LIMA – Wapakoneta wanted to play its usual inside-out game.
But with Lima Central Catholic missing 6-foot-8 Mark Janowski, Wapakoneta often just rammed it inside.
Wapakoneta dominated the inside in its 59-43 boys basketball victory over LCC Thursday at Herr Gymnasium.
Of Wapak’s 20 baskets, 15 came via layups.
“We penetrate, get to the basket and if we can’t we kick out,” Wapak coach Doug Davis said. “Early, Gage Schenk was really getting to the basket, but we also wanted to get inside to Adam Scott.’’
Adam Scott, Wapakoneta’s 6-foot-5 center, had 18 points and seven rebounds Aaron Good added 17 points, with four 3-pointers for Wapak.
The Redskins’ Gage Schenk scored 14 points with six rebounds “If we can get some penetration and have shooters sitting out there ready to shoot, that’s what our offense is supposed to be,” Davis said.
Wapakoneta is 4-2. LCC is 3-3.
Both teams played without a starter because of illness.
Wapakoneta guard Nick Schoonover and LCC’s Janowski were both under the weather and unable to go.
“I thought in the second and third quarter we fought hard and played hard and we competed,” LCC coach Frank Kill said. “But we came out in the fourth quarter and it was like our feet were in cement blocks. We didn’t rebound and we got down 11. It was too little too late against a good Wapak team.’’
LCC did hang with the Redskins until deep in the third quarter.
Wapak led 35-34 with 1:57 left in the third before going on a 7-0 run. Scott had four points and Good sank a 3-pointer during that run.
That pushed the Redskins’ lead to 42-34 with 7:47 to play.
Matthew Cecala hit a 3-pointer for LCC to cut the lead to five. But three quick layups by Wapak and the Redskins’ lead grew to 48-37 with under five minutes left.
Cecala led LCC with 12 points and two 3-pointers. Darius Hairston came off the bench for seven points. Tre Garner had six points and three rebounds. Dominic Riepenhoff had five points and four boards. Brendan Stolly had a team-high six rebounds with his three points.
The Wapak man defense held LCC guards Biggz Johnson, Raoul Samaroo and Ron Banks to a combined 10 points.
Wapak won the boards 31-29.
Wapak shot 59 percent from the field and was 5 of 11 on 3-pointers.
LCC shot 30 percent from the field and was 5 of 16 on 3-pointers.
With Janowski out, Wapak took the ball right to the rim early and often. Of Wapak’s first six baskets, five came via layups.
That helped the Redskins out to a 14-2 lead.
LCC countered with the 3-pointer. The T-Birds sank three quick 3-pointers, by Hairston, Riepenhoff and Banks.
That helped LCC get back within 14-13.
Wapak led 18-13 after the first quarter and 29-24 at the half.
Scott had his own way in the paint in the first half. The Redskins center had 10 points and five rebounds at the break.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
