Lima Central Catholic’s Willie Foster gets control of the ball against Bath’s Cole Craddock (right) during Saturday night’s game at Lima Central Catholic. See more high school basketball photos at LimaScores.com.
Don Speck | The Lima News
LIMA — The first quarter showed that Lima Central Catholic was only two weeks removed from playing football.
But by the second quarter, the T-Birds were back in basketball mode.
LCC notched a 67-55 victory against Bath in a boys basketball game Saturday night at Herr Gymnasium.
Bath (0-4) was coming off a 20-point loss to Shawnee on Friday.
It was the opener for LCC after the season was pushed back after the football team reached the state semifinals.
“It was our first game and we’ve had six practices, so there isn’t too much more you can ask for with that effort,” LCC coach Frank Kill said. “We shared the ball, we make the extra pass and we find the hot hand.
“Two weeks ago, Carson (Parker) was playing in the state semifinals and here he is being our leading scorer.’’
Carson Parker continually posted up inside and had 22 points and five rebounds for LCC.
“We hadn’t had a scrimmage with our full team so we knew it was going to take a quarter or two,” Parker said. “In the first quarter, we were trying to throw the first punch, but we didn’t, so we were trying to keep it close. In the second quarter, we were trying to put them away and then continue that in the second half.’’
LCC freshman point guard Willie Foster had 12 points and two long-range 3-pointers.
“It was great to see Willie Foster get off to a good start as a freshman,” Kill said. “It was something I saw in the preseason that he could help us.’’
Added Parker, “He (Foster) looked like a fifth-year starter for us. He doesn’t play football, so he’s been practicing. So we knew he was comfortable with the ball.’’
LCC’s Billy Bourk had eight points and four rebounds.
Cole Craddock paced Bath with 19 points. Jaxson Foster had 11 points.
“It’s still early,” Bath coach Sean Powell said. “When you go out there with four sophomores and two freshmen in a varsity game, it’s going to be tough.’’
LCC used its height and strength advantage throughout the game, as it outrebounded Bath, 33-17.
“Having to fight the size battle and the inexperience battle at the same time is a tall task for us right now,” Powell said.
LCC had 16 turnovers, while Bath had 17.
Bath led 12-11 after the first quarter, as the T-Birds had six turnovers in the first period and Bath had five.
With Bath leading 15-14, LCC ripped off a 11-0 run in the second quarter to pull out to a 24-14 lead with 3:52 left in the second.
During that run, Parker scored six, on a 15-footer and two layups.
“Where Carson goes, we’re going to go,” Kill said. “He’s such a versatile player, where he can go inside and out. He can shoot and he can score down low.’’
Matt Quatman also banged home a 3-pointer and Foster sank a driving layup during the run.
LCC took a 29-21 lead into halftime.
The T-Birds hit 8 of 11 from the field in the second quarter.
Parker had 10 at the half.
Bath was 4 of 11 on 3-pointers in the first half.
The T-Birds continually went down inside to Parker in the third quarter, as he scored six in the quarter.
Foster also hit two 3-pointers, one from NBA range.
That helped LCC go on an 18-5 run to pull out to a 49-30 lead.
LCC led after three 49-32.
The T-Birds led by as many as 23, 64-41 with close to four minutes to play.
Bath rallied back with its press to get within 12 at the end.
Overall, Kill was pleased with his opener.
“We weathered the storm. We got our nerves out of the way,” Kill said. “We were able to relax and get back to playing basketball.’’
Tom Usher wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
