Staff report
VANDALIA — Freshman Andre Gordon lit up Tecumseh for 32 points to lead the Sidney Yellow Jackets to a 94-73 victory in the first round of the Division 1 Sectional at Vandalia Butler High School Friday night.
Gordon’s total gave him 320 points this season, and that’s a new freshman record at the school, breaking the previous mark of 319 held by Jujuan Jones.
The win puts the Jackets at 16-7 on the season and advances them to the sectional semifinals Tuesday night at Vandalia against Xenia, a team the Jackets lost to early in the season 66-63 at Xenia. The Buccaneers routed Troy in first-round action Friday 88-60.
Friday’s win by the sixth-seeded Yellow Jackets was an impressive one. Tecumseh, seeded No. 8, entered the game with a 19-3 record, with recent wins over Xenia and Bellefontaine. The Arrows also beat Greenville by 13 during the regular season.
Sidney led early, only to have the Arrows come back to knot the score at 14-all after one. But the Jackets took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Arrows 26-12 to take a 40-26 lead at the half.
The Jackets appeared ready to blow the game open several times in the second half, but the Arrows clawed back. Each time, however, the Jackets had an answer.
They led 60-43 after three quarters, heading into a final period that resembled a track meet. Tecumseh put up 30 points in the fourth quarter, but that was four fewer than Sidney managed.
Sidney had quite the one-two punch, with Gordon and senior guard Cameron Gallimore, who finished with 23 points, 16 of those coming in the second half, and 10 in the third quarter. Allec Gordon added 12 points, Devon Rogers nine and Lorenzo Taborn eight.
Sidney (94) — Bowers 4, McNeal 1, Gallimore 23, Taborn 8, Cooper 3, Andre Gordon 32, Allec Gordon 12, Rogers 9, Brady 2.
Tecumseh (73) — Martin 2, Mastin 2, Heckman 3, Magsaysay 8, M. Quisenberry 28, D. Quisenberry 18, Warren 10, Linder 2.
Score by quarters:
Sidney`14`40`60`94
Tecumseh`14`26`43`73
Three-pointers: Sidney 4 (Gallimore 3, Andre Gordon); Tecumseh 8 (M. Quisenberry 3, Magsaysay 2, D. Quisenberry 2, Heckman).
Records: Sidney 16-7, Tecumseh 19-4.
Sidney’s next game: Tuesday, sectional semifinals at Vandalia vs. Xenia at 7:30.
