First Posted: 2/18/2015
Here are some key area basketball games for the remainder of the week.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bath (19-1, 8-0 Western Buckeye League) at Elida (8-13, 3-5 WBL)
When: 7:30 tonight
Bath slipped past Fort Loramie this past Tuesday for a 54-46 nonleague victory. Bath came into Tuesday’s contest ranked sixth in Division II, while Fort Loramie was ranked 10th in Division IV. Maddie Dackin led the way for Bath with 20 points. Teammates Bri Smith and Alyssa Manley each added 14 points. Smith was 4-of-4 on 3-pointers.
Last Thursday, Bath clinched at least a share of the WBL title, when it soundly defeated Kenton 66-17. Dackin led the Wildkittens with 16 points. In all, 11 Bath players scored against Kenton.
Elida is coming off a 76-46 loss to Ottawa-Glandorf on the road last Thursday. Bailee Kuhn (19), Abby Waddle (12) and Shyah Wheeler (10) all scored in double figures for Elida.
Odds and ends: A win for Bath would give the Wildkittens the outright Western Buckeye League title, and their fifth consecutive WBL crown. Coming into tonight’s game with Elida, Bath has won 41 consecutive regular-season WBL games.
The Brass Tacks: This has always been a good cross-town rivalry. However, Bath will be trying to close the door on the Bulldogs’ attempt to spoil the Wildkittens’ bid for an undefeated league schedule.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Elida (8-9, 4-3 Western Buckeye League) at Bath (4-14, 0-7 WBL)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Elida is fresh off a hard-fought 60-59 overtime win over Bellefontaine on Tuesday. Austin Allemeier led the way for the Bulldogs with 27 points, including three 3-pointers.
Last Friday, Elida lost to Ottawa-Glandorf 66-42 in WBL action. The Titans helped force 21 Elida turnovers. Josh Press led Elida with 12 points. Allemeier, the leading scorer for Elida, was held to nine points.
Bath is coming off a 71-57 loss to Kenton this past Friday. Andrew Renner poured in 28 points for Bath in the losing effort. Teammate Chase Clark added 12 for the Wildcats.
Odds and ends: Elida is trying to climb back into the top third of the WBL. Bath is striving to notch its first WBL win of the season.
The Brass Tacks: This has been one of the best cross-town rivalries over the years.
BOYS BASKETBALL
St. Marys (13-7, 4-3 Western Buckeye League) at Ottawa-Glandorf (13-6, 5-2 WBL)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
St. Marys rolled past Minster on Tuesday, 67-50. Josh Young led the Roughriders with 25 points, including five shots behind the 3-point line.
Ottawa-Glandorf is coming off an 84-40 win over Leipsic in nonleague action Monday. Noah Bramlage led the Titans with 25 points, while teammate Brad Recker added 13. For the game, O-G made 13 3-pointers.
This past Friday, O-G soundly defeated Elida, 66-42. The Titans had balanced scoring against the Bulldogs. Zach Kuhlman (14), Nick Weihrauch (12) and Bramlage (10) all scored in double figures for O-G. Bramlage was dominate down low for the Titans, pulling down 12 rebounds and blocking five shots.
Odds and ends: Both teams want to finish the season strong. O-G comes into Friday’s contest, sitting in third place and two games back of league-leader Celina. The Roughriders are in fourth place, three games back of Celina.
The Brass Tacks: This game has all the makings of a very fierce battle at the Supreme Court.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Celina (17-2) at Lima Central Catholic (18-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
LCC ended a two-year losing streak to Spencerville, when it defeated the Bearcats 64-48 on Tuesday night. Dantez Walton (20 points, nine rebounds) and Tre Cobbs (18 points) led the T-Birds.
Celina, the No. 8-ranked team in Division II, defeated Marion Local, the No. 8-ranked team in Division IV this past Monday night, 60-56. Ryan Hoyng led the Bulldogs with 22 points and six assists.
This past Friday, Celina rolled past Shawnee in WBL action, 72-54. Ryan Hoyng led the Bulldogs with 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Teammates Logan DeLong (18) and Caleb Hoyng (12) also scored in double figures for Celina.
Odds and ends: LCC has not lost at home this season. Celina has won its past 12 games. The Bulldogs have held its last nine opponents to less than 60 points.
The Brass Tacks: On paper, this looks to be one of the best nonconference matchups of the season.
