Local middle school basketball teams kept fans on the edge of their seats this week with a mix of thrilling victories and hard-fought battles. From overtime showdowns to standout individual performances, the Lady Chiefs, Lady Chieftains, and Tigers showed skill and determination on the court. Here’s a look at the latest results and upcoming games for Bellefontaine, West Liberty-Salem, and Indian Lake.
Girls Basketball Highlights
West Liberty-Salem Girls Split Against Cedarville
The West Liberty-Salem 8th-grade girls fell to Cedarville 29–37, with Avery Randall scoring 11 points, Rylie Falloon 8, Lilly Yeater 6, and Bella Johnson 4. The team is back in action on Wednesday at Springfield Catholic Central at 5:30 p.m.
The 7th-grade Lady Tigers battled into overtime for a 39–36 home win over Cedarville, improving their record to 5–2. Richardson led the way with 23 points, Staten added 12, and Fish and Jones each scored 2 points. Their next game is January 8 at Madison Plains.
Bellefontaine 8th Grade Girls Edge Indian Lake in Overtime
The Bellefontaine 8th-grade Lady Chiefs improved their record to 5–3 with a thrilling 23–22 overtime victory over Indian Lake on Monday night.
Indian Lake held a slim 5–4 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 12–7 at halftime. Bellefontaine fought back in the second half, tying the game 16–16 after three quarters. Regulation ended in a 21–21 deadlock, forcing overtime.
In the extra period, the Lady Chiefs showed composure at the free-throw line, capitalizing on key opportunities to secure the win in the final seconds. Scoring leaders for Bellefontaine were Gianna Davis with 9 points, Annie Gallaway with 6, Alexis Hogan with 5, and Kennedy Hairston with 3.
The Lady Chiefs return to action Thursday at Urbana, followed by a home game Saturday against Wapakoneta.
Bellefontaine 7th Grade Girls Dominate Indian Lake
The 7th-grade Lady Chieftains continued their strong season with a 31–11 victory over Indian Lake, improving to 6–1. Braelyn Neer led the scoring with 8 points, followed by Joelle Eaton with 6, Alivia Rogan with 5, and Charley Fraizer, Mia Regula, and Leah Harvey each contributing 4 points. The team travels to Urbana on Thursday for their next contest.
Boys Basketball Highlights
West Liberty-Salem 8th Grade Boys Pull Away From Cedarville
The Tigers remained strong at 6–1 with a 36–23 victory over Cedarville. Liam Harrington led all scorers with 12 points, Mack Heminger added 6, Braxton Catron 5, and Kipton Crowder 4. Calen Fairchild, AJ Estes, Jacob Bahan, and Foster King each chipped in points. West Liberty-Salem hosts Madison Plains on Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
West Liberty-Salem 7th Grade Boys Fall at Cedarville
The 7th-grade Tigers struggled in a 33–11 loss at Cedarville, dropping their record to 3–4. Nathan Deitrick scored 7 points, while Greyson Leichty and Harrison Sutherin each had 2. The Tigers return home Thursday to face Madison Plains.
Indian Lake 8th Grade Boys Win Sixth Straight
The Indian Lake 8th-grade boys extended their winning streak to six games with a 33–22 victory over Bellefontaine.
Mason Berg had a standout performance in his first game of the season with 17 points, along with several key rebounds and blocks. Colt Volbrecht added 7 points, Miller Hall 6, and Brady Jackson hit a critical late 3-pointer. Calen McClelland, Kaiden Lacher, and Fletcher Brown also contributed with rebounds and steals. The Lakers travel to Anna for their next matchup.
