Fairfield Union Wins, Minford & Zane Trace Fall In District Hoops Title Games
Article Presented By Kingston National Bank…
Three Southeast District boys basketball teams advanced to the Regional Semis with district title wins Sunday at the Ohio University Convocation Center. See the recap of each game below:
FAIRFIELD UNION 58, NEW LEXINGTON 41
The Falcons of Fairfield Union led most of the game in their 58-41 Division 2 District Championship win over New Lexington. The Falcons led at the end of each stop, 10-5 after one quarter, 26-11 at halftime, 37-20 after three and the final by a 17 point margin. The Panthers pulled to within 12 late in the game, but got no closer.
Three Fairfield Union players were in double figures, led by Caleb Schmelzer’s 22 points. Caleb Redding added 16, and Ronnie Rowley scored 10 points. The Panthers were led by Lucas Ratliff’s 19 points and Ryan Hobbs with 12 points.
The Falcons improve to (22-3) and advance to the Regional Semis on Thursday vs Dresden Tri-Valley at 8pm at the OU Convo. New Lexington closes their season at (20-5).
Litter Media’s Mike Smith spoke with Fairfield Union Coach Travis Shaeffer about the big win:
NORTH ADAMS 54, MINFORD 46
The top seed (21-2) Minford Falcons saw their season come to a screeching halt in their 54-46 upset loss to (19-4) North Adams. Minford jumped out to an 11-5 lead after the first quarter, only to see the Green Devils grab the lead 22-21 at halftime. Trailing most of the third quarter, Minford pulled even at 33-33 at the end of the third period. But in quarter four, North Adams pulled away, building a lead of as much as 53-43 and settled for the 54-46 upset for the district crown.
Bransyn Copas led the Greeen Devils attack with 20 points with Carson Osborne pitching in 13 points.
In the loss, Minford had three men in double figures. Myles Montgomery led with 12, Jackson Shoemaker scored 11 and Joe Hannah added 10.
North Adams plays South Points at 8pm Wednesday (3/8.23) in the D-3 Regional Semis at the Convo.
SOUTH POINT 64, ZANE TRACE 57
South Point 6’3 junior Caleb Lovely will probably be in Zane Trace players and fans nightmares for a while, after he exploded for 39 points in the Pointers 64-57 Division 3 District Championship win over the Pioneers. He and Xander Dornon were the only South Point players in double figures, with Dornon scoring 10.
Senior Xzander Ream led the Pioneers with 14 points, with 8 of those coming in the first four minutes of the game. Senior Nalin Robinson scored 12 points, before fouling out late in the game. Landen Jarrell scored 11 points and three other players made up the balance.
The Pioneers had the early lead at 13-12 after the first quarter as the game see-sawed back and forth, and had a 24-21 halftime lead thanks to a Landen Jarrell triple to end the half.
The Pointers surged ahead by as many as 37-31 and led 39-33 at the end of the third quarter. Zane Trace rallied the tie the game at 39-39 early in the fourth quarter, but South Point extended their lead as the period progressed until they led by as many as 54-43 late in the game. Zt was able to get under double digits but lost 64-57.
The Pioneers close out their season as Gold Ball SVC Champs and District Runner Up at (21-4). #2 seed South Point improves to (20-4) and moves to the D-3 Regional Semi Wednesday vs North Adams at the OU Convo.
