Down 10 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Highland boys basketball team erupted for 30 points. But the Scots came up short in a frantic final frame, falling 83-78 at Mount Gilead in Knox Morrow Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Jordan Bellamy scored 21 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, and Brock Church backed him with 20 points for the Scots (0-3, 0-2). Church knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and 10 points to help Highland mount its comeback.
Jackson Huffer led all scorers with 25 points, Matthew Bland and Paul Butterman scored 14 apiece, and Elijah Chafin and Carter Kennon had 13 apiece to pace host MG.
Butterman scored nine points and Bland had six in the third quarter as MG (2-3, 2-2) built a 58-48 lead.
Fredericktown 53, Danville 36
Caleb Sheriff scored eight of his game-high 15 points to help visiting Fredericktown create some distance in a 53-36 win at Danville in KMAC play on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Lincoln Cunningham knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 13 points for the Freddies (4-0, 3-0), who led 24-12 at the break and 42-22 through three quarters.
Wyatt Weckesser scored 13 points and Darren Mickley had 11 to lead the Blue Devils.
Cardington-Lincoln 58, Northmor 49
Trey Brininger’s double-double led Cardington to a 58-49 win at Northmor in KMAC action on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Brininger went for 19 points and 11 rebounds and added four steals — all game-highs — to lead the Pirates (4-1, 3-1).
Nate Hickman had 17 points and six rebounds, Avery Harper added 15 points and Mason White also had four steals for Cardington, which built a 19-6 lead after one quarter and was up 31-21 at the break.
Graesin Cass had 16 points and four boards; and Logan Mariotti added nine points, three rebounds and a pair of steals to lead the Golden Knights (1-5, 1-3), who battled back after trailing by 16 points at the end of the third.
Zanesville 71, Utica 51
Host Utica started hot with seven different players cracking the scoring column in a 17-14 opening quarter. But Zanesville came roaring back with a big middle-two frames on its way to a 71-51 victory in Licking Valley League play on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
The Blue Devils outscored Utica 41-20 in the second and third periods to take control. Greg Gibson scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the second half. He was backed by Drew Doyle and Shelton Redman, who had 13 points apiece; and Xavier Riley, who chipped in 12 points for Zanesville.
Zach Heckman led Utica with 13 points and Beau Dunlap tallied nine points.
Girls basketball
Mikayla Linkous scored 20 points to lead Cardington to a non-league 56-27 win over Marion Pleasant on Wednesday, Dec. 16, in Cardington.
Dana Bertke added 11 points and Kambry Edwards chipped in 10 points for the Pirates (5-0), who led 18-8 after one quarter and 27-14 at the break before blowing the game open with a 16-7 third stanza.
Emerson Williams and Kyla Columber scored eight points each to lead the visiting Spartans (2-3).
Loudonville 74, East Knox 55
Host Loudonville put on a shooting display in a 74-55 non-league win over East Knox on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University commit Grace Vermilya put up 28 points to lead the Redbirds (9-0). Corri Vermilya added 16 points and Shalen Guilliams tallied 14 points for Loudonville, which shot 60% from the floor.
Shanda Melick had a big game in defeat for the Bulldogs (3-3) with 23 points, and Alexandria Magers chipped in 14 points.
Johnstown 49, Centerburg 31
Host Johnstown used a 14-2 third quarter to pull away in a 49-31 victory over Centerburg in non-league play on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Abigail Adkins had a game-high 18 points and Cayden Wagner added 13 points to lead the Johnnies (1-4), who led 12-10 after one quarter and 28-19 at the break.
Chloe Goulter scored 10 points and Clara Johnson added nine points to lead the Trojans (3-4).
Watkins Memorial 69, Utica 20
Utica played Watkins close in the first quarter, as Shawna Blake scored all eight of her points to keep it a 17-12 ballgame.
But visiting Watkins blew up for 28 points in the second quarter and rolled to a 69-20 win in Licking County League play on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Malaina Vatter led Watkins (5-0) with 15 points and Jenna Lucas added 14.
Skylar Parker and Delaney Kerstetter scored four points apiece for Utica (1-6).
