Milford, Williamsburg, and Bethel-Tate have been unbeaten in their most recent varsity boys basketball action. The Eagles and the Wildcats are atop their respective league divisions.
Milford
The Eagles of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference East Division gradually pulled away to defeat visiting next-door neighbor Goshen 53-42 in a non-conference confrontation. The hosts had quarter leads of 15-13, 24-18, and 36-29. Senior guard Zachary Baker was the leading scorer for the home team with 17 points (including three three-pointers) and senior forward Nick Hittner added 10 points. The Warriors displayed a more balanced offense with senior guard Anthony Voto netting 15 points, senior guard Nick Wake made 11 (including a trio of three-pointers), and senior guard Derek Koch contributed another 11 points.
In the Fort Ancient Valley East, Milford triumphed over Turpin’s Spartans 63-46. Trailing 8-4 after one period of play and tied at 19-both at halftime, the home guys turned it on to go ahead 42-34 at the end of the third quarter and further away in the final eight minutes of regulation action. Double digit scoring for the winners was made by Baker with 19 (including three three-pointers), senior guard Jess Stankeveh with 13, and senior guard Callan Hughes with 10.
Williamsburg
The Wildcats of the Southern Buckeye Conference National Division finally overcame Felicity 79-65 on the Cardiinals’ court. Felicity was in the forefront 24-23 and 42-21 after the first two intermissions and the Blue and White took over 61-56 after three quarters of action. The Young brothers, Elliot, a senior guard-forward, and Kendal, a sophomore forward, tallied 27 and 25 points, respectively for the victors. A very balanced resistance saw five of the Red and Whte net twin figure scoring – senior forward Matt O’Brien made 14, junior guard Trevor Shouse 14, junior guard Jake Fry 12, senior forward Dylan Ferris 10, and junior forward Jeremy Moore 10. In a non-lleague victory, Williamsburg overcame Landmark Christian 76-63 owning stanza leads of 21-13, 35-30, and 59-47. In this non-league encounter, the Red and White against featured a balance offense led by Elliot Young’s 35 point performance, 16 from Kendal Young, 10 from junior guard Jacob Herren, and 10 from senior forward Matt Richardson.
Bethel-Tate
The Tigers barely survived a surge by visiting New Richmond 56-55 in overtime. The Tigers led after the first three breaks of this American Divison game of the Southern Buckeye Conference 19-7, 40-20, and 46-35 before the Lions very determinedly staged a comeback to trail 46-35 after three quarters and it was tied at 51 after the fourth stanza to send the game into OT. Senior forward Tyler Bullock’s 17 points led the Tigers’ scoring, senior guard Garrett Lang added 10 points as did junior guard Matt Small with another 10. The Red and Black’s Zak Ritter, a senior guard-forward, led all scorers with 18 points and teammates Joey McCabe, senior forward, and Chris Turner, junior forward, each added 14.
Glen Este
The Trojans won a Fort Ancient Valley East contest over Walnut Hills 70-54 on the Eagles’ hardwood. The Clermont countians led all the way 16-9, 35-16, and 52-29. Five Trojans sank double figures – junior forward Alex Fultz made 15 points, senior guard Shane Seckman 13, junior guard Corey Goedde 12, sophomore guard Austin Rieck 11, and senior forward Mike Bouley 10.
In another East Division dual of the Fort Ancient Valley, the Purple and White whipped the visiting Wilmington Hurricanes 71-53. The Trojans were on top at each break 17-12, 37-24, and 52-39. Bouley fired in 23 points, Goedde 14, and Fultz 12 to head the Glen Este point production.
The Trojans returned from St. Xavier with a 60-39 drubbing. The Bombers shelled GE for period advantages of 18-12, 29-22, and 43-29. Goedde and Fultz netted 13 and 12 points, respectively, for GE.
Goshen
The Warriors, leaders of the A merican Division of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference, nipped Western Brown 42-40 to make the home fans happy. The Red and Gray held sway 19-14 after the first stanza, was behind 24-22 at the half and 35-28 after three quartters before staging a strong comeback in the final eight minutes of regulation play to pull away for the victory. Wake awoke to scorch the nets with five three points and 23 total points and Koch contributed another 12 points.
In a non-division conflict of the Southern Buckeye, the Clermont countians poured it on in overtime to emerge with a 47-37 verdict over visiting Georgetown. Goshen led 12-9 after the first period, but the G-Men took over after the next two quarters 20-15 and 23-22 before the game was sent into overtime at 35-both at the end of regulation action. Wake made 17 points (including a trio of three-pointers) to head the Clermont coutians’ offense and teammate Voto added another 12 points to the winning cause.
Batavia
The Bulldogs easily erased Riverview East 48-23 before happy home fans in this non-conference clobbering. The Green and Green steadily widened the margin of victory with quarter leads of 8-6, 26-8, and 40-12. Senior center Luke Bradburn’s 11 points led the Batavia scoring effort.
East Clinton handed the Bulldogs a 61-58 setback in overtime. In this Southern Buckeye National thriller, The hosts led 17-10 after one quarter of competition, but the Astros took over 33-26 and 44-38 before the Bulldogs tied it a 51-both to send the struggle into OT. Junior guard Swayne Smith made 17 points and Bradburn 12 to spearhead the Clermont countian’s resistance.
Clermont Northeastern
The Rockets raced by Amelia 63-33 at the barony in a Southern Buckeye American annihilation. The Rockets blasted off to period leads of 14-6, 31-16, and 45-26. Ryan Mummert, senior forward, led the Blue and Gold’s offense with 14 points and Noah Slusher, senior guard, added 12. Seven points apiece were scored by the Blue and White’s senior guard Brandon Cooper, senior forward Tanner Owens, and senior forward Kevin Morse.
Ponitz High took a 75-67 setback from CNE that performed a determined second half rally after being behind 19-10 and 37-29 after the first two periods. The homeboys gained the lead at the end of three quarters of play 54-53. Jake Hogue, senior forward-center, kept the nets ablaze with his 33-point performance and teammate John Bailey, senior forward-center, fired in 19 additional points.
New Richmond received a 77-38 beating in the Southern Buckeye American. The guests were in front at the intermissions 19-7, 36-14, and 57-26. Hogue made 16 points and twin brother, Josh, a guard-forward, dropped in 12 the same total tallied by Bailey. Ritter’s 14 point performance led the Lions’ scoring.
In a 57-58 non-league loss at McNicholas, Hamilton’s County’s version of the Rockets had the lead after the first stanza 20-15, but the Clermont countians were ahead 31-30 and 46-42 after the next two rests before McNick culminated a strong rally to win. Jake Hogue and Bailey threw 20 and 17 points, respectively.
In a Southern Buckeye American showdown, the visiting Broncos of Western Brown took the tilt 48-37. The boys from Owensville never did get into it, down all the way 8-2, 25-15, and 36-29. Bailey’s nine points was the best individual output for CNE.
Northeastern lost another home game, this one a non-conference clash with Peebles’s Indians 77-51. Jake Hogue’s 13 points led the Blue and Gold’s resistance that was on the shortside at the end of each halt 28-12, 46-30, and 61-40.
Amelia
The Barons fell before Mt. Healthy 64-48 at the barony. In this non-league loss, the Owls held sway all the way 16-4, 28-21, and 44-35. Owens’ 11 points paced he Blue and White’s point production.