Staff report
RUSSIA — It wound up being a nailbiter, but it didn’t look like it was headed that way Friday night at Russia.
The Jackson Center Tigers built up a 14-point lead midway through the final period, but the Russia Raiders went on an 11-0 run to get right back in it and make it close the rest of the way in a 53-48 victory for the Raiders in a big County boys basketball game Friday.
The win by Russia pulled them even in the standings with the Tigers, both at 9-2. Overall, Russia is 17-3 and plays at Botkins Friday. Jackson Center is 6-2 and hosts Lima Temple tonight.
Jackson led 36-31 on a bucket by Drew Sosby, but the Raiders scored at the buzzer to make it a three-point game, then scored the first four points of the final period to take their first lead in a long while.
The lead see-sawed from there until the Raiders scored four in a row to go up 43-40 with two minutes left. They pulled away from there to the victory.
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Trotwood 76, Sidney 66
SIDNEY — Sidney stayed close throughout, but the Trotwood Rams were too talented in a 75-66 loss for the Yellow Jackets in Greater Western Ohio Conference North division action Friday night.
The loss snapped Sidney’s three-game winning streak and left the Jackets at 14-6 overall and 5-3 in the North. They are back in action at Troy Tuesday.
Trotwood is 17-2 after its second win over the Jackets this season.
Sidney led by as many as four in the early going but once the Rams got the lead, they never relinquished it. They were up 20-15 after a quarter and even though the Jackets cut it to one early in the quarter, the Rams pulled away again and trailed 34-29 at the half.
Sidney scored the first two of the third quarter, but the Rams went on an 8-2 run to make it 42-33. The Jackets were able to cut just one point off that margin by the end of the quarter at 54-46.
Sidney lost starters Lorenzo Taborn and Darryl McNeal to five fouls early in the final period, but still pulled with three twice in the last three minutes. But as was the case the entire night, Trotwood had an answer every time the Jackets made a run.
Gallimore led Sidney with 13, Allec Gordon had 12 and Andre Gordon and Isaiah Bowser 10 apiece. Devon Rogers had nine and Taborn eight.
“They’re not No. 5 in the state for nothing,” said Sidney coach Andy Slaughter. “Every time we would make a run and cut it down, they had an answer. And we hurt ourselves by missing 14 free throws (20 for 34).”
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Lehman 66, Ridgemont 55, 2 ot
RIDGEWAY — Lehman was down seven at the half, but fought back and tied the game at the end of regulation.
The Cavs then outscored Ridgemont 20-9 in two overtime periods to come away with a 66-55 victory in Northwest Central Conference action Friday night on the road.
The win gave the Cavaliers a 2-5 record in the NWCC and a 4-14 mark overall heading into a game Tuesday at Springfield Catholic.
Ben Frantz had 14 points to lead the Cavaliers and Michael Bunker added 10. Four others had seven or more.
Lehman (66) — Schutt 4, T. Scott 4, Rourke 2, Monnin 7, Rodgers 7, Arnold 9, Lee 9, Frantz 14, Bunker 10.
Ridgemont (55) — Eversole 16, Weyant 11, Stoner 7, Sparks 7, James 3, McKinley 11.
Score by quarters:
Lehman—13 21 35 46 52 66
Ridge.—17 28 38 46 52 55
Three-pointers: Lehman 3 (Monnin 1, Arnold 1, Frantz 1); Ridgemont 4 (Eversole 2, Weyant, Sparks).
Records: Lehman 4-14, Ridgemont 8-11.
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Recovery 64, Knoxville 42
NEW KNOXVILLE — Fort Recovery sped to a 34-17 lead at the half and never trailed in berating New Knoxville 64-42 in Midwest Athletic Conference play Friday night.
The Rangers are 7-11 with Lima Shawnee coming to the Barn tonight.
Zach Neumann had 14 to lead the Rangers.
FR (64) — Shoen 6, Bruns 13, Schroer 7, Sheffer 10, Martin 11, Bihn 7, Wenning 2, Cox 8.
NK (42) — Leffel 7, Topp 8, Gable 3, Lageman 6, Tinnerman 4, Neuymann 14.
Score by quarters:
FR — 19 34 47 64
NK—11 17 31 42
Three-pointers: NK 2 (Leffel 2), FR 5 (Bruns 2, Schroer, Sheffer, Bihn).
Records: NK 7-11, FR 12-5.
Reserve score: FR 60, NK 23.
