Staff report
SIDNEY — Fort Loramie bounced back from a loss in County play last Friday to take care of the Fairlawn Jets 54-45 in County boys basketball action Tuesday night.
The win put the Redskins at 1-2 in the league and 2-2 overall heading into a home game Friday against Russia. Fairlawn is now 1-2 in the league and 2-3 overall and hosts Houston Friday.
“They played well in the half court and just grinded us out,” said Fairlawn coach Justin Tidwell of the Redskins. “Their intensity was better than ours and they were the aggressors.”
He pointed to free throws as proof. Fairlawn shot just seven for the game, and Fort Loramie stepped to the line 23 times. The Redskins cashed in on those free shots in a big way, hitting 21 of them.
Dillon Braun poured in 23 for the Redskins. He was the only one in double figures, but four others had six or more.
For the Jets, Nathan Lessing had 17 and both Logan DeMarcus and Aaron Hammond added 10 apiece.
Fort Loramie (54) — Wehrman 8, Berning 3, Braun 23, Pleiman 6, Gasson 8, Siegel 6.
Fairlawn (45) — Lessing 17, Curtner 4, DeMarcus 10, Hammond 10, Hickman 4.
Score by quarters:
Loramie 6 22 36 54
Fairlawn 7 22 32 45
Three-pointers: Loramie 1 (Braun); Fairlawn 2 (Hammond 2).
Records: Loramie 2-2, Fairlawn 2-3.
Reserve score: Loramie 31, Fairlawn 28.
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Russia 51, Anna 36
RUSSIA — The Russia Raiders appeared on the verge of being blown out of their own gym, only to regroup in time and dominate the second half to whip the Anna Rockets in County boys basketball Tuesday, 51-36.
Russia goes to 2-0 in the County and 2-1 in the league heading to Fort Loramie Friday. Anna has played all league games and is now 1-2 with New Knoxville coming to Anna on Saturday.
The Raiders struggled in the first half, and it appeared Anna might be in for an easy win. The Rockets trailed 23-13 late in the first half, but the Raiders were able to score the final five points of the second quarter to cut the lead in half at the break.
Then when the third quarter started, the Raiders rode that momentum to a big quarter, outscoring the Rockets 16-2 and holding them without a field goal the entire period.
A key sequence came when sophomore Jack Dapore got a steal and a layup, and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but Russia rebounded and got the ball to Dapore outside the arc. He drained the three for a five-point trip and a 29-25 lead. But the end of the quarter, it was 34-25.
“We just turned it and turned it and turned it in the first half,” said Russia coach Spencer Cordonnier. “We just didn’t take care of the ball. But the thing that kept us in the game was we controlled the boards all night.”
Russia didn’t get its first field goal of the second half until 6:50 remained in the final period.
Dapore finished with 12 and hit three threes for the Raiders. Josh York added 10.
Anna ( 36) — Frilling 2, Bensman 9, Huelskamp 4, Luthman 8, Stephens 9, Flesher 4.
Russia (51) — Counts 2, Monnin 5, Cordonnier 5, Gariety 4, Tebbe 8, Monnier 3, Borchers 2, York 10, Dapore 12.
Score by quarters:
Anna 12 23 25 36
Russia 9 18 34 51
Three-pointers: Anna 3 (Bensman, Luthman, Stephens); Russia 4 (Dapore 3, Monnier).
Records: Anna 1-2, Russia 2-1.
Reserve score: Russia 47, Anna 43.
COUNTY STANDINGS — Jackson Center 2-0 (3-0), Russia 2-0 (2-1), Botkins 2-1 (3-2), Anna 1-2 (1-2), Fort Loramie 1-2 (2-2), Fairlawn 1-2 (2-3), Houston 0-2 (1-3).
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Botkins 64, Houston 47
HOUSTON — Botkins jumped to a 19-11 lead after one quarter and went on to whip the Houston Wildcats in County boys basketball action Tuesday night, 64-47.
The Trojans go to 2-1 in the County and 3-2 overall heading into action at Jackson Center Friday. Houston drops to 0-2 in the league and 1-3 overall.
Houston stayed close at the half, trailing 29-20, but the Trojans steadily pulled away in the second half.
Erik Greve led the Trojans with 18 points and Chad Bergman added 16. Three others had seven or more.
For Houston, Domyneik Phipps went for 20 and Zach Freytag added 16.
Botkins (64) — 19 29 42 64
Houston (47) — 11 20 33 47
Three-pointers: Botkins 4 (Egbert, Fullenkamp, Flora, L. Bergman); Houston 3 (Phipps, McKee, Sluss).
Records: Botkins 3-2, Houston 1-3.
Reserve score: Houston 46, Botkins 43.
