Second Half Play Decides Win Over Titans
JV Makes Strong Come-Back, but Loses
Though the Indians trailed a solid Triplains-Brewster team throughout the first half, an improved second half performance earned the Indians another victory in the varsity boys contest. The Indians outscored the Titans 31-17 in the final two quarters to take a 54-42 win. The victory moved the Indians season record to 12-3. The Titans fell to 9-6.
Triplains-Brewster's (T-B) Aaron Platt (6' 2" Sr.) scored the first basket of the contest on a smooth jumper in the lane. Jesse Baxter answered with a shot from the right-side for the Indians. Hunter House (6' 1" Sr.) soon added a left-baseline score for the Titans. Joey Myers (5' 10" Fr.) then scored on a baseline floater. It was obvious that the Titans had come to play! After an assist from Richard Johnson led to a right-baseline score by Conner Keller, Myers added a right-wing trey. The Titans led 4-9. After a driving score by Brady Dinkel, T-B's Weston Schmidt (5' 11' Jr.) scored from the right-wing. A jumper in the lane by Dinkel reduced the deficit to three (8-11), but Brett Roulier (6' 1" Sr.) soon answered at the other goal. Dinkel's left-corner trey moved the Indians within two, but it would be as close as the Indians would get until the second half. Baskets by Platt and Richard Johnson in the post moved the scoreboard to 13-15. A out-of-bounds play score by Roulier at the first-quarter buzzer made the score 13-17.
The Titans increased their advantage early in the second period. A stick-back basket by Platt and a baseline bucket by Roulier moved the margin to 13-21. The Indians were struggling to keep pace. Jesse Baxter scored on an offensive rebound, and Brady Dinkel added a turnover-two and deep trey after another Titan turnover. The flurry triggered a T-B time-out at 3:21 with the Indians trailing by one (20-21). After the time-out, Taylor Wright (5' 11" Sr.) added a pair of free-throws to the Titans score. With 2:40 remaining in the half, Dinkel's right-corner trey tied the contest (23-all). The Titan's used another time-out at 1:54 to slow the Indians' momentum. The final score of the first half came on a press-offense basket by Platt for the Titans. St. Francis had played better in the latter portion of the quarter, but still trailed 23-25 at halftime.
The Titans had first possession in the second half, but missed their shot attempt. On the first possession for the Indians, Colton Neitzel scored on a strong move in the post. After another T-B miss, Brady Dinkel's assist set up a mid-post score by Jesse Baxter. The Indians took their first lead of the contest (27-25). On the next possession, the Titans answered on a left-wing trey by Roulier. K.C. Krien scored in the lane on the following Indian possession, making it three straight possessions with baskets for the Indians (29-28), but Roulier answered with a drive at the Titan goal. The teams were battling hard to gain an advantage. Neitzel added another offensive rebound basket, and with the addition of top-of-the-key trey by Connor Keller (assist Dinkel), and a free-throw by Richard Johnson, the Indians led 35-30. Back-to-back possessions resulted in scores for the Titans; a left-corner out-of-bounds play trey and a left-wing jumper, both by Myers. At 2:30, the Titans had regained a slim lead (35-36). The Indians regained the lead on a baseline basket by Johnson, but two free-throws by Roulier placed the Titans back in front 37-38. Johnson's assist led to the final basket of the third period; a left-wing trey by Dinkel. St. Francis led 40-38 after three quarters of back-and-forth action.
Thirty-five seconds into the final period, St. Francis called time-out to avoid a turnover. On the ensuing possession, Jesse Baxter scored in the lane. Moments later, a steal and assist by Connor Keller led to a lay-up by K.C. Krien. The Indians now had their largest lead of the contest--six (44-38). With both teams playing good defense, baskets were hard to earn. After two Platt free-throws, T-B called time-out at 4:05. The discussion in the Titan's huddle didn't seem to help as the Indians reeled off the next 10 points in the contest. After Dinkel added two free-throws, Dinkel's steal-assist led to a lay-up by Krien. Dinkel's assist found Keller open for a top-of-the-key trey, and Colton Neitzel add a post basket (plus one). St. Francis led 54-40 with approximately one minute to play. Platt would added a field goal from the post in the closing moments. The Titans were held to four points in the final period. St. Francis defeated a pesky Triplains-Brewster squad 54-42.
