Delphos St. John’s Brayden Klaus and Lima Central Catholic’s Carson Parker go to the floor for a loose ball during Sunday’s game at Msgr. Edward C. Herr Gymnasium.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — Delphos St. John’s coach Aaron Elwer didn’t have to do a selling job on the Blue Jays boys basketball team to get them fired up to play a rivalry game against Lima Central Catholic on Sunday.
The Blue Jays knew the score. Or, at least, they knew the outcome the last three years in this game, all of which ended in LCC victories.
That streak ended when St. John’s beat the Thunderbirds 58-53 at LCC’s Msgr. E.C. Herr Gymnasium on Sunday, powered by some scorching 3-point shooting in the first half and an uncharacteristic use of a match-up zone defense throughout the game.
Cameron Elwer led St. John’s (9-2) with 21 points. Andrew Elwer’s 15 points included four 3-pointers. Aaron Moenter had 14 points and a pair of 3-pointers, and Austin Moenter scored eight points with two 3-pointers.
LCC (11-1) got 15 points from Willie Foster, 13 points from Jayden Priddy and 12 points from Carson Parker.
“In our meeting (Saturday), we talked about it’s a Sunday afternoon game, it’s the only game in town, there’s great tradition there. They have beaten us three times in a row. They’reranked (No.) 3 in the state, and they’re undefeated. There was a lot of motivation to play well today. Our guys embraced it; we played well,” St. John’s coach Aaron Elwer said.
Cameron Elwer, a sophomore, said, “I was a ball boy when Martyce Kimbrough and Dantez Walton used to play (for LCC), and it’s always been in my brain that I wanted to beat LCC every time we could, and we did it this time.”
Lima Central Catholic remained ranked No. 3 in Division IV’s poll despite the loss.
Read more about this game at bit.ly/3vMv1jm.
White steps up for O-G
Sometimes the most obvious answer is the right answer.
When Ottawa-Glandorf needed points in the fourth quarter to hold off St. Marys in a matchup of two of the leaders in the Western Buckeye League boys basketball standings on Friday night, it got the ball to all-state, Ohio State recruit Colin White.
The 6-foot, 6-inch senior scored 13 of the Titans’ final 15 points in a 74-65 win over the Roughriders in a contest they led by only three points with 2 1/2 minutes to play.
White finished with 31 points, and Caden Erford had 22 points, including three 3-pointers, for O-G, which fell Saturday night at Findlay. The Titans are now 10-2, 3-0 WBL, with games at Bath and home against Lima Senior this week.
“I feel it’s kind of my time to take over a game if it’s a close game. With the ball in my hands I feel confident, and my teammates put the ball in my hands and trust me to do that,” White said.
Evan Angstmann led St. Marys (7-3, 2-1 WBL) with 26 points, including eight 3-pointers.
Ottawa-Glandorf stayed at at No. 2 in Division III, despite a loss Saturday at Findlay. Findlay is ranked No. 3 in Division I, down a spot since last week.
Read more about this game at bit.ly/424Wf0P.
Pirates’ suspenseful finish
Bluffton’s Wade Ginther pushed the ball the length of the court at the end of the game at Crestview on Friday night, evaded one defender and… waited as the ball bounced several times before it finally rolled into the net.
“I heard coach say, ‘Attack the rim,’ and so I did,” said Ginther, who finished with nine points. “I saw (the defender) go to the left, and then I went right and put it up and fell to the ground. I saw it going around the basket, and I have to admit it scared me for a little bit.”
The ball finally fell through, and the Pirates sealed an improbable 53-52 comeback win. Bluffton trailed 7-0 in the first quarter.
The Pirates were without their leading scorer, Marek Donaldson. Bluffton coach Todd Boblitt said Donaldson and his 16 points per game will be out for a few games with “some health issues,” but Donaldson celebrated with his teammates via video on a phone after the game.
