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Indians Top Streaks In Opener
The two meet again at Archbold, Friday, Jan. 25 for a Northwest Ohio Athletic League match-up. The Indians used their height advantage to pull out the victory. Starting seniors Richard Russell, listed as 6-foot-6, along with senior teammate Elliot Mealer, also listed as 6- 6, provided an inside game that jump-started the Indians to an 8-2 lead. The Blue and Gold bounced right back, taking a 13-12 lead on a baseline drive by Trey Smith. The Indians rattled off the next eight points to close the first quarter with a 20-13 lead. They held a 32-29 advantage at the half. Archbold "had a good game plan. They spread us out and attacked the basket, but I thought our kids responded pretty well," said Ken Burgei, Wauseon High School head coach. "I thought our kids battled Wauseon's size," said Doug Krauss, Archbold High School head coach. "We went to a zone real quick because they were just getting layup after layup. "We just didn't do a good job of rotating. Their muscle just did us away. I thought our zone battled and gave us an opportunity to make some shots. "I thought the first half we were undisciplined with the basketball; that is typical in the first game. Those are areas we have to improve on. I thought our kids battled hard." Indians Heat Up; Streaks Go Cold The Indians started the second half the way they started the contest, with Mealer scoring on a drive along the baseline for two. Archbold answered with David Rupp nailing a 3-pointer. Justin Rupp bucketed the next four points on a pair of Wauseon turnovers to take a 36-34 lead. Mealer came right back, driving the baseline for two. David Rupp drove the paint for two for Archbold. From there the Streaks went ice cold, getting shut out for the rest of the period. AHS trailed 41-38 to start the final eight minutes. Smith, who sizzled in the first half with 14 points, was scoreless in the second half, and the Streaks were held scoreless until the 2:40 mark of the fourth quarter. On Wauseon's side, Mealer muscled his way in for two, and Kevin Elson came up with a steal and went the distance for two of his 14 points. Russell converted a Streak turnover for two more, and the Indians had a 47-38 lead with 2:40 left. "Believe it or not, we had a guy that was not supposed to leave" Smith, said Burgei. The AHS senior "has really improved his game since last year." "In the second half I think Wauseon got into Trey a little bit," said Krauss. "I think Trey got a little antsy at times. When he just lets the game come to him, he is a pretty good player. "We need him to get good shots, and in that second half he didn't get good looks." Krauss called a time-out to settle his squad, and Justin Rupp came out and connected for a pair at the charity stripe. Wauseon continued its second half run, with Elson driving the baseline. In the final 1:11 the Indians used the foul line, connecting on six of seven attempts to post the 55-43 victory. WHS sizzled from the field, hitting 71%. Elson led the way; Mealer and Russell chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively. "I liked what we did defensively, especially in that second half (and) especially in the fourth quarter," said Burgei. "Archbold made that run in the third quarter; we kept our poise and we got back to basics." The Streaks put three in double digits. Smith and Justin Rupp scored 14 points each, and David Rupp added 10. Wauseon out-rebounded the Blue and Gold 24-21 and had five more turnovers, 18-13. BOX SCORE ARCHBOLD (43) - Fidler 2, Martinez 3, J. Rupp 14, Smith 14, D. Rupp 10. Totals 17-2-43. WAUSEON (55) - Bost 2, Elson 14, Uphaus 7, Schrock 3, Burgard 6, Russell 10, Hinkle 2, Mealer 11. Totals 20-13- 55.
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