First Posted: 2/20/2015
BATH TOWNSHIP — It finally clicked.
Bath put it all together at both ends of the floor for four quarters.
The result was a 53-45 Bath boys basketball victory over Elida on Friday at Elida.
It marked Bath’s first Western Buckeye League victory of the year, as the Wildcats are 5-14, 1-7 WBL. Elida is 8-10, 4-4.
Bath had knocked off Elida way back in early December in the consolation game of the Tip-Off Classic, 40-37.
Bath started a pair of freshmen, Harrison Gough (four rebounds) and Chad Frey (two rebounds) and had usual-starters Dylan Burkholder and Chase Clark coming off the bench.
Burkholder responded with a team-high 14 points and seven rebounds.
“It was Elida, so we take it serious,” Burkholder said.
Chase Clark had five points, while Cam Clark had 11 points. Kaden Sullivan had 11 points and three 3-pointers. Andrew Renner had eight points and six rebounds.
“We switched the lineup up and started a couple of younger kids just to shake it up and I thought the kids who didn’t start, who are the regular starters, responded tremendously,” Bath coach Shawn Allen said. “Dylan and Chase came off the bench ready to go.”
Bath’s man-to-man defense smothered Elida at all angles. Renner and Burkholder did a good job holding Elida long-range bomber Austin Allemeier to six points, on two 3-pointers.
“I thought, defensively, we had them corralled most of the night, and we went and got the rebounds most of the time,” Allen said. “I can’t say enough about how hard our kids bought in and tried to be on the same page.”
Added Renner, “He’s (Allemeier) a great player. We just tried to limit his opportunities and hope he has an off night, like he did tonight.”
Sullivan hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter to help Bath run out to a 13-6 first-quarter lead.
The Wildcats led 19-17 at the half.
Burkholder flew around the boards in the second half, scoring nine points in the third quarter.
“I’ve been pushing a lot lately and coaches want me to relax so he decided coming off the bench might be better for me, and I think we found that out,” Burkholder said. “I played a lot more relaxed and didn’t try to force anything.”
To close the third quarter, Burkholder went in the air, grabbed the offensive rebound with one hand and flipped it over his shoulder for a basket.
“I tried to grab it and I didn’t think there was enough time so I threw the ball at the basket and went in, luckily,” Burkholder.
Bath led 40-28 after three quarters. Elida got as close as four, 47-43, with 1:10 left. But Burkholder made one of two free throws and Renner dropped in four straight at the line to hold off any Elida charge.
Elida coach Denny Thompson felt his team was outhustled most of the night.
“We weren’t mentally ready to play this game,” Thompson said. “I think you have to give Bath credit with the energy they brought to the floor. I think most of the time we were our worst enemy, not finishing shots, not locating people and not taking a defensive plan and executing it. Those are the things I’m really disappointed in.”
The game often had the look of a human demolition derby, with bodies flying all over the court.
“It was pretty rough,” Renner said. “It’s a crosstown rivalry, so everyone’s going to go as hard as they can.”
Elida won the boards, 34-33. Elida shot 35 percent from the field and was 5 of 16 on 3-pointers. Bath shot 40 percent and was 4 of 11 on 3-pointers. Bath had 10 turnovers, while Elida had 13.
“I’m really proud of our kids,” Allen said.