The Pirates went on to have four players score in double figures Saturday in a 75-58 win against Fort Jennings, including Ginther’s 21,Blake Sommers’ 19, Terron Boblitt’s 11 nad Brody Sommers’ 10.
Read more about this game at bit.ly/47xa21v.
Defense leads to run
Pandora-Gilboa saw the benefit of its defensive efforts, as the Rockets went on a 23-1 run against Ottoville in a seven-minute stretch of the first and second quarters. It led to a 63-40 win Saturday night in a battle of two of the Putnam County League’s best teams.
“A lot of the things we got offensively were because of what happened on defense,” P-G coach Mike Lee said. “For the most part, we did a pretty job defensively.”
The win leaves Pandora-Gilboa (12-0, 4-0 Putnam County League) alone atop the league standings.
Ottoville (10-3, 1-1 PCL) had pulled within two points, 10-8, midway through the first quarter on a 3-pointer by Adam Brinkman before the P-G run began.
Pandora-Gilboa held Ottoville to just 30% shooting for the game, including a mere 32% in two-point territory. The Rockets also held a 26-8 edge on defensive rebounds and a 31-21 overall advantage on the glass.
Aiden Harris scored all 18 of his points during that run before injuring his ankle. His status is day-to-day, Lee said. His twin brother, Colin Harris, added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Nate Maag added another 11 for P-G.
Undefeated Pandora-Gilboa climbed a spot, up to No. 6, in the second weekly Division IV state poll.
Read more about this game at bit.ly/48MJhqY.
First league victory
Wapakoneta finally picked up its first league win Friday night with a 44-30 win against Van Wert. THe Redskins opened the game with a 6-0 spurt and ended it with a 12-0 run.
“When you start (the WBL schedule) with O-G and St. Marys (both losses) – that’s a tough start in the league,” Wapakoneta coach Trey Elchert said. “I thought we battled pretty well last week against St. Marys, but we just came up a play or two short. The goal now is one game at a time and continue to build as we get back to full health. Hopefully, we can start to string some (wins) here together.”
Zac Niekamp led Wapakoneta and all scorers with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Caleb Moyer, a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, had 11 points in what was his first game of the season. Moyer, the quarterback on the football team, was coming back from an injury he suffered during the postseason playoffs.
Cash Schadl had seven points. Kaden Page, a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, scored four points and dished out a game-high six assists. Page also recorded two blocks and a steal. Nate Metzger had five points, eight rebounds, a block and two steals for the Redskins.
Read more about this game at bit.ly/3RYRa5F.
Big scorers
Several area boys basketball players topped the 15-point plateau in recent games:
• Delphos Jefferson’s Karden Agner scored 23 points on Friday, but the Wildcats still fell to Ottoville, 63-43.
• Shawnee’s Beckett Bertke scored 21 points and had nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 67-43 win Friday against Defiance.
• Carson Clum scored 20 points in Allen East’s 65-45 win at Ada on Friday.
• Tyler Lammers had 20 points in Leipsic’s 61-59 win against Columbus Grove on Friday.
• Jayce Brecht had 19 points in Leipsic’s 61-59 win against Columbus Grove on Friday.
• Fort Jennings’ Jarron Swick scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers, but the Musketeers fell 59-56 at Kalida on Friday. He added 18 points in Saturday’s 75-58 loss to Bluffton.
• Alex Sanders had 19 points and Maddox Underwood had 18 in Upper Scioto Valley’s 73-46 win against Ada.
• Owen Sensabuagh scored 18 points in Spencerville’s 52-35 win at Bath on Saturday.
• Bath’s Jaxon Foster also had 18 points in the Wildcats’ 52-35 loss to Spencerville on Saturday.
• A’mari Wash scored 18 points in Elida’s 50-32 win against Bath on Friday.
• Kyle Hopkins of Columbus Grove had 18 points in a 61-59 loss to Leipsic.
• Shawnee’s Trevick Bertke tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 67-43 win Frida against Defiance.
• Fort Jennings’ Owen Calvelage had 16 points in a 75-58 loss to Bluffton on Saturday.
