Boys Basketball: Tigers Take Sole Possession of MSL Buckeye
Article presented by Rathkamp Financial …
Circleville’s trip to Fairfield Union Saturday night was a productive one, and they made their way home with a 56-33 win over the Falcons and a one game lead atop the Mid State League Buckeye Division.
“This place is hands down one of the hardest places to play” said Circleville’s Kole Nungester on Litter Media RADIO. “You know it’s gonna be rowdy and students are gonna be yellin’ and all… The guys know it’s gonna be tough. We got a good win here last year, too. knew we could do the job. I was just proud of guys and how we came out here and executed.”
Nungester paced the Tigers with 23-points, leading all scorers. Thirteen of those points came in the opening period as Circleville was posting a 19-9 lead.
About the photo: All eyes were on Kole Nungester’s shot just before the half, lifting Circleville to a 29-13 lead at the break.
Tigers’ coach Evan Callihan knew going in the Falcons crashed the boards really well in games he and his staff had scouted. “That was the number-1 key for success tonight” said Callihan. “Webb and Kline are really good post players and they just fly in there and they’ve got some good, solid guards, too.” That meant Circleville was going to have to be physical to win the boards.
“It also helps when shots go in” Callihan added. “I thought that we shot the ball really well in the first half and we were able to get out to a lead… I thought they did a really good job tonight.”
Circleville (15-2/8-1) expanded their lead to 29-13 by halftime and came out of the break by outscoring the Falcons 17-10 in the third.
Behind Nungester’s 23-points, both Blaine Fowler and Riley Jenkins had 10-points apiece. Jack Kline added five while Glavine Bigam and Ed Kirk added 4-points each.
Fairfield Union (12-5/7-2) was led by Mason Ailes with 12. Keaton Webb had 7, Asa Kline and Drake DeFazio had 6-points each and Dean Clark scored 2.
Both the Tigers and Falcons have three league games remaining, including a second meeting on February 17th at Circleville’s campus. For the time being, Circleville holds a one game edge and hoping for their first MSL title. They’ve not hoisted a league championship since 1983 when the Tigers won the South Central Ohio League.
Bloom-Carroll and Logan Elm picked up MSL wins Saturday. The Bulldogs took Hamilton Township 65-51 and the Braves bested Amanda Clearcreek 56-34. See more scores on the Hanes Total Health Care Center High School Score Board at littermedia.com.
