Staff report
ANNA — The Anna Rockets remained in contention in the County boys race and knocked the Russia Raiders out of a first-place tie by dominating the final period in a 67-55 victory Tuesday night at Anna.
The Rockets are now 7-2 in the league and 10-6 overall with Lehman coming to the Anna gym Saturday. Russia is 6-2 in the league and 12-3 overall. Both trail Jackson Center by one game.
“This was a big one for us,” said Anna coach Nate Barhorst. “It was good to see that kind of performance. We had great balance, which was something we talked about after Saturday’s game (with Minster).”
The Rockets made it tough for a very good Russia defense, putting four players in double figures, with another having eight points.
Anna was up seven late in the first half, but Russia scored a quick five points on a three by Dylan Cordonnier and a short bucket by Josh York to go from seven down to just two behind at the half.
Russia was able to get the lead in the third quarter, but a 9-2 run by the Rockets gave them a 44-39 lead late in the period. But Russia again got the last points, a couple of free throws to make it a three-point game with one quarter to play.
The Raiders scored first in the final period to cut the lead to one, but the Rockets stretched the lead again. When Kain Luthman converted a three-point play with 2:15 remaining, the lead was back to six.
After a couple of turnovers, Josh York’s free throw for Russia was answered by eight straight Anna points that opened it up to 63-50, the last two coming on free throws by Nate Frilling with under a minute to go.
Kain Luthman had a superb game for the Rockets, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Carter Huelskamp had 13 points and handed out seven assists, Nate Frilling came off the bench to score 12, and Cody Flesher also had 12. Blake Stephens finished with eight.
Russia was led by Josh York with 14 and Jonah Counts with 11.
Both teams shot well from the line, Russia going 15 for 19 and Anna 17 for 22.
Russia (55) — Counts 11, C. Monnin 2, T, Monnin 4, Cordonnier 6, Gariety 7, Tebbe 5, Borchers 2, York 14, Dapore 4.
Anna (67) — Frilling 12, Bensman 2, Huelskamp 13, Luthman 20, Stephens 8, Flesher 12.
Score by quarters:
Russia—11 24 43 55
Anna—10 26 46 67
Three-pointers: Anna 2 (Huelskamp, Luthman); Russia 4 (Cordonnier 2, Counts, Gariety).
Records: Russia 12-3, Anna 10-6.
Reserve score: Russia 52, Anna 48.
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Houston 47, Botkins 39
HOUSTON — Houston head coach John Willoughby sat in disbelief at the start of Tuesday’s County boys basketball game at Houston against Botkins.
“They played so much faster than we did at the beginning,” said the coach. “They beat us down the floor and just dribbled right past us.”
A couple of his players got in foul trouble, too, forcing him to go zone the rest of the way. And it worked, the Wildcats holding the Trojans to just 25 points the rest of the way in a 47-39 victory.
The win was Houston’s third in its last four outings and puts them at 5-9 overall and 1-7 in the league with Fairlawn coming to town Friday.
Botkins lost for the seventh time in the last eight games and is now 2-7 in the County and 5-10 overall with Jackson Center coming to the Trojan gym Friday.
“When we went to the zone, we got our hands on the ball a lot and fored some turnovers,” said Willoughby. “Zach Jolly was the key. He really turned the tide with his defense, and the rest of the kids followed suit.”
The Wildcats got 14 points from Zach Freytag, 12 from Domyneik Phipps and 11 from Cameron Arnold. And Caleb Sluss dropped in six straight free throws down the stretch in the final period to secure the win.
Botkins was led by Chad Bergman with 14 points and Erik Greve added 10.
Botkins (39) — Egbert 2, Fullenkamp 2, E. Greve 10, Flora 2, L. Bergman 9, C. Bergman 14.
Houston (47) — Phipps 12, McKee 2, Arnold 11, Sluss 6, Jolly 2, Freytag 14.
Score by quarters:
Botkins—14 19 30 39
Houston—4 14 29 47
Three-pointers: Houston 2 (Phipps 2); Botkins 1 (L. Bergman).
Records: Houston 5-9, Botkins 5-10.
Reserve score: Houston 35, Botkins 32.
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Fairlawn 54, Loramie 47
FORT LORAMIE — The Fairlawn Jets had a good third quarter and it wound up leading the way to a 54-47 victory over the Fairlawn Jets in County boys basketball action Tuesday night at Loramie.
The game was between two teams tied at 3-5 in the league, so the Jets go to 4-5 in the County and 9-6 overall. Loramie is 3-6 and 6-10.
Fairlawn is at Houston Friday and Loramie is at Russia.
“They really hurt us on the offensive boards,” said Loramie head coach Corey Britton. “They just made more toughness plays than we did. They had to have double figures in offensive rebounds.”
The game was deadlocked at the half at 25, but the Jets outscored the Redskins 15-9 in the third quarter and were able to hold on to the lead down the stretch.
Nathan Lessing was outstanding again, pouring in 31 points for the Jets. Luke Hickman added nine.
For the Redskins, Dillon Braun sank four three-pointers and finished with 18 points, and Tyler Siegel added nine.
Fairlawn (54) — Lessing 31, Curtner 5, Hammond 7, Hickman 9, D. Brautigam 2.
Loramie (47) — Wehrman 6, Berning 7, Rosengarten 5, Braun 18, N. Pleiman 2, Siegel 9.
Score by quarters:
Fairlawn—10 25 40 54
Loramie—13 25 34 47
Three-pointers: Loramie 6 (Braun 4, Wehrman, Rosengarten); Fairlawn 1 (Hickman).
Records: Fairlawn 9-6, Loramie 6-10.
Reserve score: Loramie 42, Fairlawn 32.
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County standings
Jackson Center 7-1 (12-2)
Anna 7-2 (10-6)
Russia 6-2 (12-3)
Fairlawn 4-5 (9-6
Loramie 3-6 (6-10)
Botkins 2-7 (5-10)
Houston 1-7 (5-9)
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Jason Alig | Sidney Daily News
