Staff report
GREENVILLE — Sidney led nearly the entire game, but almost couldn’t close it out.
But freshman Andre Gordon came to the rescue, hitting a driving buzzer-beater to give the Jackets a 68-67 thriller over the Greenville Green Wave in Greater Western Ohio Conference North boys basketball action Friday night at Greenville.
The win put the Jackets at 3-2 in the North and 11-4 overall with another tough opponent coming to town Tuesday in the Springfield Wildcats.
The Jackets were trying to snap a six-game losing streak to the Green Wave, and were in position to do so, leading 64-54 with just two minutes remaining. But Greenville rallied back behind a long three-pointer and a couple of costly Sidney turnovers to take the game right to the wire.
Sidney led 29-20 at the half, and that was a minor miracle — Sidney was called for 13 fouls to just four for Greenville in the first two quarters.
Greenville came out firing in the third quarter, however, and actually took a 37-33 lead with still three minutes remaining in the third quarter. But the Jackets responded, and two three-pointers by Isaiah Bowser to end the third quarter gave the Jackets a 46-42 lead with one quarter to play.
The Green Wave pulled even at 50-50 before Sidney’s 6-foot-4 post player Lorenzo Taborn stepped outside and drained a pair of three-pointers to put the Jackets up by six.
Bowser scored on an assist from Andre Gordon to make it 60-54, and when Allec Gordon and Bowser scored, the lead was up to 64-54.
Greenville charged back with the aid of a couple Sidney turnovers, but Bowser got a steal and Gordon scored to make it 66-61.
However, Greenville countered with a three-pointer to cut the lead back to two at 66-64.
The Jackets missed a free throw with 31 seconds left and Greenville took advantage. It was an old-fashioned three-point play that put the Green Wave on top, but Sidney called a timeout and had just under four seconds left and the ball under its own basket.
Taborn inbounded to Gordon and he didn’t hesitate, going baseline and taking it to the bucket. The ball banked in for the game-winner.
Sidney had five players in double figures, led by Taborn with 19, including three threes. Gallimore also had three threes and finished with 15. Allec Gordon, who had seven of Sidney’s first nine, had 14, and both Andrew Gordon and Bowser finished with 10.
Sidney (68) — Bowser 10, Gallimore 15, Taborn 19, An. Gordon 10, Al. Gordon 14.
Greenville (67) — Hendrix 2, Wood 10, Pandey 5, Byrd 2, Guillozet 16, Rich 11, Gable 18, Russel 3.
Score by quarters:
Sidney—17 29 46 68
Greenville—13 20 42 67
Three-pointers: Sidney 10 (Taborn 3, Gallimore 3, Bowser 2, Al. Gordon 2); Greenville 6 (Gable 3, Guillozet, Wood, Pandey).
Records: Sidney 11-4, Greenville 7-5.
Reserve score: Sidney 43, Greenville 35.
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Jackson Center 52, Botkins 38
BOTKINS — The Jackson Center Tigers found themselves down 18-15 at the half, but used the third quarter to gain the upper hand and defeat the Botkins Trojans 52-38 in County boys basketball action Friday.
The win put the Tigers at 8-1 in the league and 13-2 overall with New Bremen coming to the Tiger gym tonight. The Trojans are 2-8 and 5-11 and are now off until Feb. 5 at Fairlawn.
Jackson struggled in the first half, and had it not been for Brady Wildermuth scoring all nine of the Tiger points in the second quarter, it could have been a deficit tough to come back from.
But the Tigers went from 15 points in the first half to 37 in the second, and outpointed the Trojans 20-9 in the third quarter to take control.
Drew Sosby had just two free throws at the half, but exploded for 22 points in the second half to lead the Tigers. He was 10 for 10 from the free throw line, eight of those coming in the final period. Wildermuth finished with 20.
As a team, the Tigers dropped in 16 of 17 free throws.
Jackson (52) — Booser 2, D. Sosby 24, Zorn 6, Wildermuth 20.
Botkins (38) — Fullenkamp 4, E. Greve 7, Flora 6, L. Bergman 8, N. Greve 4, C. Bergan 9.
Score by quarters:
Jackson—6 15 35 52
Botkins—8 18 27 38
Three-pointers: Botkins 1 (L. Bergman); JC 2 (Sosby 2).
Records: JC 13-2, Botkins 5-11.
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Minster 55, Parkway 24
MINSTER — Minster didn’t allow Parkway to reach double figures in any one quarter and it resulted in a lopsided win for the Wildcats in Midwest Athletic Conference play Friday night at Minster, 55-24.
Minster goes to 3-2 in the MAC and 8-6 overall with Franklin Monroe coming to town tonight.
Minster led 17-7 after one quarter and continued to add to the lead from there.
The Wildcat defense held the Panthers to just 7 for 37 from the field, 19 percent, while they were hitting 22 for 49 for 45 percent.
Josh Nixon had 17 to lead Minster and Aaron Ernst added 10. Conner Tumbusch led Minster to a 33-24 edge on the boards, pulling down eight rebounds. Nixon also had four steals.
Parkway (24) — Agler 5, Baxter 5, Huff 4, Dugan 2, Feldes 8.
Minster (55) — Schmiesing 7, Nixon 17, Stechschulte 3, Falk 5, Hoelscher 2, Ernst 10, Thobe 2, Huelsman 6, Broering 3.
Score by quarters:
Parkway—7 12 16 24
Minster—17 26 40 55
Three-pointers: Minster 7 (Ernst 2, Broering, Schmiesing, Nixon, Stechschulte, Falk); Parkway 1 (Agler).
Records: Minster 8-6, Parkway 3-12.
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Fairlawn 57, Houston 46
HOUSTON — Fairlawn pulled away in the second quarter and went on to beat Houston 57-46 in County boys basketball action Friday.
The Jets are 11-6 after their fourth straight win. Houston is 5-10.
Nathan Lessing poured in 30 for the Jets and Kody Curtner had 10.
Domyneik Phipps had 11 and Zach Freytag 10 for Houston.
Fairlawn (57) — Lessing 30, Curtner 10, Hammon 3, Hickman 8, D. Brautigam 6.
Houston (46) — Phipps 11, Arnold 7, Shaffer 3, Sluss 9, Jolly 5, Freytag 10, Ludwig 2.
Score by quarters:
Fairlawn—10 27 42 57
Houston—7 15 29 46
Three-pointers: Houston 6 (Phipps 2, Sluss 2, Jolly, Arnold); Fairlawn 4 (Lessing 2, Curtner 2)
Records: Fairlawn 11-6, Houston 5-10.
Reserve score: Houston 47, Fairlawn 26.
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New Knoxville 51, New Bremen 48
NEW KNOXVILLE — The New Knoxville Rangers came away with a 51-48 victory over New Bremen in MAC boys basketball Friday.
The Rangers are now 4-9 overall and Bremen 2-13.
Zach Neuman led NK with 14 and Logan Leffel added 12.
Tate Myers was Bremen’s top scorer with nine.
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Upper Scioto 62, Lehman 43
MCGUFFEY — Lehman lost 62-43 to Upper Scioto Valley in Northwest Central Conference action.
Lehman is now 2-12 overall and plays at Anna tonight.
