’Connor 4 5-6 14; Berner 2 4-4 9; Lenger 1 0-0 2; Sherman 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 16-23 76.
Chiefs 15 • 18 • 10 • 12 — 55
Arrows 20 • 11 • 25 • 20 — 76
Three pointers: Bellefontaine 3 (Stolly, Sterling, Calton); Tecumseh 12 (Lewis 6, Dysinger 3, Toops, Berner, O’Connor). Team fouls: Bellefontaine 19; Tecumseh 16.