Boys D-III Basketball: Chillicothe Beat Jackson; Miami Trace Falls to Marietta
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Chillicothe Posts 49-38 Win Over Jackson to Advance to Boys D-III District Final
The third meeting between Frontier Athletic foes, Chillicothe and Jackson went to the Cavaliers in Athens. 49-38.
About the photo: Chillicothe’s Cooper Stoneking drops in a bucket in the 4th quarter over the reach of Jackson’s Jax Carroll
The two clubs split their regular season series, each winning on the other’s home floor. This one was at the neutral site of The Convo.
Chillicothe got the early jump on the Ironmen, posting an 8-2 lead. Chillicothe shot a sizzling 87.5% in the first period, hitting 7-of-8 field goals. Meanwhile, Jackson missed multiple opportunities under the basket. Despite missing eleven field goals and making just one of four attempts from beyond the arc, Jackson trailed 22-21 at halftime.
The Ironmen knotted the game at 24 with 5:51 remaining in the third period, but Chillicothe used an 11-2 run to take a 35-26 advantage. Andrew Hamman scored six of his game-leading 16-points during that stretch. Jackson managed to pull within 39-35, but the Cavs held on for the win. Chillicothe limited Jackson’s second chance opportunities with 25 defensive rebounds, winning the battle on the boards 35-21.
Chillicothe (17-6) advances to this Wednesday’s D-III District Championship game at The Convo. They’ll play the winner of Saturday’s East District Semi-Final, Dover or Steubenville. Cayden Cox finished with 14-points, Cooper Stone King and Noah Netter had 6-points each, Karter Williams 5 and Ka’Von Pleasant had 2-points a break-away dunk late in the fourth.
Jackson (20-4) was led by Ryan Seimitz’s 11-points. Jax Carroll had 8, Charlie Woodard 7 and Stephen Jenkins and Bodhi Wolford had 6-apiece.
Marietta Upends Miami Trace 55-52
FAC Champ Miami Trace (18-4) came up short in their D-III District Semi-Final, 55-52.
The Panthers played the last four games of their season without the Division III District Co-Player of the Year, 6-8 Senior Adam Guthrie. Things were looking bleak for Miami Trace, trailing at the half 29-23 and then 43-33 after the third period.
Gage Bowers led the Panthers’ comeback, cutting the deficit to 48-44 in the final two minutes. They made just 2-of-6 free throw opportunities down the stretch. Marietta had built a 7-point lead with 37 seconds remaining, but Bowers landed a triple and Baron Phipps hit a layup to make it 54-52 with 18 seconds left. The Tigers’ Luke Miller sank one of two free throws for a three-point edge. A desperation half-court shot from Bowers fell short and Marietta advances to the District Final.
Bowers led all scorers with 22-points, followed by Phipps with 12, 5-each for Ty Huffman Evan Parsley and Julian Baker, Luke Armstrong added three.
Marietta’s attack was headed by Trey Hawkins’ 19-points. Wen Riley had 14, Miller had 9, Logan Grosklos had 6, Zaiden Wittekind 4 and Graesyn Moat 3.
The Tigers (20-4) will face the winner of Saturday’s New Philadelphia/Zanesville winner at 6pm next Wednesday.
