COLUMBUS (AP) — With the water fountains shut down because high lead levels were found in water in some area homes, Sebring McKinley head boys basketball coach and athletic director Josh Scott had to be resourceful for Friday’s game against Mineral Ridge to go on as scheduled.
More than 1,800 bottles of water were brought in so the game wouldn’t be canceled as school was that day, Scott told the Lisbon Morning Journal.
“We offered free water so that nobody would drink from the fountains or anything,” Scott said. “We’re able to control just the gym area, so we felt like we could accommodate everybody without getting everybody exposed to the Sebring water.”
The Trojans, behind 19 points each from Josh Zmuda and Jason Dickson, dampened the spirits of Mineral Ridge with a 69-63 victory.
FLYING HIGH: The New Concord John Glenn boys (15-1) moved atop the Associated Press Division II poll after beating previously top-ranked Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 54-51. John Glenn entered the game ranked No. 2. The Little Muskies made 19 of 22 free throws, including 13 of 15 in the second half. They trailed entering the fourth quarter but went on a 15-5 for their first win against a No. 1 opponent.
OPPOSITES: First, a fast finish: Gorham Fayette trailed Stryker 20-18 at halftime in boys basketball before outpointing the Panthers 17-0 in the third quarter en route to a 48-34 victory. Two nights earlier, Fayette trailed Delta 44-39 after three before a 30-12 fourth-quarter resulted in a 69-56 Fayette victory.
Now a fast start: The Ottoville girls led Fort Jennings 16-0 after one quarter on Thursday and won 49-20. On Saturday, Ottoville (15-2) raced to a 15-3 advantage against Delphos Jefferson en route to 57-24 victory.
And a slow start, fast finish: Defiance Ayersville, No. 2 in boys Division IV, trailed Haviland Wayne Trace 17-3 after one quarter before battling back for a 54-40 victory over last year’s Division IV state semifinalist.
THRICE AS NICE: The Plains Athens junior point guard Griffin Lutz enjoyed a big night against New Lexington on Jan. 19. He recorded his first career triple-double in Athens’ 67-42 win. Lutz scored 15 points on 7 of 18 shooting. He grabbed 14 rebounds and handed out 10 assists. He also had four blocks and a steal. . Defiance, last year’s Division II state champs, made 10, 13 and 11 three-point shots in three wins last week. In his first career start, Braden Frederick hit six 3-pointers in a win over then-No. 10 Ottawa-Glandorf. . Thirty-three was a lucky number for Swanton boys players last week. Bryce McComb had 33 points in a 79-68 win over Bryan, while a night later, Gunnar Oakes had 33 in edging Genoa, 59-57. . Salem’s Trey Toothman lived up to his name Jan. 19 as he hit a school-record nine three-pointers for a career-high 27 points in an 86-43 win over East Palestine.
NOTABLES: Lima Central Catholic senior Dantez Walton became the sixth boys basketball player in school history to score 1,000 career points or more during a 77-58 win over Lima Bath on Saturday night. . Brunswick boys coach Joe Mackey picked up his 300th career win Sunday in Canton. His Blue Devils beat Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, 62-53, in overtime at the Dunk 4 Diabetes event at Walsh University. . Defiance’s Shay Smiddy had three double-doubles in wins over Toledo Start, Ottawa-Glandorf and Bowling Green last week in boys play. The 6-5 Louisville baseball recruit had 66 points and 34 rebounds for the Bulldogs (fifth in Division II).
Montpelier’s Hannah Blake set the school’s all-time scoring mark for boys or girls, as she reached 1,367 points during a win over Pettisville. Blake, who has signed to play at Walsh University, added 25 points two nights later. . The Ironton girls are 15-0 thanks in part to senior Lexie Barrier, who has not only signed with James Madison University, but became the program’s all-time leading scorer and was a finalist for the McDonald’s All-American team. . Antwerp’s Sam Williamson had a school-record 48 points along with nine rebounds and five assists in a 79-38 boys win over Pioneer North Central. . Defiance Tinora’s Logan Bailey scored 22 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in a 70-59 victory over West Unity Hilltop. . New Middletown Springfield’s Graham Mincher scored 45 points and Jake Ford had 20 in a 70-65 overtime win at Mineral Ridge on Jan. 19. The two combined to hit 21 of 24 free throws. . Hamilton Badin senior forward Zach Larkin has 1,012 career points after scoring 18 in a 57-55 loss to Finneytown. .Lima Central Catholic girls junior guard Madison Stolly became the school’s career scoring leader (1,209) with 28 points in a 62-50 win over Lima Shawnee on Saturday.
