VANDALIA – Greenville, who came up against an energized and aggressive Belmont team that limited the Wave offensively, especially in the first half, persistently fought back from an opening 11-2 deficit to overcome the Bison, 55-50.
The Green Wave were not in synch from the beginning of Saturday’s Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I boys basketball tournament game. Belmont jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and Coach Mike Bashore quickly called a timeout to regroup his young men.
The Bison pushed the lead out to 11-2 before Greenville got two Clay Guillozet field goals to make the deficit 13-6. The Wave’s leading scorer would have his struggles, too, in the first period, as he converted on 2 of 6 free throw attempts by period’s end.
Belmont would lead 17-8 after eight minutes.
At the opening of the second quarter it appeared that Greenville had figured out the Bison defense. The Wave went on an 8-0 spurt to get to within one, at 17-16, but the momentum would slow down.
Greenville would win the period but only by a 14-10 count, making it a 27-22 Belmont lead at the half.
“We were playing in mud in the first half,” Coach Bashore said. “I don’t know if it was nerves or if a couple things just didn’t go our way. It snowballed a little bit. After the half we regrouped, had a little more energy and started to get the ball to the basket more, which is what we’re good at.”
After refocusing at the half the Wave put together a 16-5 run to open period three. Just as in the second quarter Devin Hendrix, Isaiah Gable and Guillozet accounted for the scoring.
Greenville mixed in a little half-court zone press to keep the Bison out of their offense, and the Wave led 38-32 with 43 seconds remaining in the quarter. Belmont answered with two quick baskets to make the score 38-36 heading into the fourth period.
As the minutes wound down in the fourth Greenville would lead but only by two to four points. This continued into the final two minutes when the Bison decided to start fouling. Because the ball was in Guillozet’s hands, that’s who shot the free throws. The early problems at the line were no factor here, as Guillozet netted 9 of 10 to score the Wave’s final nine points and seal the 55-50 victory.
Greenville improved to 13-10 on the season and will face Piqua at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at Centerville High School.
“We’re going to have to come to play,” Coach Bashore said. “If we play like this Tuesday, we won’t be leaving with a victory.”
Box score:
Greenville – 55
Hendrix 8, Wood 4, Guillozet 29, Rich 3, Gable 11.
Belmont – 50
Ford 5, Furlow 12, Rice 9, Jones 4, Hunt 2, Madison 10, Harewood 8.
3-pointers: G: 2(Guillozet 2); B: 2(Furlow, Rice).
Free throws: G: 19-30; B: 6-10.