• Fort Jennings’ Calvin Menke had 15 in a 59-56 loss at Kalida on Friday.
BOYS BASKETBALL STANDINGS
Western Buckeye League
`WBL`All
Ottawa-Glandorf `3-0 `10-2
Shawnee `3-0 `8-4
Elida `2-1 `9-2
St. Marys `2-1 `7-4
Celina `2-1 `5-5
Kenton `1-2 `7-5
Wapakoneta `1-2 `6-5
Defiance `1-2 `4-8
Van Wert `0-3 `3-10
Bath `0-3 `0-10
Midwest Athletic Conference
Delphos St. John’s `3-0 `10-2
Coldwater `3-0 `9-2
Parkway `2-0 `9-3
St. Henry `3-1 `8-3
Versailles `2-1 `5-5
Marion Local `1-1 `5-6
Minster `0-2 `3-6
New Bremen `0-3 `4-8
Fort Recovery `0-3 `4-9
New Knoxville `0-3 `3-9
Northwest Conference
`NWC`All
Bluffton `3-0 `10-1
Spencerville `3-0 `8-3
Allen East `2-0 `6-4
Leipsic `2-1 `6-5
Crestview `1-2 `9-5
Columbus Grove `1-2 `5-3
Lincolnview `0-2 `4-7
Delphos Jefferson `0-2 `1-9
Ada `0-3 `1-10
Northwest Central Conference
`NWCC`All
Upper Scioto Valley `3-0 `5-5
Cory-Rawson `2-0 `3-7
Ridgemont `2-1 `7-5
Elgin `2-1 `3-7
Perry `1-1 `3-8
Hardin Northern `1-1 `2-7
Ridgedale `1-2 `5-4
Temple Christian `0-2 `5-6
Waynesfield-Goshen `0-2 `2-6
North Baltimore `0-2 `2-4
Putnam County League
`PCL`All
Pandora-Gilboa `4-0 `12-0
Miller City-New Cleveland `2-1 `9-3
Leipsic `2-2 `7-5
Ottoville `1-1 `10-3
Kalida `1-1 `2-11
Columbus Grove `1-2 `5-4
Fort Jennings `0-2 `3-9
Continental `0-2 `1-12
Toledo City Athletic League
`TCAL`All
Toledo Start `4-1 `7-7
Lima Senior `4-1 `6-5
Toledo Scott `3-1 `6-4
Toledo Bowsher `2-2 `3-9
Toledo Rogers `1-3 `5-9
Toledo Woodward `1-3 `2-9
Toledo Waite `0-4 `0-13
Independents
Lima Central Catholic “11-1
RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 12
Allen East 65, Ada 45
Bluffton 53, Crestview 52
Elida 50, Bath 32
Kalida 59, Fort Jennings 56
Leipsic 61, Columbus Grove 59
Lima Senior 81, Tol. Waite 14
Miller City 63, Continental 29
Ottawa-Glandorf 74, St Marys 65
Ottoville 63, Delphos Jefferson 43
Pandora-Gilboa 60, Vanlue 21
Shawnee 67, Defiance 43
Spencerville 67, Lincolnview 42
Wapakoneta 44, Van Wert 30
Fort Recovery at Delphos St. John’s, ppd.
Perry at Hardin Northern, ppd.
Ridgemont at Temple Christian, ppd.
Waynesfield-Goshen at North Baltimore, ppd.
Saturday, Jan 13
Bluffton 75, Fort Jennings 58
Findlay 49, Ottawa-Glandorf 47
Kalida 39, Tinora 35
Liberty-Benton 65, Allen East 47
Lima Central Catholic 61, Lima Perry 36
Miller City 54, Lincolnview 51
Pandora-Gilboa 63, Ottoville 40
Spencerville 52, Bath 35
Temple Christian 46, Bellefontaine Calvary Christian 43
Upper Scioto Valley 73, Ada 46
Bryan at Elida, ppd.