Brady Dinkel led the Indians in scoring with 20 points. Connor Keller and Jesse Baxter each added 8. Others scoring for the Indians included Colton Neitzel 7, K.C. Krien 6, and Richard Johnson 5. The Indians made 4 of 8 from the stripe, committed 8 fouls, and had 15 turnovers (5 in the second half).
Triplains-Brewster had three players in double figures; Brett Roulier 13, Aaron Platt 12, and Joey Myers 11. The Titans also committed 15 turnovers. The visitors had 9 fouls and shot 100% from the line (6-6).
In junior varsity boys action, St. Francis fell behind by as many as 23 points, but made a strong run late in the game to pull within six. T-B's Daxton Latham (5' 8" Fr.) opened the contest with break-out basket. Bryce Raby soon answered with a stick-back bucket. Bryce's next score, on a drive, gave St. Francis their only lead of the contest. At 4:28, the Titans used a time-out and cranked up the defensive pressure. The move proved successful as the Indians committed 19 turnovers in the first half alone. The Titans earned a 0-12 run getting several baskets from Latham and Cayde Welsh (6' 0" Fr.); many coming after SF miscues. The Titan's advantage grew to 5-14 before Wyatt Hilt scored on an offensive rebound for the Indians to end the first quarter. St. Francis trailed 7-14 at the first quarter horn.
As the Indian turnovers accumulated, the Titan's gained extra possessions and the Indians were left with empty ones. A coast-to-coast basket by Latham increased the margin to nine, but two baskets by Bryce Raby trimmed the deficit a bit. The Titans then earned another coast-to-coast basket; this one by Dally Poe (5' 8" Fr.). Cutler Mayer squeezed a free-throw between baskets by Latham and Welsh, but the deficit had now grown to eleven (12-23). The Titans would add three more baskets (Welch, Latham, and Daniels Williams (5' 10" Fr.)) while Mayer would add an offensive rebound score for the Indians. St. Francis trailed 14-29 at the halftime break.The Titans slowly increased their advantage throughout the third period. Latham scored on a turnover-two to open the third period. Bryce Raby added a post basket, and Brady Schoenrogge scored on a drive. After the Titans added four more on a steal-two and stick-back, Cutler Mayer added a jumper for the Indians. Myers' turnover-two was answered by a driving score by Raby. The Titans scored the final three baskets of the period; a baseline runner by Myers, an out-of-bounds-play basket by Myers, and fast-break basket by Williams. The Indians trailed 22-43 after three periods.
Myers' steal-two to begin the final period gave the Titans their largest lead of the contest; 23 points (22-45). But the Titans would not score again. The Indians began to execute much better and closed the game with on a 17-0 run. The run began with a basket by Brady Schoenrogge on an out-of-bounds play (assist Bryce Raby). Schoenrogge then added a driving score. Cutler Mayer chipped in a steal-two and two free-throws. St. Francis called time-out with 3:03 left trailing 30-45. After returning to action, Schoenrogge added a stick-back basket, Dario Montrone drained a top-of-the-key trey. The final two scores came on a shot in the lane by Mayer, and drive by Raby. St. Francis had made a strong come-back, but lost 39-45.
Bryce Raby (14) and Cutler Mayer (12) scored in double figures for the Indians. Brady Schoenrogge added 8 (all in 2nd half), Dario Montrone 3, and Wyatt Hilt 2. The Indians were 4 of 11 from the line, had 34 turnovers, and were whistled for 7 fouls.
The Titans were led in scoring by Daxton Latham with 18 points. Cayde Welsh and Joey Myers each added 8. The Titans had 17 turnovers, 16 fouls, and made 1 of 6 from the stripe.
St. Francis will play Wallace County, in St. Francis, on Thursday, February 7. The evening will be Senior Night for the Indians. The Indians will also play Decatur Community on Friday, February 8, in Oberlin.
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