Staff report
BOTKINS — The Botkins Trojans outscored Minster 18-5 in the fourth quarter to snap a four-game losing streak with a 47-42 victory in non-league boys basketball action Tuesday night at Botkins.
The Trojans go to 3-6 with the win and return to action Friday night at home against the Anna Rockets.
Minster started out the season 3-0 but has now dropped two in a row, both to Shelby County League teams. The Wildcats will try to get back on track Friday night when the travel down Ohio 66 to Houston.
Luke Bergman was outstanding again for the Trojans, scoring well over half his team’s points. He came out firing, hitting three three-pointers in the opening quarter and scoring 11 points to lead the Trojans to a 14-7 lead after one.
Minster regrouped in the second quarter behind Aaron Ernst, who had nine, and the Wildcats led 24-22 at the half. They then extended the lead to 37-29 after three periods.
“We started fast, but they overtook us in the middle two quarters,” said Botkins coach Brett Meyer. “But we got some turnovers in the fourth quarter and came back. We hit some shots and hit some big free throws at the end.”
He said the key was playing Minster equal on the boards, despite a big height advantage for the visitors. And the Trojans turned the ball over only 12 times.
Bergman went on to finish with 26 points. Ernst had 16 for the Wildcats.
Minster (42) — I. Schmiesing 5, B. Schmiesing 1, Ketner 4, Broering 2, Huelsman 4, Ernst 16, Stubgbs 3, Schulze 4, Dorsten 3.
Botkins (47) — Goubeaux 2, Heuker 2, Metz 4,. L. Bergman 26, A. Bergman 5, Butcher 8.
Score by quarters:
Minster`7`24`37`42
Botkins`14`22`29`47
Three-pointers: Botkins 7 (L. Bergman 4, Butcher 2, A. Bergman); Minster 2 (I. Schmeising, Ernst).
Records: Minster 3-2, Botkins 3-6.
——
GIRLS
Loramie 38, NK 36
FORT LORAMIE — The Fort Loramie Lady Redskins survived a last-ditch effort by New Knoxville in the final seconds to pull out a 38-36 victory in non-league girls basketball action Tuesday night at Fort Loramie.
The win was the second in a row for the Lady Redskins and fourth in their last five outings, and it gives them some momentum heading into perhaps their biggest challenge to date Thursday night at home against the unbeaten Versailles Lady Tigers.
The Lady Rangers drop to 4-6 on the season and they will be back in action against another Shelby County League foe Thursday when they host the Russia Lady Raiders in non-league play.
Behind Reyan Frey, Fort Loramie got out to an 11-8 lead after one quarter. Frey scored her team’s first eight points.
However, New Knoxville came back and outscored the Lady Redskins 12-7 in the second quarter to take a 20-18 lead at the half.
Fort Loramie outscored Knoxville 13-4 in the third quarter, and led by as many as seven points again in the final period before New Knoxville made a move late in the game. A three-pointer by Kenzie Schroer shrunk Loramie’s lead down to just two at 35-33 with 2:08 remaining in the game.
The two teams traded baskets, and the Lady Redskins were then content to hold the ball and force a foul. They did it to perfection, too, running a lot of seconds off the clock before Kaitlynn Luebke was fouled with :12 remaining.
She hit the first, but missed the second, and after a timeout by Knoxville, Schroer put up a three-pointer that missed. But she was fouled and went to the line for three shots and a chance to tie.
She made the first, but missed the second, forcing her to miss the third one on purpose. It nearly worked, too, because Knoxville got the offensive rebound and put up a potential tying shot. But it missed its mark.
Frey finished with 10 points to lead Fort Loramie, and Scorer had 14 to lead the Lady Rangers.
New Knoxville (36) — Schroer 14, Miller 4, Schwieterman 4, Scott 4, M. Jurosic 8, B. Jurosic 2.
Fort Loramie (38) — Frey 10, Luebke 8, S. Stang 6, Ratermann 5, Meyer 2, Raterman 2, C. Stang 5.
Score by quarters:
NK`8`20`24`36
FL`11`18`31`38
Three-pointers: FL 4 (Frey 2, Luebke, Ratermann); NK 1 (Schroer).
Records: FL 5-3, NK 4-6.
Reserve score: NK 43, FL 38.
——
Russia 60, St. Marys 44
RUSSIA — Russia dominated from the start and rolled to a 60-44 victory over Russia in non-league girls basketball Tuesday.
The win puts the Lady Raiders at 8-1 with Arcanum coming to town Jan. 3.
Russia had three in double figures, led by Laurissa Poling with 16. Tiffany Hatcher and Cameo Wilson added 13 apiece.
St. Marys (44) — Koch 2, Caywood 5, Cisco 5, Mele 11, Schmitmeyer 2, Rable 2, Taylor 17.
Russia (60) — Cordonnier 7, Poling 16, Hatcher 13, Wilson 13, Pleiman 4, Herron 7.
Score by quarters:
St. Marys`10`16`24`44
Russia`19`29`43`60
Three-pointers: Russia 3 Hatcher 2, Herron); SM 2 (Caywood, Cisco).
Records: Russia 8-1, SM 6-4.
