Crestview’s Wren Sheets (left) and Kellin Putman (right) compete with Mohawk’s AJ Hess for a loose ball during a Tuesday night Division IV regional semifinal at Bowling Green State University. See more high school basketball photos at LimaScores.com.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
BOWLING GREEN – It was not the fastest start for Crestview.
But Crestview’s finish more than made up for it.
After a slow start, Crestview shifted to a higher gear and pulled away from Sycamore Mohawk for a convincing 61-40 victory in the second of two boys basketball Division IV regional semifinals Tuesday night at Bowling Green State University’s Stroh Center.
Crestview (23-3) will play for a regional title Friday against Marion Local (22-4) at BGSU with tip-off set for 7 p.m.
In Tuesday’s first game, Marion Local defeated Patrick Henry 56-42.
Nate Lichtle led Crestview with 14 points, including two 3-pointers. Gavin Etzler, the head coach’s son, had 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Etzler also had six rebounds. Wren Sheets had 10 points and five boards for the Knights.
Kahne Hayman led Sycamore Mohawk (21-5) with 11 points.
“I thought our guys came locked in, defensively,” Crestview head coach Doug Etzler said. “ (We had a ) little bit of nerves in the first quarter. Our guys started to hit shots and got us going in the second half.”
After three lead changes, Crestview came away with an 8-7 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Neither team shot very well in the first quarter. Crestview was 3 of 12 from the field, while Mohawk was 3 of 11.
Crestview began to find its range.
The Knights, behind 7 of 9 shooting in the second stanza, pulled out to a 26-12 lead by the halftime break.
Etzler led Crestview with 10 first-half points, including two 3-pointers. Lichtle had seven points for the Knights.
Mohawk struggled in the first half, connecting on just 5 of 22 of its shots for 23 percent. Crestview was 10 of 21 for 48 percent.
The Knights dominated the boards in the first half, 20-9.
For the game, Crestview won the boards, 33-21.
Crestview’s lead grew to 18, 44-26 by the end of the third quarter.
For the game, Crestview shot 49 percent from the field. Mohawk connected on 38 percent of its field goal attempts.
Crestview committed 10 turnovers on the night, while Mohawk turned it over 12 times.
“In the second quarter, we did a good job of sharing the basketball,” Etzler said. “Our guys stepped up and hit shots and built a little bit of a lead. I think that made them (Mohawk) play a little bit faster than they wanted to in the second half.”
Marion Local 56,
Patrick Henry 42
For most of Tuesday’s regional semifinal contest between Marion Local and Patrick Henry, it was a back-and-forth affair.
Then came the fourth quarter.
Marion Local outscored Patrick Henry 21-11 in the final eight minutes to defeat the Patriots by 14 points.
Jack Knapke, a 6-foot-9 junior post player, led Marion Local (22-4) with 14 points. Knapke also came away with eight rebounds and four blocks. Austin Niekamp, a 6-8 sophomore, had 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Mitchell Ranly added nine points, coming off the bench.
Aiden Behrman and Mack Hieber each had 10 points for Patrick Henry (20-6).
“We pride ourselves on great defense, rebounding the ball and being the most aggressive team,” Marion Local head coach Kurt Goettemoeller said. “And we were not those things in the first half. They (Patrick Henry) had 11 offensive rebounds (in first half), and that’s just not our program.
“When our guys play with attitude, obviously with our size, we should be able to control the glass. In the second half, they (Patrick Henry) got two offensive rebounds.”
For the game, Marion Local won the boards, 30-25.
In a tightly-contested first quarter, the two teams were knotted at 10 each at the first stop.
By the halftime break, Marion Local managed to slip out with a 22-21 lead.
Niekamp led Marion Local with nine points and six rebounds in the first half. Knapke had seven points, three boards and two assists for the Flyers.
Creager led Patrick Henry with nine points and four rebounds in the first 16 minutes.
In the first half, Marion Local shot 50 percent from the field. Patrick Henry connected on 33 percent of its field goal attempts.
The Flyers led 35-31 at end of the third quarter.
For the game, Marion Local shot 55 percent from the floor. Patrick Henry connected on 34 percent of its field goal attempts.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
Mark Altstaetter wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
