Blake Sipes had a standout performance for the Fredericktown boys’ basketball team (4-4, 2-1) on Jan. 5, leading the Freddies to a 66-47 win over KMAC rival Danville (1-10, 0-4).
“Blake Sipes had a monster game for us scoring 22, grabbing 9 rebounds, and getting 5 steals,” said Coach Derek Dibling.
The Freddies took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter when Sipes tipped a Danville pass and took it all the way to the hoop for a fast break layup. Danville went on a 7-0 run before Brode Davis nailed a three to tie the game at 10-10. Fredericktown had a 15-12 lead at the end of one quarter.
In the second quarter the game was tied 17-17 when Davis hit another three to take a three point lead for the Freddies. Danville battled and took a 26-24 lead, but the lead was short lived as Gavin Toombs sank a three to make it a 27-26 Fredericktown lead at halftime.
This started a 9-0 run by the Freddies, capped of by a fast break score by Trevor Bellman coming off a steal. With 4:25 left in the third quarter, Bellman hit a three to make it a 38-28 lead. Carson Rinehart then scored on a sweet fast break play, coming off a rebound by Toombs who heaved it downcourt for an assist. Up 44-30, Danville threatened near the hoop but Will Strebly felt otherwise and swatted away the shot. Sipes made it a 49-32 game on a steal leading to a fast break layup. Fredericktown outscored Danville 23-8 in the third quarter.
The Freddies went on to outscore Danville 16-13 down the stretch to take the win.
Sipes was 9-for-12 and had a game high 22 points. He also grabbed nine boards, four being on offense, and had a game high five steals. Bellman had 11 points, three boards, six assists and three steals in what was a solid performance, as well. Rinehart had 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in a game where he stuffed the stat sheet.
Toombs put up nine points and grabbed eight boards. He also had two assists and two steals. Davis scored eight points to go with three rebounds and an assist. Grant Hartley had a three and a steal, while Strebly scored two points, grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot.
Danville was led by Wesley Payne, who had 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Nathaniel Stephens scored nine points and had four rebounds and an assist. Walker Weckesser had eight points, six rebounds and one assist. Carson Proper had two points, three boards and an assist. Aidan Mickley scored five points and grabbed a board. He also had a steal on defense.
The Freddies shot 49% and were at 36.4% from three. Danville shot 37.8% and shot 29.4% from three. Fredericktown had 20 transition points and 18 points off turnovers. They also controlled the paint with 38 points.
Fredericktown led in rebounds (32-25), assists (11-8), steals (12-6) and blocks (2-0).
“Guys came out a little sluggish but found their groove late,” said Coach Dibling. “We had early foul trouble and had guys really step up off the bench. I thought Will Streby and Grant Hartley did a solid job giving us a lift off the bench. I was proud of the way our guys responded after halftime.”
Both teams have KMAC matchups coming up next. The Freddies travel to Mount Gilead (3-5, 1-2) on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Danville hosts Northmor (7-4, 3-1) on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
