Staff report
SIDNEY — Vandalia started strong, but the Sidney Yellow Jackets charged back in the second quarter and took over from there to post a 69-50 victory in high school boys basketball action Friday night.
The win gave the Jackets a good start to the Greater Western Ohio Conference North season at 1-0. They are now 4-1 overall with Miamisburg coming to town tonight for the annual GWOC Showcase game. The boys game will be preceded by the varsity girls game, which will start at 6 p.m.
The Jackets fell behind after a quarter, but used a big second period to take command. They did it at both ends, scoring 19 while holding the Aviators to just three points in the second quarter, leading to a 32-19 lead at the half.
“Vandalia came out strong. They hit their first five shots. But we turned up the pressure and changed defenses in the second quarter,” said Sidney coach Andy Slaughter. “We tried to force them to turn the ball over, and we were successful. We were able to get the game at our pace.”
The Aviators were able to play the Jackets on even terms in the third quarter, and actually chopped two points off the lead heading into the final period, 47-36. But that’s when Sidney took off from the visitors, and built up a lead of nearly 20 down the stretch.
In that second quarter, sophomore Isaiah Bowser scored seven of his 11 points and Cameron Gallimore added six, including all four free throw attempts.
Gordon, who had seven in the opening quarter, went on to lead the Jackets in scoring with 20, but was only one of four in double figures. Gallimore finished with 13 and Bowser and Lorenzo Taborn had 11 apiece.
Gordon also had five assists and four steals for Sidney, Bowser led in rebounds with six and Darryl McNeal had five.
Vandalia (50) — Ballard 6, Fletcher 18, Glover 2, Ledbetter 11, Jenkins 7, Fields 2, Sanders 4.
Sidney (69) — Bowser 11, McNeal 2, Gallimore 13, Taborn 11, Freisthler 3, An. Gordon 20, Al. Gordon 7, Rogers 2.
Score by quarters:
Vandala—16 19 36 50
Sidney—12 32 47 69
Three-pointers: Vandalia 2 (Fletcher 2); Sidney 6 (An. Gordon 2, Bowser, Gallimore, Freisthler, Al. Gordon).
Records: Sidney 4-1, Vandalia 1-3.
Reserve score: Vandalia 40, Sidney 30.
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JC 47, Botkins 43
JACKSON CENTER — Jackson Center looked ready to run away from Botkins Friday night. But the Trojans came storming back and took the game to the limit before the Tigers pulled out a 47-43 thriller in County boys basketball action Friday at Jackson.
The Tigers go to 3-0 in the County and 4-0 overall. Botkins is 2-2 in the league and 3-3 on the year.
Jackson led 9-2 and 14-4 early on. Botkins scored the final three points of the opening period to stay close, and the Trojans never went away.
Jackson had a good lead for much of the third quarrter, but Botkins charged back to cut it to 33-32 after three. It remained tight the rest of the way.
Cameron Flora drove and scored to make it 40-40, the first time all night the score was tied. But the Trojans could never get the lead, Jackson always answering the bell.
Drew Sosby had 19 and Brady Wildermuth 16 for Jackson. Chad Bergman countered with 15 for the Trojans.
Botkins (43) — Fullenkamp 5, E. Greve 7, Flora 6, L. Bergman 6, N. Greve 4, C. Bergman 15.
JC (47) — D. Sosby 19, Zorn 7, B. Sosby 3, Wildermuth 16, Hickman 2.
Score by quarters:
Botkins—7 20 34 43
JC—14 29 35 47
Three-pointers: JC 3 (Zorhn, B. Sosby, Wildermuth); Botkins 2 (Fullenkamp, L. Bergman).
Records: JC 4-0, Botkins 3-3.
Reserve score: JC 26, Botkins 22.
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Russia 35, Loramie 32
FORT LORAMIE — In a game dominated by the defenses, the Russia Raiders outlasted Fort Loramie 35-32 in County boys play Friday.
Russia is now 3-0 in the league and 3-1 overall. Loramie is 1-3 and 2-3.
“Both teams played well defensively,” said Loramie coach Corey Britton.
There was only one double-figure scorer in the game, that being Jake Gariety of Russia with 11.
Russia (35) — Counts 4. C. Monnin 2, T. Monnin 5, Cordonnier 1, Gariety 11, Tebbe 4, York 8.
Loramie (32) — Wehrman 3, Berning 2, Rosengarten 2, Braun 9, Pleiman 2, Gasson 8, Siegel 6.
Score by quarters:
Russia—8 17 27 35
Loramie—3 10 21 32
Three-pointers: Loramie 2 (Gasson 2); Russia 3 (Gariety 2, Counts).
Records: Russia 3-1, FL 2-3.
Reserve score: Russia 38, Loramie 28.
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Fairlawn 45, Houston 38
SIDNEY — Houston and Fairlawn also had a defensive struggle, with the host Jets pulling out a 45-38 County win in boys action Friday at Fairlawn.
The Jets are now 2-2 in the County and 3-3 overall. Houston is 0-3 and 1-4.
“It was two good defenses,” said Fairlawn coach Justin Tidwell. “Both teams struggled to find an offense, but we really came out in the second half and became the aggressor.”
Nathan Lessing and Kody Curtner both had 14 for the Jets. Zack Freytag had 14 and Domyneik Phipps 11 for the Wildcats.
Houston (38) — Phipps 11, McKee 4, Beaver 2, Sluss 7, Freytag 14.
Fairlawn (45) — Lessing 14, N. Brautigam 4, Curtner 14, DeMarcus 6, Hickman 5, D. Brautigam 2.
Score by quarters:
Houston—14 20 29 38
Fairlawn—8 16 31 45
Three-pointers: Fairlawn 3 (Curtner 2, DeMarcus); Houston 3 (Phipps 2, Sluss).
Records: Fairlawn 3-3, Houston 1-4.
Reserve score: Fairlawn 46, Houston 38.
