In a battle of number one versus number two, the Fairbanks Panthers came into the Jungle and walked out with a hard-fought win against the West Liberty-Salem Tigers, 49-33.
Sophomore guards Troy Christison and Sutton Wilcoxon both scored 9 points to lead the Tigers in the loss, but it was two back-to-back steals by senior guard Caleb Hershberger that he converted into points in the second quarter that helped ignite what appeared to be a stunned West Liberty team after they only scored 4 points in the first quarter.
By half-time, the Panthers were up 39-24.
In the second half, it was more of the same.
The Tigers managed to keep Fairbanks’ big guy, 6’5″ senior forward Holtz Maine away from the basket and limiting him to just 8 points total in the game.
But where he left off, senior guard Braydon Wiedmann took over, leading the Panthers with 12 points in the game and the win.
In the last game of the season, Tiger Coach Darrin Leichty feels he let his boys down when preparing for this matchup.
In the loss, West Liberty-Salem dropped to 12-10 Overall in the season and 11-5 in the OHC.
Fairbanks improves to 21-1 overall and 16-0 in the OHC.
West Liberty will face Greenview on Tuesday in tournament action.
In the first of two JV matchups, West Liberty-Salem JVA (19-2) defeated Fairbanks 38-23.
Josiah Johnson led the team with 10 points.
In the second JV matchup, West Liberty-Salem JVB (11-5) lost in OT, 23-20.
The Raiders of Benjamin Logan hosted Graham Friday night and won 41-40. Freshman guard Maddox Vermillion scored 13 points for the team.
Junior forward Roman Maxwell and sophomore guard Diesel Baughman each scored 9 points for the team in the win.
The win is the Raider’s second win of the season, making them 2-18 overall and 0-9 in the conference.
They have a week to prepare for the number 1 seed in the tournament, Archbishop Alter.
They meet next Friday in Xenia.
The JV Raiders defeated Graham 28-10.
Wyatt Predmore scored 9 points and Dylan Tracey added 6 points.
The Lakers of Indian Lake traveled to Springfield Shawnee and fell 63-47.
Sophomore guard Brodey Reisinger led the Lakers with 23 points in the loss, which makes them 14-8 overall and 8-2 in the conference.
For the third consecutive season, Indian Lake is the Central Buckeye Conference Champions.
They will face Greenon next Friday in tournament action at Northmont.
The Laker’s JV team also lost, 45-30.
Freshman guard Reed Strayer led the team with 11 points.
The Calvary Christian Spartans lost to the Spencerville Bearcats Friday night by a score of 65-24 at their last regular season game.
Christian Rogan scored 6 points, and Zeeke Wylie and Luke Gaertner both had 5 points each.
The Spartans will play their first OCSAA tournament game Tuesday night against First Baptist Christian High School in Elyria.
Other scores from around the area include:
Urbana 57, London 41
Greeneview 54, Greenon 34
Northeastern 68, West Jefferson 63 Overtime
Mechanicsburg 69, Triad 41
