Beth Hardwick scored 14 of her game-best 19 points in the first half as the Cardington-Lincoln girls basketball team rolled to a 70-33 win at East Knox on Saturday, Jan. 23, in Howard.
The win clinches the Pirates (14-0, 11-0) at least a share of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference championship, a title they have won in each of the four years of the league’s existence.
Hardwick’s 14 first-half points helped Cardington build a 35-20 lead at the break.
Mikayla Linkous scored 12 points and Kambry Edwards added 11 points on the strength of three 3-pointers. Linkous scored six points in a 16-6 third quarter that blew the game open.
Natalie Smith scored 10 points and Shanda Melick added eight to lead the Bulldogs (6-10, 4-6).
Fredericktown 45, Mount Gilead 38
Summer Weller caught fire with three 3-pointers and 11 points in the third quarter as Fredericktown opened up an eight-point lead on their way to a 45-38 win over host Mount Gilead in KMAC play on Saturday, Jan. 23.
The Freddies pushed their overall winning streak to five games and have won 12 of their last 13.
Weller finished with four 3s and a game-high 18 points, and Audrey Bouton added 11 points to lead the Freddies (13-4, 8-3), who held a slim 19-17 lead at the half after opening the game 9-3.
Isabela Schroeter scored 12 points and Madilyn Elson added 10 points to pace MG (12-5, 7-5), which had its own five-game winning streak come to an end.
Centerburg 50, Highland 49
Amelia Smith buried two free throws with 13.9 seconds left to give Centerburg a 50-49 win at Highland in KMAC play on Saturday, Jan. 23, in Sparta.
Smith scored 14 of her game-best 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Trojans erased a 41-27 deficit at the end of three.
Chloe Goulter added 13 points and Avery Tucker chipped in eight points for Centerburg.
Savannah Fitzpatrick scored 15 points, Emma West had 14 points and Brylinn Tuggle 10 points to lead the Fighting Scots, who led 16-6 after one quarter and 27-15 at the half.
Newark Catholic 58, Utica 31
Newark Catholic caught fire for 33 points in the second half and rolled to a 58-31 win at Utica in Licking County League play on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Harlei Antritt scored 16 points, Maddie Kauble and Chloe Chard-Peloquin had 14 points apiece, and Brooklyn Smith added nine points to pace the Green Wave (8-1, 8-1).
Shawna Blake led Utica (1-14, 0-11) with 17 points.
West Holmes 64, Danville 37
Katie Sprang poured in 29 points to lead visiting West Holmes to a 64-37 win at Danville in non-league play on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Kinsey Patterson added 13 points for the Knights (13-2), who led 13-9 after one quarter and added on from there.
Ella Proper scored 16 points and Brooklyn Hess had 12 points to lead the Blue Devils (10-5).
BOYS BASKETBALL
Shane Knepp hit three free throws with 0.1 seconds left in double overtime to lift East Knox to a 54-53 victory over host Northmor in KMAC play on Friday, Jan. 23, in Galion.
Knepp scored a game-best 27 points, including a perfect eight of eight at the foul line, to lead the Bulldogs (7-6, 5-4).
Peyton Lester scored off a Weston Melick steal and assist to tie the game 42-42 with 1:20 left in regulation to ultimately it to overtime.
Grant Bentley hit a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left in the first overtime to tie it at 47 and send the game to a second overtime.
Bentley, Kooper Keen and Maxton Lower each scored 14 points to pace the Golden Knights (2-11, 1-7), who led 16-8 after one quarter before East Knox battled back.
Terry Jacobs scored 11 points to back Knepp for the Bulldogs.
Fredericktown 42, Highland 32
Caleb Sheriff scored 15 points to lead visiting Fredericktown past Highland 42-32 in KMAC play on Friday, Jan. 22, in Sparta.
Lincoln Cunningham added 10 points for the Freddies (14-0, 8-0), who pulled away with a 15-6 fourth quarter.
Jordan Bellamy scored 15 points to lead the Fighting Scots (4-10, 2-7), who started strong with a 9-6 first frame.
Cardington-Lincoln 58, Danville 48
Host Danville staked itself to an early lead, but Cardington won the final three quarters to take the game 58-48 in KMAC play on Friday, Jan. 22.
Trey Brininger scored 20 points, Mason White added 12 points, and Zach Lester and Nate Hickman each chipped in 10 points to lead the Pirates (11-4, 7-3).
Darren Mickley scored 18 points — all on 3s — and Wyatt Weckesser added 15 points to lead the Blue Devils (1-12, 0-8), who led 13-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Northridge 50, Utica 46
Adam Ulrey scored 13 points to lead host Northridge to a 50-46 win over Utica in LCL play on Friday, Jan. 22, in Johnstown.
JD Miller added 11 points for the Vikings (7-7, 5-4), who swept the season series, winning both games by a combined six points.
Seth Cooper poured in a game-best 23 points to lead Utica (3-11, 0-8).
