Chiefs come through in clutch to nip Cougars
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Bellefontaine’s Jack Clement puts a shot against a Kenton Ridge defender during their game Friday in Springfield. (EXAMINER PHOTO | MATT HAMMOND) |
Bellefontaine’s boys basketball team showed Friday that it is learning from its previous experiences in tight games.
The Chiefs, who have five losses by five or less points this season, trailed by three points with 3:18 here against Kenton Ridge before coming up big in the clutch to pull out a 57-55 victory.
Bellefontaine avenged an earlier-season loss to the Cougars to improve to 6-9 overall and 3-5 in the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail division.
Kenton Ridge drops to 9-9, 2-6.
The Chiefs led by six at the end of the third quarter and held a 43-35 advantage with 6:50 left in the game.
However, the Cougars roared back. They used a 15-4 run to jump on top 50-47 with just over three minutes remaining.
Bellefontaine refused to buckle, though. A jumper by Dawsin Tillman and a layup by Isaiah Miller put the Chiefs back in front at 51-50 at the 2:17 mark.
After the Cougars split a pair of free throws to knot the score at 51-51, Tillman knocked down a runner in the lane and Miller followed with a bucket to give the Chiefs a four-point cushion (55-51) with 41 ticks left on the clock.
Kenton Ridge scored inside to cut the BHS lead to three, but freshman point guard Jack Clement hit two clutch free throws with 23 seconds remaining to put the the Chiefs up by five (57-52).
The Cougars kept fighting, getting a free throw from Caleb King with 15 seconds left and a putback of a missed free throw with 9 seconds left to cut the Chiefs’ lead to two points (57-55).
Bellefontaine was fouled immediately and missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Kenton Ridge got the rebound and pushed the ball up the court in the final seconds. Jordan Bailey attempted a three-pointer at the buzzer, but it fell short.
The Chiefs did get dealt some adversity late in the game when sophomore post player Spencer George, who scored 14 points, went down with an ankle injury. He hobbled off and did not return.
Hayden Nease also had 14 points for the Chiefs. Miller scored 12 and Clement and Tillman each added six.
Lakers take over in third quarter, down Knights
A dominating effort in the third quarter helped spark Indian Lake’s boys basketball team to a 54-42 win over host Greenon Friday in Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division action.
The Lakers boost their mark to 10-7 overall and 6-2 in the Mad River standings, while the Knights drop their seventh straight and are 2-14, 1-7.
Both teams were tied 5-5 after the opening quarter. Indian Lake outscored Greenon 14-11 in the second quarter, which gave them a 19-16 lead at halftime.
The Lakers distanced themselves in the third quarter with a 21-11 run. That put Indian Lake on top 40-27. Greenon clipped Indian Lake 15-14 in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to catch the Lakers.
Beau Hefner fueled Indian Lake’s attack with 22 points, Collin Coburn tallied 12 points and Alex Jacobs chipped in eight points.
Tigers overcome slow start to dodge Irish
West Liberty-Salem’s boys basketball team overcame a sluggish start to turn back Springfield Catholic Central for a 53-43 Ohio Heritage Conference victory Friday night.
The Tigers, who trailed by 14 at halftime, have now won 12 straight games and are 16-2 overall and 11-0 in the OHC.
The Irish fall to 5-9, 3-7 and lost to the Tigers 61-47 earlier this season.
Catholic Central surprised WL-Salem in the opening quarter to take a 16-6 lead. The Irish outscored the Tigers 18-14 in the second quarter to take a 34-20 lead into halftime.
The final two quarters belonged to WL-Salem, though, as it outscored the Irish 33-9.
WL-Salem went on a 14-5 run in the third quarter to get within five points at 39-34.
The Tigers then took command in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Irish 19-4.
Kannon Stillings led the Tigers with 19 points, Austin Miller tallied 12 points and Ross Kelley added nine points.
Hardin Northern edges Riverside
Hardin Northern’s boys basketball team rallied in the fourth quarter for a 43-41 win over visiting Riverside Friday in Northwest Central Conference play.
The Pirates slip to 6-9 overall and 3-3 in the NWCC, while the Polar Bears improve to 5-10, 1-5.
Riverside’s offense got rolling in the first quarter to grab a 19-9 advantage. Hardin Northern gained the momentum with a 12-6 effort in the second quarter, but still trailed 25-21 at halftime.
The Pirates edged the Polar Bears 12-10 in the third quarter to maintain a 37-31 lead.
Hardin Northern held off Riverside in the fourth quarter and used a 12-4 run to clip the Pirates at the end of regulation.
Landon Kelsey led Riverside’s efforts with 10 points, Jesse Kean and Shawn Crawford each had eight points and Trey Helmlinger had seven points.
In junior varsity action, Riverside dropped Hardin Northern 46-22. Lane Willoby had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Alonzo Stotler had seven points.
Triad finishes sweep of M’burg
Triad’s boys basketball team took control from the opening whistle against host Mechanicsburg Friday and ran away with a 59-40 victory in Ohio Heritage Conference action.
The Cardinals have now won four in a row and improve to 13-5 overall and 7-5 in the OHC. They beat M’burg 56-35 earlier this season. The Indians drop to 4-11 overall and 2-9 in the OHC.
Triad got a jump on Mechanicsburg in the first quarter and led 14-8. The Indians kept up with the Cardinals in the second quarter and 10-10 effort. That left Triad leading 24-18 at the break.
The third quarter saw Triad go on a 19-9 run, which boosted the Cardinals to a 43-27 cushion. They finished off the Indians with a 16-13 effort in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Boyd paced the Cardinals with 27 points, while Hadley Levan and Thomas O’Neal each have eight points.
Ben Logan can’t get on track in loss to Graham
Benjamin Logan’s boys basketball team couldn’t get its offense going early enough and fell to host Graham 52-46 Friday in Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division action.
The Falcons boke a five-game losing skid and improve to 5-12 overall and 3-5 in the Mad River division. The Raiders fall to 6-12, 2-6.
Graham gained the upper hand early on with a 13-5 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
The Falcons stayed in front at halftime with a 27-19 lead and they increased their lead to 13 (46-33) after three quarters.
Ben Logan outscored the Falcons 13-6 in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough.
Austin VanBuskirk sparked the Raiders with 16 points. Konner Caudill had eight points and Nolan Robson tallied seven points.
Ben Logan edged Graham in the junior varsity game 38-36. Graham won the freshman game 69-48.
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