Staff report
VERSAILLES — The Anna Rockets had won three in a row and five of their last six before running into a buzzsaw Wednesday night in non-league boys basketball action.
The Rockets took on the Versailles Tigers, and it was close for only part of the first quarter before the hosts took off and left the Rockets in their wake in a 69-46 verdict.
The loss leaves the Rockets at 5-3 overall heading into a County game Friday night at Botkins.
Versailles, which lost its first game of the season last Thursday to Dayton Dunbar, goes to 6-1 on the year and will be back in action Friday night at Miami East.
Versailles gave an indication of what was to come by scoring the first seven points of the game.
Despite that, however, the Rockets stayed in it with the benefit of three-pointers. Mason Platfoot had three in the first quarter alone, and the last one cut the Tiger lead to 18-12.
However, Versailles scored the final eight points of the first quarter to open up a 26-12 bulge.
By the half, the Tigers were well on their way with a 47-23 lead, and when Ohio State-bound Justin Ahrens hit a three-pointer to end the third quarter, it was 62-37.
Wyatt Bensman led the Rockets in scoring with 21, including 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Platfoot finished with 13.
Versailles was led by the 6-foot-6 Ahrens, who hit five three-pointers and finished with 25 points. AJ Ahrens had 13, and Alex Wendel and Connor Custenborder added 10 points apiece.
Anna (46) — Frilling 4, Bensman 21, Roe 4, Doseck 2, Platfoot 13, Fogt 2.
Versailles (69) — McEldowney 6, Jones 3, Wendel 2, J. Ahrens 25, Niekamp 2, Custenborder 10, AJ Ahrens 13.
Score by quarters:
Anna`12`23`37`46
Versailles`26`47`62`69
Three-pointers: Anna 7 (Platfoot 3, Bensman 3, Frilling); Versailles 12 (J. Ahrens 5, Wendel 2, Custenborder 2, McEldowney, Jones, AJ Ahrens).
Records: Anna 5-3, Versailles 6-1.
——
Graham 69, Riverside 45
ST. PARIS — The Riverside Pirates hung with Graham for two quarters, but was outscored 27-12 in the third period, leading toa 69-45 setback in non-league boys basketball action Tuesday night at Graham.
The loss left the Pirates at 1-6 on the season with Marion Elgin coming to the Riverside gym on Friday.
Graham led just 30-23 at the half but stunned the Pirates with a huge third quarter, enabling the Falcons to head into the final period with a 57-36 lead.
“I was pretty pleased with how we played in the first half,” said Pirate coach Seth Bodenmiller. “We had a couple mistakes here and there, but we were still close going into halftime. In the third quarter, Graham came out with a lot more intensity and they were able to blow it open from there.”
The Pirates were led in scoring by Hank Harshbarger nd Lane Willoby with 12 apiece and Trey Helmlinger with 10. Tyler Sanford had three assists.
Riverside (45) — Sanford 3, Harshbarger 12, Helmlinger 10, Knight 2, Auflick 2, Lane 2, Willoby 12, Kreglow 2.
Graham (69) — Powell 6, Adams 9, Lokai 5, Ford 15, Flora 1, King 14, Goddard 19.
Score by quarters:
Riverside`11`23`35`45
Graham`13`30`57`69
Three-pointers: Riverside 5 (Harchbarger 2, Helmlinger 2, Sanford); Graham 9 (King 3, Ford 3, Goddard, Adams, Lokai).
Records: Graham 2-6, Riverside 1-6.
Reserve score: Graham 51, Riverside 34.
