Area high school basketball teams were busy Tuesday night, with West Liberty-Salem and Indian Lake both picking up notable wins against local competition.
The night featured strong individual scoring efforts, physical play on both ends of the floor, and key stretches that ultimately decided each contest.
West Liberty-Salem 66, Riverside 51
West Liberty-Salem improved to 6–2 overall and 4–1 in the OHC with a 66–51 varsity win over Riverside on Tuesday night.
The Tigers controlled the game from the opening tip, repeatedly extending their lead while Riverside continued to answer.
West Liberty-Salem carried a 31–26 advantage into halftime, but the Pirates opened the third quarter on a 7–2 run to knot the score at 33.
From that point forward, it was all Tigers.
West Liberty-Salem increased its physicality and defensive pressure, outworking Riverside down the stretch to pull away for the 15-point victory.
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Beckett Sullivan led the Tigers with 16 points, followed by Brandel Sullivan with 13 and Brevin Louden with 12.
Troy Christison added eight, Sutton Wilcoxon scored seven, Carson Poppe finished with six, and Garrett Wallen and Elijah Christison chipped in two points each.
Riverside was led by Brody Orsborne’s 18 points, while Syler Clark added 10 and Hayden Sanford scored nine.
Hayden McCully finished with five, Colton Hurley had four, Justin Mazariegos scored three, and Grady Jenkins added two.
Tiger head coach Darrin Leichty talks about what he saw in the win over the Pirates.
In the JVA matchup, West Liberty-Salem moved to 7–1 overall with a 60–48 win over Riverside.
Josiah Johnson poured in 23 points, while Liam Barger, Casey Boyer, and Tucker Searles each scored eight.
Tyler Hershberger added five, Eli Jones and Connor Leichty finished with three apiece, and Colton Neeld scored two.
West Liberty-Salem returns to action Friday, January 2, at home against Mechanicsburg, while Riverside travels on the road to battle Temple Christian on Saturday, January 3.
Indian Lake 56, Bellefontaine 51
Bellefontaine dropped a 56–51 decision to visiting Indian Lake on Tuesday night.
The Lakers seized control by outscoring the Chiefs 33–20 in the middle two quarters, creating enough separation to hold off a late Bellefontaine push.
Avery Pequignot led Indian Lake with 22 points, while Brodey Reisinger added 16. The Lakers improved to 5–1 overall.
For Bellefontaine, senior guard Grayson Lotts scored a team-high 17 points, and Jair Mundy contributed 11. The Chiefs fall to 4–5 on the season.
Bellefontaine head coach Henry Stolly discusses how he saw the game and how his Chieftains can break their three-game losing skid.
Indian Lake will play at Versailles on Wednesday afternoon, while Bellefontaine returns home to host Marysville on Saturday night.
In JV action, Bellefontaine defeated Indian Lake 52–29, with Reed Strayer and Nixon Lillard each scoring eight points for the Lakers.
