First Posted: 2/28/2015
LIMA – There was really nothing on the line in this game except pride.
Lima Central Catholic finished off another outstanding regular season with a 64-53 victory over visiting Elida on Saturday night at Msgr. E. C. Gymnasium.
The Thunderbirds improved to 20-2 on the year despite missing starting guard Tre Cobbs and starting a different lineup because of it being the final home game for the LCC seniors.
“You play that game with nothing on the line other than pride,” LCC coach Frank Kill said. “Our seniors started and as the game wore on we were able to build a lead.”
The Thunderbirds got balanced scoring with Dantez Walton and Josh Dixon both totaling 14 points while Jake Williams added 13 for LCC. The Thunderbirds had eight players break into the scoring column in the contest.
Elida (9-12) got a game-high 15 point effort from Josh Press (four 3-pointers), 14 by Clark Etzler, and 12 from Austin Allemeier.
“Pride was the only factor in this game,” Elida coach Denny Thompson said. “We started a different lineup and so did LCC.”
LCC grabbed a 16-13 lead after one quarter and expanded the lead to 31-20 as the teams went to the halftime break. The Thunderbird lead was only 21-20 before they ended the half on a 10-0 run.
The Thunderbirds grew their lead to 18 points at 49-31 after three quarters and the Bulldogs outscored LCC 22-15 in the fourth quarter to account for the final score.
“We needed to keep the lead in single digits,” Thompson said. “We were with-in striking distance but couldn’t convert on some good looks that we had; the bright side is we are now 0-0 and get to start over.”
The Thunderbirds converted 23-of-46 field goal attempts for 50 percent while making 14-of-21 free throws in the game.
Elida managed 37 percent shooting on 16-of-43 and they converted 15-of-21 from the free throw line.
“We played well defensively as a team but the second half was let’s just get this over with,” Kill said. “We are now on to the third part of the season and it’s one and done.”
