KALIDA — Miller City tried to hit the re-set button at halftime, but that didn’t work against a team which had re-set its entire season.
Kalida, winner of seven of its last nine games following a seven-game losing streak, dominated the second half in a 61-41 boys basketball win over Putnam County League leader Miller City on Friday night.
Noah Lambert scored 16 points, all of them in the second half, to lead Kalida (9-9, 4-2 PCL). Collin Nartker had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Grant Laudick scored 11 points and Trent Siebeneck scored 10.
Matt Niese’s 11 points led Miller City (11-5, 5-1 PCL), which saw a chance to clinch at least a tie for the league championship get away.
Kalida jumped out to an eight-point lead, 21-13, halfway through the second quarter before Miller City tied the game 21-21 at halftime.
But in the game’s final 16 minutes, Kalida was hot enough it nearly scorched the finish off the gym floor when it outscored Miller City 40-20.
“The second half we did a really good job of being the aggressor. They became a jump shooting team and we were getting to the rim and getting the looks we wanted. The seniors really stepped up and wanted to get a win,” Kalida coach Ryan Stechschulte said.
Miller City coach Bryan Kuhlman said, “We came out after it was tied at halftime and kind of felt we were where we wanted to be after playing not so well in the first half. But it carried over into the second half and it just didn’t get any better for us after that.”
Kalida shot 61 percent on field goals in the game (20 of 33) and 91 percent in the second half (11 of 12). Miller City shot 30 percent overall (14 of 47) and 24 percent in the second half (7 of 29).
“Noah Lambert got us going in the second half. We challenged him at halftime and as a senior he stepped up to the challenge and played an excellent second half,” Stechschulte said. “And then you combo that with Collin Nartker, who was really, really good all-around tonight.
“Defensively, we’re getting better at using our length. We start three kids who are a solid 6-4 and probably a little taller. Our best defensive player is a sophomore, Grant Laudick. He has really learned how to use his length and I think that really bothered No. 22 (Mark Kuhlman), who does a lot for them.”
Nartker said, “We started good, we came out a little slow in the second quarter but then we came back at it in the second half. I think it was probably the best we’ve played offensively. We had a lot of people hitting shots.”
Lambert said, “I was looking for my shot and it wasn’t falling. Coach told me to hang in there. He said all it was going to take was one. I got my first one and it kept going from there.”
Miller City still leads the Putnam County League by a half-game over Pandora-Gilboa.
The Rockets have two league games remaining – at home against Fort Jennings tonight and at Continental next Saturday night. Miller City’s one remaining PCL game is at Columbus Grove next Saturday.
Kalida and Continental, with two league losses, are also still mathematically in the race.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
