Staff report
DAYTON —Sidney pulled away in the third quarter, but had to scramble to turn away Stebbins in Greater Western Ohio Conference play Tuesday on the road, 70-60.
The win put the Jackets at 9-0 in the American Conference and 12-3 overall heading into what could be called the American Conference championship game Friday night at home against Trotwood. Sidney Leads the American North and Trotwood the American South.
The first half was tight throughout, but the Jackets managed to emerge with a six-point lead at 34-28.
Things then started to go more the Jackets’ way in the second half, thanks to the play of Ratez Roberts, who had 15 points heading to the final period.
Sidney led by as many as 14 in the third quarter and took a 50-37 lead into the final period. But the Indians rallied back to within seven with still three minutes remaining.
It was 64-58 when the Jackets scored the next seven points, two on layups by Andre Gordon, to open up a 71-58 lead with under a minute to to play.
Sidney had five players score and was one point away from all five finishing in double figures.
Gordon had 25, Roberts 15, Devan Rogers 12 and Allec Gordon 10. Isaiah Bowser finished with nine. Rogers was 6-for-6 from the line.
“The big reason we struggled at times was offensive rebounds,” said Sidney coach John Willoughby. “I know we gave up at least 20 points on offensive rebounds. But we hung in there.”
Sidney (70) — Bowser 9, Roberts 15, An. Gordon 24, Al. Gordon 10, Rogers 12.
Stebbins (70) — Tolbert 7, Mpanzu 14, Mayo 15, Miller 4, Williams 13, Davis 5, Bullock 2.
Score by quarters:
Sidney`16`34`50`70
Stebbins`17`28`37`60
Three-pointers: Sidney 3 (An. Gordon 2, Roberts); Stebbins 5 (Mayo 2, Williams 2, Davis).
Records: Sidney 12-3, Stebbins 8-8.
Reserve score: Sidney 54, Stebbins 51.
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Anna 35, Jackson Center 32
ANNA — After very little went right in the first half, the Anna Rockets held Jackson Center to just eight points the entire second half, setting the stage for last-second heroics by Joel Cathcart in a 35-32 Anna win.
The Rockets trailed 24-13 at the half and were still down 30-25 in the third quarter. But the Tigers managed only two points in the final quarter.
The two teams were deadlocked with time running out, but the Rockets got the ball to Cathcart in the corner and he drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Rockets their third win in a row.
Anna is now 5-4 in the County and 9-7 overall and plays at league-leading Russia Friday.
Jackson falls to 3-5 in the league and 8-5 overall and hosts Botkins Friday.
“In the first half they were just taking it at us,” said Anna coach Nate Barhorst. “We weren’t moving and we weren’t physical. So we just challenged every one of them at the half.”
Wyatt Bensman had 15 to lead the Rockets. Bryce Sosby had 13 and Brady Wildermuth 12 for the Tigers.
Jackson Center (32) — Platfoot 5, Sosby 13, Burch 2, Wildermuth 12.
Anna (35) — Bensman 15, Doseck 5, Cathcart 8, Schmitz 7.
Score by quarters:
JC`12`24`30`32
Anna`4`13`25`35
Three-pointers: Anna 3 (Bensman, Doseck, Cathcart); JC 3 (Sosby 2, Platfoot).
Records: Anna 9-7, JC 8-5.
Reserve score: Anna 46, JC 42.
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Fairlawn 55, Loramie 34
The Fairlawn Jets knocked state-ranked Fort Loramie out of a first-place tie in the County standings with a dominating performance, winning 55-34 over the Redskins in action at Fairlawn Tuesday night.
The Jets go to a league-best 12-2 overall and are now 6-2 in the league heading to Houston Friday.
Loramie is 7-2 in the league and 11-3 overall and hosts Triad Friday night.
The Jets sprinted to a 12-2 lead thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Luke Hickman, and settled for a 12-6 lead after one quarter.
The Redskins clawed back and overtook the Jets 15-14 in the second quarter. But Fairlawn responded impressively, finishing the half on a 12-0 run to lead 26-15 at the break.
After Evan Berning’s shot put Loramie ahead, Nathan Lessing hit a three, Hickman followed with a bucket, Lessing hit two free throws, then finished the half with a three and a two to give him 10 points in the quarter and the team an 11-point lead at the half.
Then to start the second half, Lessing got ahead of the pack and converted a three-point play to up the margin to 29-15. And when Lessing powered his way to the bucket on the Jets’ next possession, the score was more than doubled at 31-15. The Redskins never recovered.
Lessing with 28 led all scorers and Hickman added 14. Berning had 11 for Loramie.
Loramie (34) — Berning 11, Braun 2, Gasson 6, T. Siegel 6, Brandewie 7, A. Siegel 2.
Fairlawn (55) — Lessing 28, N. Brautigam 3, Hickman 14, D. Brautigam 5, Curtner 2, Johnson 3.
Score by quarters:
Loramie`6`15`29`34
Fairlawn`14`26`46`55
Three-pointers: FL 2 (Gasson, Brandewie); Fairlawn 5 (Hickman 3, Lessing 2).
Records: Fairlawn 12-2, Fort Loramie 11-3.
Reserve score: Fort Loramie 31, Fairlawn 29.
