The Fredericktown boys’ basketball team (1-1, 0-0) opened up the season with a tough road loss to Crestview (5-0, 1-0), but were able to bounce back in front of a home crowd with a 66-59 win over Horizon Science Academy (1-4, 1-0) on Dec. 8.
The Freddies took a 5-2 lead over Horizon Science Academy with 5:30 left first quarter and while the Hawks were trying to score near the hoop, Carson Rinehart stripped the ball for a steal. They found themselves up 9-4 and Trevor Bellman got in on the defense, also stripping the ball near their hoop to stop a Horizon scoring chance with 3:57 on the clock. Brode Davis also had a steal as time was winding down in the quarter. The Freddies led 13-10 after one quarter, with sophomore Blake Sipes scoring nine points.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Bradyn Clevenger blocked a shot for the Freddies but Horizon snagged the rebound and put it back for a score, making it a 13-12 lead for Fredericktown. The Freddies then went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three for Davis with 6:55 left in the half. Fredericktown went up 29-22 on a three by Rinehart, which was the score at halftime.
In the third quarter it was all Freddies, outscoring Horizon 27-15, with Sipes leading the charge with eight points and a block. Rinehart and Davis each hit a three in the quarter for Fredericktown, and Grant Hartley snagged a steal. The fourth quarter was all Horizon, outscoring the Freddies 22-10 down the stretch, but Fredericktown was able to hold on for the win. Sipes had a three and a steal in the closing quarter.
Fredericktown shot 52% with 40% from three, while making 77% of their free throws. They had a 41-31 rebound advantage and 22-10 assist lead.
“Guys were really focused out of the gate and did a great job of trying to execute,” said Coach Derek Dibling. “We got timely contributions from everyone which helped us hold as horizon rallied late.
Sipes led all scorers with 24 points and Rinehart had 17 points for the Freddies. Sipes had a double-double with 10 boards, and also had five assists, one steal and one block.
It has been a hot start for Sipes, who has had back-to-back excellent games. Against Crestview had put up 21 points, six boards and three steals.
This week the Freddies travel to North Union (3-0, 1-0) on Dec. 12 and Cardington-Lincoln (2-0, 1-0) on Dec. 15 with games starting at 7:30 p.m.
