PHS Gets Back On Winning Track
by Greg Waidelich Buckeye Correspondent

A flock of Blackbirds try to stop Stryker's Blake Ruffer from scoring, Friday, Jan. 25 in the Bird Cage. From left: Alex Frey (25), Michael Deffely (13), Ruffer, Michael Haase (45), and Lucas Nofziger (53).- photo by Mary Huber

The Pettisville boys basketball team improved to 7-1 in the Buckeye Border Conference and stayed atop the rest of the league with a 54-37 victory over visiting Fayette, Friday, Feb. 1.

Pettisville hosted Hicksville, who wanted to spoil Homecoming, Saturday, Feb. 2. The Birds hit 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to hang on for a 70-66 victory.

Pettisville is 13-4 on the season.

PHS 54, Fayette 37

Led by 13 points from Logan Frey, PHS led by nine, 17-8, after the first quarter. The Birds outscored the Eagles 17-9 in the second for a 34-17 halftime lead.

Both teams scored 20 points in the second half for the 54-37 final.

L. Frey led the Birds with 21 points. Quinn Nofziger added 12. Shelby Franks led the Eagles with 11.

Pettisville was 23/53 from the field and 5/9 from the charity stripe. Fayette was 13/39 from the field and 8/11 from the line.

The Eagles won the rebounding battle 28-23, but committed 20 turnovers to Pettisville's eight.

PHS 70, Hicksville 66

Pettisville started out on fire, quickly taking a 20-8 lead. Hicksville outscored the Birds 8-4 in the final two minutes for a 24-16 PHS lead at the end of one.

The Birds outscored Hicksville 19-14 in the second for 43-30 halftime lead.

The Aces came roaring back in the third, cutting the lead to 10, but Nofziger had two steals, both leading to L. Frey layups that pushed the lead back to 14. PHS led 54-42 at the end of three.

Hicksville came back in the fourth to make the game close, but the Blackbirds hit 10 foul shots in the quarter to win 70- 66.

A. Frey led PHS with 21 points. Nofziger added 12; Michael Haase, 11; and Michael Deffely, 10.

Pettisville was 25/45 from the field, including four treys, for 56% and 16/25 from the line for 64%. Hicksville was 25/48 from the field, including seven treys, for 52%, but only 9/17 from the line for 53%.
BOX SCORES
PETTISVILLE (54) - Deffely 6, Q.
Nofziger 12, L. Frey 21, A. Frey 6, Haase
Bruner 4. Totals 23-5-54.
FAYETTE (37) - Franks 11, Hylander
Rodriguez 6, Griffins 4, Stoltzfus 2,
Richardson 5. Totals 13-8-37.

PHS 17 17 12 8 - 54
FHS 8 9 11 9 - 37

Reserve score: Pettisville won 47- 26.

PETTISVILLE (70) - Deffely 10, Q. Nofziger 12, L. Frey 7, A. Frey 21, Haase 11, Bruner 9. Totals 25-16-70.

HICKSVILLE (66) - Gerbers 10, Vandermark 11, Kemerer 17, Klepper 9, Slattery 2, Turnbull 9, Cover 6, Emenhiest 2. Totals 25-9-66.

PHS

24

19

11

16

- 70

HHS

16

14

12

24

- 66

Reserve score: Pettisville won 53- 48. Thomas Jefferson invented the calendar clock.