Mansfield Senior at Lima Senior, ppd.
Sunday, Jan.14
Delphos St. John’s 58, Lima Central Catholic 53
Pickerington Central 49, Lima Senior 46
Monday, Jan. 15
Delphos St. John’s 76, Fort Recovery 56
Friday, Jan. 19
Ada at Delphos Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.
Arlington at Pandora-Gilboa, 7:15 p.m.
Celina at Elida, 7:30 p.m.
Cory-Rawson at Waynesfield-Goshen, 7:30 p.m.
Crestview at Allen East, 7:30 p.m.
Delphos St. John’s at Parkway, 7 p.m.
Elgin at Temple Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Fort Jennings at Continental, 7:30 p.m.
Leipsic at Bluffton, 7:30 p.m.
Lima Central Catholic at Spencerville, 7:15 p.m.
Lincolnview at Columbus Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Miller City at Ottoville, 7:30 p.m.
North Baltimore at Perry, 7:30 p.m.
Ottawa-Glandorf at Bath, 7:30 p.m.
Shawnee at Wapakoneta, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 20
Bluffton at Liberty-Benton, 6:30 p.m.
Columbus Grove at Kalida, 7:30 p.m.
Delphos St. John’s at Pandora-Gilboa, 7:30 p.m.
Hardin Northern at Ada, 7:30 p.m.
Lima Central Catholic at Elida, 4:30 p.m.
Lima Senior at Ottawa-Glandorf, 7:30 p.m.
McComb at Fort Jennings, 7:30 p.m.
Ottoville at St. Henry, 6:15 p.m.
Paulding at Delphos Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.
Spencerville at Arlington, 6:30 p.m.
Wapakoneta at Jackson Center, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Saturday, Jan. 13
Findlay 59, Wapakoneta 46
Liberty-Benton 53, Kalida 45
Lima Senior 47, Sylvania Southview 32
Pandora-Gilboa 55, Fort Jennings 49
Paulding 46, Bluffton 33
Sunday, Jan. 14
Ottawa-Glandorf 35, Smithville 25
Monday, Jan. 15
Allen East 48, Jonathan Alder 45
Fort Jennings 58, Hardin Northern 41
Wayne Trace 60, Lima Central Catholic 23
Tuesday, Jan. 16
Games ended after The Lima News deadline. Find scores, game stories, photos and more at Limascores.com
Elida at Bluffton, 7:30 p.m.
Kalida at Delphos St. John’s, 7:30 p.m.
Miller City at McComb, 7:30 p.m.
Pandora-Gilboa at Ottoville, 7:30 p.m.
Perry at Continental, 7:30 p.m.
Shawnee at Delphos Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.
Spencerville at New Knoxville, 7:30 p.m.
Upper Scioto Valley at Lima Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Waynesfield-Goshen at Jackson Center, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
Scott at Lima Senior, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 18
Allen East at Crestview, 7:30 p.m.
Bath at Ottawa-Glandorf, 7:30 p.m.
Bluffton at Leipsic, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus Grove at Lincolnview, 7:30 p.m.
Continental at Fort Jennings, 7:30 p.m.
Delphos Jefferson at Ada, 7:30 p.m.
Elida at Celina, 7:30 p.m.
Elmwood at Miller City, 7:30 p.m.
Pandora-Gilboa at Arlington, 7:30 p.m.
Parkway at Delphos St. John’s, 7 p.m.
Perry at North Baltimore, 7:30 p.m.
Wapakoneta at Shawnee, 7:30 p.m.
Waynesfield-Goshen at Cory-Rawson, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 20
Bluffton at Pandora-Gilboa, 1:30 p.m.
Columbus Grove at Miller City, 2 p.m.
Kalida at Holgate, 1:30 p.m.
Lima Central Catholic at Celina , 12 p.m.
Marion Harding at Lima Senior, 1:15 p.m.
Ottawa-Glandorf at Ottoville, 1 p.m.
Spencerville at Riverdale, 1:30 p.m.
