URBANA — Finding an offensive identity continues to be a big challenge for the Bellefontaine boys basketball team.
The Chiefs endured another tough outing here Tuesday as they fell behind big at halftime and could not answer en route to a 56-40 loss to Urbana.
Bellefontaine drops to 0-7, while the Hillclimbers improve to 3-2.
In head coach Henry Stolly’s return to to boys program this season, the Chiefs installed a new half-court offense. Stolly has preached patience to his team in learning the new system, but there is still a lot of tentative play and a lack of attacking the basket at times.
“I think we have to simplify things more,” said Stolly after Tuesday’s loss, a game in which the Chiefs fell behind 27-14 at halftime. “We need to get back to the basics and just react more. At times we are thinking too much instead of reacting.”
Having put Bellefontaine on the ropes at halftime, the Hillclimbers delivered the knockout blow at the start of the third quarter with a 9-0 run that built their lead to 22 points (36-14) with 5:17 left in the period.
The Chiefs trailed 41-22 at the end of the third quarter. The closest they got to the Hillclimbers in the final stanza was 15 points just over a minute remaining.
“We need to do a better job of staying focused throughout the game,” said Stolly. “It seems like we are able to play with good energy after we get down. We have to play with that type of energy from the start of the game. We can’t wait to turn it on after we get behind.”
Hunter Warner was a bright spot for the Chiefs as the senior post player tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds.
“Hunter as been progressing nicely,” said Stolly. “We wanted to get the ball down low to him tonight and he was very aggressive. That is something he can build off of.”
Jaeden Campbell contributed eight points for Bellefontaine and Kam Smith added seven points.
Nick Weyrich scored a game-high 19 points to lead Urbana.
In the junior varsity game, Bellefontaine won 37-30. C.J. Wilson led the Chiefs with 13 points and Kaden Reames had 10 points.
Bellefontaine’s freshman team fell 50-31. Harper Scott led the Chiefs with 10 points.
Bellefontaine returns to action Friday at London.
URBANA 56, BELLEFONTAINE 40
BELLEFONTAINE (0-7)
K. Smith 3 1-4 7; Campbell 3 2-2 8; Reames 0 2-2 2; Hutchins 1 2-4 4; Snapp 1 0-0 2; Baughman 1 0-0 3; Warner 6 2-3 14. Totals: 15 9-15 40.
URBANA (3-2)
Key 2 0-2 5; Donahoe 3 3-6 11; Hildebrand 1 0-0 3; Teets 3 0-0 7; Rogan 2 3-5 8; Bradshaw 0 0-1 0; Weyrich 7 4-4 19; Weiss 1 0-0 3. Totals: 19 10-18 56.
Chiefs 7 14 8 18 — 40
Hillclimbers 11 16 14 15 — 56
Three pointers: Bellefontaine 1 (Baughman); Urbana 8 (Donahoe 2, Key, Teets, Hildebrand, Rogan, Weyrich, Weiss).
Team fouls: Bellefontaine 16; Urbana 13.