LIMA – Run, run and run a little more.
Shawnee leaned heavily on its up-tempo transition game in posting a 60-43 victory over Toledo Scott in the Division II boys sectional opener Wednesday at Lima Senior.
Shawnee not only ran the floor, it took the ball to the basket early and often.
Of Shawnee’ 26 baskets, 20 came off layups.
“Our game plan going in was to get some defensive rebounds and get out in transition,” Shawnee coach Mark Triplett said. “I thought we did a pretty good job of that early on, getting to the rim and attacking the basket.
“Offensively, in the halfcourt, we didn’t play well, but tournament basketball is about finding a way to survive and move on.’’
Shawnee (16-7) advances to the sectional finals against Wapakoneta (15-8) at 8 p.m. Friday at Lima Senior.
Scott ends its season 2-19.
In the second sectional game of the night, Wapakoneta knocked off Napoleon 66-34.
Johnny Caprella led Shawnee with 17 points. All seven of Caprella’s baskets came by driving layups.
“It was a big win for us,” Caprella said. “Mainly, it was out of transition, but when we had ball reversal the ball lanes opened up and we found the rim. We got out and ran.’’
Tyler Moore had 11 points.
Sheridan O’Neal had eight points and 10 rebounds for Shawnee. Jake Hutchins had eight points.
Anthony Morris and Marquise Brown both had nine points for Scott.
Scott opened the game in a 1-2-2 press, but it wasn’t able to do much to slow down the Indians.
Shawnee continually not only broke the press, but it found baskets at the rim.
Scott led 5-4 early, before Shawnee ripped off a 12-0 run.
That gave the Indians a 16-5 lead.
“We don’t win without our transition game,” Triplett said. “We had 18 assists and 15 or 16 were lead passes up for layups.’’
During that run, Caprella had a three-point play. Moore had five points, off two fast-break layups and a foul shot.
Shawnee led 21-7 after the first quarter.
In the opening quarter Shawnee hit 9 of 13 from the field, with all nine baskets coming via layups.
Shawnee led 34-19 at the half.
Caprella had nine in the first quarter and 11 at the half.
Scott hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter when Shawnee started in a diamond-and-one. That got Scott back to within 34-27.
Timeout Shawnee.
The Indians went back to their 2-3 zone and went on a 10-0 run to open the game up to 44-27.
Shawnee won the boards, 36-23.
Shawnee shot 59 percent from the field and was 2 of 3 on 3-pointers.
Scott shot 27 percent from the field and was 4 of 17 on 3-pointers.
Scott had nine turnovers, while Shawnee had 10.
“We definitely haven’t reached our peak yet,” Caprella said. “I feel we’re still moving up the ladder. We have to come out Friday and run and also run our sets.’’
Wapakoneta 66, Napoleon 34
Wapakoneta ran out to a big early lead and cruised home to a victory over Napoleon in a Division II sectional opener.
Adam Scott led the Redskins with 21 points.
Aaron Good and Brady Erb both had eight points for Wapak. Good hit two 3-pointers.
Gage Schenk scored seven points.
Wapak led 18-6 after the first quarter and wasn’t challenged after theat.
The Redskins led 33-17 at the half. Wapak then pulled out to a 42-19 lead with 2:31 left in the third.
Wapak had 10 turnovers, while Napoleon had 12.
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