Bath’s Drake Craddock dives for a loose ball against Elida’s Tanner Roberts (left) and Zori Island during Friday night’s Mercy Health Tip-Off at Elida.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
ELIDA — Lima Central Catholic is one football win away from the state championship game.
So, there was no LCC basketball at the Mercy Health Tip-Off.
But there was still basketball at Elida on Friday.
Instead, Elida sprinted down the floor to a 60-44 victory against Bath on Friday night at the Elida Fieldhouse.
“Any time you start out 1-0, it’s always good for the morale of the team,” Elida coach Matt Tabler said. “But our schedule at the beginning is brutal.’’
With LCC playing in the football state semifinals today, the T-Birds withdrew from the Tip-Off.
That left Bath, Shawnee and Elida.
Tonight, it will be Shawnee at Elida, with the junior varsity starting at 6 p.m.
It marked the first time there has been only three teams at the Tip-Off.
For Elida, David Etzkorn led the way with 16 points and two 3-pointers.
“This is what we’ve been working for all offseason,” Etzkorn said. “It’s a great team win and I’m glad for the guys.’’
Added Tabler, “David (Etzkorn) was our sixth man last year, but he has the ability to put the ball in the basket. He’s really dangerous and can get to the basket. But he can also shoot the three. I thought Zori (Island) and Jackson (Covault) did a great job of locating him and got him some open looks.’’
Elida sophomore point guard Zori Island had 14 points and seven rebounds.
Jackson Covault scored 11 with five rebounds. He also hit three 3-pointers.
Brice Engle had four points, but had a game-high 11 rebounds.
“I felt it was a team effort on a win,” Tabler said. “A lot of guys had to play their roles tonight.
“But I think the biggest thing was our press wore on them. I think pressing them … wore them down.’’
Elida went with a man press most of the night.
Bath had 18 turnovers, while Elida had 20.
For Bath, Drake Craddock had 22 points and three 3-pointers.
Cole Craddock scored nine before he fouled out with 1:27 to go.
Elida led 14-10 after the first quarter and 32-29 at the half.
Elida dominated the glass, 42-19, and 12-5 on the offensive end.
Tabler said, “It (rebounding) was a super point of emphasis,” Tabler said. “We felt like we had a size differential against them. We wanted to crash, offensively, and then get after their shooters and limit them to one shot. It was a big emphasis.’’
Etzkorn said, “We said we needed to get eight to 10 offensive rebounds.’’
Elida came out on a 9-0 run to start the third quarter and pulled out to a 41-29 lead.
Island hit a 3-pointer during that run.
“We played well then and took control of the game,” Etzkorn said.
Bath rallied back behind Drake Craddock and got the margin down to 43-36 after three.
After Drake Craddock’s 3-pointer, the Wildcats closed to 43-39 with 7:15 to go.
Covault answered with a 3-pointer, Etzkorn hit two free throws and Island connected on another 3-pointer.
That got the Elida lead back to 51-39 with 5:55 to play.
Etzkorn had 10 points at the half for Elida, while Island had six.
Drake Craddock scored 14 for Bath at the half.
Both teams pushed the ball up the floor at a high pace in the opening half, but that came with plenty of turnovers.
Bath had 10 turnovers at the half, while Elida had 15.
Tom Usher wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
