Bellefontaine’s boys basketball team turned in a much better effort this time around against Springfield Shawnee, but it was not quite enough to get a victory.
The Chieftains, who lost to the Braves 72-36 in the season opener, saw a 10-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter Friday in the rematch as visiting Shawnee pulled out a 46-42 win in Central Buckeye Conference action.
Bellefontaine is now 7-8 overall and 2-4 in the CBC. The Braves improve to 10-5, 4-2.
The Chiefs led 19-17 at halftime and they pushed their lead to double digits at 34-24 after three quarters.
But Shawnee battled back in the final period. The Braves outscored Bellefontaine 22-8 over the final eight minutes to rally for the victory.
Sophomore Tavien St. Clair led the Chiefs with 20 points. C.J. Wilson had 10 points and Carter Snapp added seven points.
Zion Crowe scored a game-high 22 points to lead Shawnee.
In the junior varsity game, Bellefontaine won 38-29. Patrick Stolly and Kailyn Organ each had 10 points for the Chiefs.
Bellefontaine is back in action tonight at Xenia.
SHAWNEE 46, BELLEFONTAINE 42
SHAWNEE (10-5, 4-2)
Crowe 6 7-8 22; Mercer 1 0-0 3; Houseman 1 0-0 2; Siemon 2 0-0 4; Boehmer 3 0-0 6; Dixon 3 2-2 9. Totals: 16 9-10 46.
BELLEFONTAINE (7-8, 2-4)
St. Clair 6 8-10 20; Overton-Story 2 1-1 5; Snapp 3 0-0 7; Wilson 4 0-0 10. Totals: 15 9-11 42.
Braves 11 6 7 22 — 46
Chiefs 9 10 15 8 — 42
Three pointers: Shawnee 5 (Crowe 3, Mercer, Dixon); Bellefontaine 3 (Wilson 2, Snapp).
Team fouls: Shawnee 10; Bellefontaine 14.