Centerburg drops nonconference game to River Valley but sits atop KMAC at 11-0
Centerburg has been cruising all season at the top of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, but on Feb. 16 the Trojans met their match against River Valley and lost a nonconference matchup at home, 86-52, dropping to 17-2 on the year. The loss did not affect its conference record, which sits at 11-0.
It was a close first half with Centerburg up 16-15 after a quarter, but River Valley took a 31-27 lead into halftime and never looked back. A dominant second half for River Valley put the game neatly away for the 15-6 Vikings, who outscored Centerburg 55-25 in the half to turn the game into a blowout.
The Trojans came into the game after winning a tight contest a night earlier as Centerburg took on Granville on Feb. 15 and came away with a 56-52 win.
Granville (13-8), started the game on top with an 11-8 lead after one quarter and a 24-20 lead into halftime. The Trojans were able to stay in the game thanks to strong play in the first half by Mckinnon Mead, who had five points in each quarter.
Centerburg cut the lead to three in the third quarter, when it outscored Granville 12-11. Mead and Landon Griffin supplied nearly all the offense with four points and five points, respectively. But it was a big fourth quarter for Centerburg that put the team over the top for the win, thanks to 11 points down the stretch by Mead, which proved to be the difference-maker.
Centerburg was led by Mead, who had a 25-point performance to lead all scorers. Also in double figures was Griffin with 11 points.
Each team shot 49% from the field, but Centerburg was efficient from three-point land at 60%, while Granville only shot 8% from downtown. Centerburg also led in the assist column, 16-13, and steals, 6-3.
Northmor blows out Cristo Rey in nonconference win
The Northmor Golden Knights took on Cristo-Rey at home in a nonconference game that was all Knights and ended in a 67-34 victory. Northmor led the Cougars (6-7) from the start and the outcome never seemed in doubt. Northmor sits at fourth place in the KMAC with an 11-9 record, 6-6 in conference play
Northmor was up 17-8 after one quarter and 32-16 at the half, with Grant Bentley scoring all 13 of his points in the opening quarter to lead the offense. The second half was a dominant effort by the Golden Knights. Northmor outscored Cristo Rey 18-2 in the third quarter, led by Max Lower’s six points, and then in the fourth quarter the Golden Knights closed the game off against the Cougars by outscoring them 17-16.
Graesin Cass, Lower and Bentley scored 13 points apiece, with Bentley hitting two of his three shots from downtown. Lower added nine boards and three steals to lead the team to victory.
Danville beats Coshocton by six
The Danville basketball team improved to 11-12 with a nonconference victory over Coshocton (6-14) on Feb. 15 by a score of 66-60. Danville is 4-8 in the KMAC, sitting at sixth place.
The Blue Devils trailed after a quarter, 24-16, but righted the ship in the second quarter cut the lead to four at 33-29. Levi Lyons had four points in each quarter for all eight of his points in the game, while Spencer Payne drained a pair of threes in the second quarter. Walker Weckesser had six points in the first quarter for Danville.
The third quarter was evenly matched 12-12m with Darren Mickley scoring five points, including a make from downtown, but the Danville squad hit its stride down the stretch, outscoring Coshocton by 10, led by Max Payne’s eight points.
Leading the scoring charge was Weckesser with 14 points on the night. Mickley and Max Payne each scored 12 points, and Spencer Payne had 10 points.
Danville had an excellent night shooting the ball with a 61% clip from the field and 40% from 3-point land. The Blue Devils had a solid night on the glass with 27 rebounds, six more than Coshocton, and also had two more assists with 17.
Bellamy leads Highland to 49-37 victory over Loudonville
Jordan Bellamy saved his best for last and finished with 21 points to lead the Fighting Scots to a 49-37 win over Loudonville in a nonconference matchup at home. Highland improved to 9-11 with the victory and is 5-5 in the Mid-Ohio-Red Conference. Lousonville fell to 3-17 on the year.
Highland started sluggishly, with only five points in the first quarter, outscored 11-5. The Fightings Scots outscored the Redbirds in the second quarter 8-4 and trailed by two going into the second half. Bellamy had five points in the first-half and Rider Minnick put up six of his 12 game points.
The Fighting Scots went up by one point after three quarters, fueled by five more points by Bellamy, but it was the fourth quarter where he really shined, with Highland outscoring Loudonville 21-12 to secure the eight point victory.
Bellamy had 13 fourth quarter points and finished the night with a game-high 21 points to lead the Fighting Scots to the win. The difference-maker in the game was the work from the free-throw line. Highland was a perfect 12-for-12 from the stripe, while Loudonville hit only 8-of-14 free throws.
