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Blue Streaks Nip Apaches 60-58
If it goes in, the Streaks lose by one. If it misses, the Streaks pick up their eighth win of the season. It missed. Archbold entertained Fairview, Friday, Dec. 28, and recorded a 60-58 boys basketball win as Ben Wonderly's last-second three-point shot caromed off the rim. "They turned the heat up late and we had a couple of close ones there at the end, but then again it's great to be in that situation," said Doug Krauss, AHS head coach. "This is the first game we have had where we had some heat going down the stretch and a pressure situation. It was good for us, and I think we will handle it better the next time." Combined with a 59-50 victory over Stryker, Saturday, Dec. 29, the Streaks upped their record to 9-1. The Apaches, under Mark Rhodes, head coach, fell to 4-4. Streaks Face Speed, Size A much-improved Fairview squad brought quickness and size: the speed of Wonderly, James Elchinger, and John Elchinger, and the size of 6- foot-3 Travis Wiles and 6-8 Ross Joost. AHS countered by placing three in double digits. Gene Goering scorched the nets for 32 points. Trey Smith chipped in 13, and Justin Rupp added 10. Joost finished with 12 points for FHS. Wiles chipped in 15 and Wonderly, 13. Jumping out to a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes and holding a 20-13 lead after the first eight minutes, it appeared AHS would run away with a victory. Not rattled, Fairview closed the gap. Wonderly scored the first five points of the second quarter before David Rupp hit a jumper at the 5:32 mark, keeping Archbold's advantage at 22- 18. On Fairview's next possession, Joost made a leaping save out of bounds into Travis Wiles' hands for two points. Joost, Fairview's big center, showed he could move up and down the court. With a steal at mid-court he outraced the Streaks, laying down a twohanded slam to knot the score at 22. The squads went back and forth for the next four minutes, and FHS led 30-28 at the break. "We were under duress there a little bit at halftime, and I wanted to see how we would handle it," said Krauss. "I thought we came out and handled it. "We went to a three-out set in the second half. I thought that gave us a little bit better spacing and we were able to get some baskets off of that." AHS again looked to pull away in the third, outscoring Fairview 18-9 for a 46-39 lead. Like so many other games this season, the Streaks found their way to the foul line, hitting 9/12 in the fourth and 15/22 for the game. But the Streaks had to fend off Fairview's rally in the closing minutes. As the teams battled back and forth in the opening minutes of the fourth, Goering muscled his way along the baseline for two. Wonderly answered, but AHS held a 53-47 lead. Smith made a pair at the charity stripe for AHS. Chase Rhonehouse answered with one from the charity line. Justin Rupp found his way to the free-throw line, missing one. Rupp's made foul shot kept the Archbold lead at 56-48. With 1:25 remaining, Wiles brought the Apaches right back, burying a three. An Archbold turnover gave the ball right back, and Gus Coolman made his way to the charity stripe, sinking two to close the gap to 56-53. Fairview closed out the game hitting 9/14 free throws. J. Rupp again made his way to the foul line, making one for a four-point AHS lead. Wonderly answered with a deuce, closing the deficit to 57-56 with 42 seconds left. Out of time-outs, Fairview fouled Goering to stop the clock. The senior calmly sank both free throws for a 59-56 lead. Joost hit a put-back for a 59- 58 score, and Goering was sent to the charity stripe one more time with 6 ticks left. Goering hit the first but missed the second. Wonderly snagged the rebound and got off a three that caromed off the rim as time expired, securing the 60-58 AHS win. "The foul line is huge, and you have to go up there with confidence," said Krauss. "We missed a few more than we normally would; then again, that is going to happen." "I thought my kids played really, really hard, and for the most part we executed," said Rhodes. "Archbold is just an extremely good team and a wellcoached team. "You can't make mistakes against them. We made a few, and it was just enough to make the difference in the ball game." AHS 59, Stryker 50 Archbold played host to Stryker, Saturday, Dec. 29, and picked up its ninth win with a 59-50 victory. The Panthers fell to 3-4. Archbold was led by the double-double of Goering, who hauled in 11 rebounds and dumped in 25 points. Smith and D. Rupp also hit double-digit scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Panthers were led by Tyson Short and Jordan Jaggers with 19 and 18 points, respectively. BOX SCORES ARCHBOLD (60) - J. Rupp 10, D. Rupp 5, G. Goering 32, Smith 13. Totals 20-15-60. FAIRVIEW (58) - Rhonehouse 5, Wonderly 13, Tripoli 2, James Elchinger 1, John Elchinger 2, Coolman 8, Wiles 15, Joost 12. Totals 23-9-58.
Reserve score: Archbold won 61-53. ARCHBOLD (59) - Martinez 7, J. Rupp 6, D. Rupp 10, G. Goering 25, Smith 11. Totals 22-12-59. STRYKER (50) - Olmstead 2, Ruffer 3, Doehrmann 2, Jaggers 18, Short 19, Erb 6. Totals 20-8-50.
Reserve score: Archbold won 64-33. |
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