by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
Circleville grabbed the lead on a couple quick baskets and never trailed in beating Southeastern 55-47 in a non-league game Wednesday night.
Slater search scored a few seconds after the tip and Jack Kline got a steal and a layup four a quick 4-0 lead 30 seconds into the action. After the Panthers scored, the next seven points came from the Tigers’ Briley Cramer.
The next eight points were scored by the Panthers and Cramer put in a pair of free throws in the final minute to give CHS a 13-9 lead.
Cramer scored the first four points of the second and had eight in the period for a 17-point first half. Search scored twice, Kline hit a three and Riley Jenkins sunk a three with four seconds showing to give Circleville a 31-21 halftime advantage.
A couple quick fouls in the opening 30 seconds of the second half looked like they might give Circleville issues, but the Tigers got it under control. Points from Drew Thornsley, Cramer, Preston Hulse and Search added to the lead. Jenkins put down another three-pointer with three minutes left in the period for Circleville’s biggest lead of the night at 43-25.
The Panthers finished the period strong with a bucket from Carter Fisher, a three from Connor Smith and a three from Joey Pfifer to close back to 43-33.
Southeastern opened the final quarter with a three from Dylan Gowen to close to seven points and that was as close as the Panthers could get.
Cramer finished the night leading all scorers with 22 points.
Search had 13 points, grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds and dished off five assists.
Cramer and Thornsley each had five rebounds as well with the Tigers outrebounding the Panthers 38-29.
Thornsley led the team with six assists.
Fisher led Southeastern with a dozen points and Connor Smith had nine.
Gage Cheadle led Southeastern with six rebounds.
The Tigers are home Friday with Amanda-Clearcreek.
Circleville 55, Southeastern 47
Southeastern — Lane Williams 2-0-4, Joey Pfifer 1-0-3, Gage Cheadle 2-0-4, Connor Smith 3-0-9, Aiden King 1-0-3, Brevin Strausbaugh 3-0-6, Dylan Gowan 2-0-6, Carter Fisher 6-0-12. Three-point goals — Pfifer, King, Gowan (2), Smith (3). Total — 20-53 0-3 47.
Circleville — Preston Hulse 2-1-7, Drew Thornsley 1-0-2, Briley Cramer 9-4-22, Jack Kline 2-0-5, Slater Search 6-1-13, Riley Jenkins 2-0-6. Three-point goals — Hulse (2), Kline, Jenkins (2). Total — 22-51 6-13 55.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Southeastern 7 12 12 14 45
Circleville 13 18 12 12 55
