FREDERICKTOWN – Caleb Sheriff came out like a ball of fire, scoring the first five points of the game.
He was far from done. The senior went for 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead the sixth-ranked Fredericktown boys basketball team to a 59-50 victory over Centerburg on Friday, Feb. 12.
“When we play Centerburg, I know they’re going to be ready and they’ll give us their best punch,” Sheriff said. “It’s going to be a dogfight all game. I know at least one of us has to be ready and come out hitting right out of the gate, and tonight that was me.”
The Freddies’ win put the two teams in a first-place tie in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference standings. Both have one game remaining.
That was a key point for Fredericktown coach Derek Dibling. The league title picture is a little clearer now, but it’s still not decided.
Fredericktown travels to Mount Gilead on Feb. 24 to determine its place. A win secures the Freddies their first league title since 2012-13 when they won the Mid-Buckeye Conference outright.
“Well, the first thing we told them is our job is not done yet,” Dibling said. “We still have to take care of business Tuesday. It’s obviously a huge step in the right direction, as is every game.”
Sheriff scored eight points in the first quarter alone and 13 points in the first half to help the Freddies (19-1, 12-1) push the lead to as much as 16.
How did he do it? Visualization.
“I just couldn’t stop thinking about it in school,” Sheriff said. “I just thought about it; and I thought about a lot of scenarios where I get the ball, I’m shooting right here. I just thought it in my head and put it out on the floor.”
But then Carter Jones took over. He scored three baskets down the stretch of the first half to pull the Trojans within 31-22 at the break, and he opened the second half with two more baskets.
After a Mckinnon Mead 3, Jones added a pair of free throws to finish off the rally, pulling the Trojans (14-3, 12-1) within 33-31 with 4:49 left in the third.
Fredericktown, which had no trouble finding points in the first half, was in a stalemate. But the benefit of having five guys on the floor who can score proved to be the difference, with Thomas Caputo and Kaid Carpenter knocking down big shots in the second half to keep the Freddies on top.
Carpenter and Caputo finished with 12 points apiece for the Freddies. Carpenter added three rebounds and a block, and Caputo had four boards, two assists and a couple of steals.
Ty Hatfield chipped in nine points to go with four rebounds, five assists and three steals for Fredericktown.
Jones totaled 28 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and a couple of blocks to lead the Trojans. He accounted for all eight of Centerburg’s 2-point field goals.
“I think they’re taking it pretty hard,” Centerburg coach John Marhefka said. “They had some goals at the beginning of the season. They battled some adversity throughout the year. At this point of the year, to win a conference championship, to advance in the state tournament ... teams are either going to get mentally tired and finish strong, or some people get tired and they bow out. Hopefully, we’ll learn from it and move on.”
Levi Houck added 10 points, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals; and Mckinnon Mead chipped in nine points and four assists for the Trojans, who close league play at home against Danville on Thursday night with their half of the title on the line.
