Circleville 55, Logan Elm 44
CIRCLEVILLE — Circleville pushed back a couple of Logan Elm runs in the second half on the way to posting a 55-44 win Saturday afternoon.
“I’m really proud of our guys fight tonight. We have focused a lot on defense and rebounding and I thought we stepped up in both of those categories today,” Circleville coach Evan Callihan said. “Anytime you play your rival school you have to bring it and raise your level of intensity. Logan Elm is a great program that has had a lot of success over the years. We knew to beat them that we would have to bring our best.”
The Tigers got out to a 13-7 lead in the first quarter and led 30-24 at the break.
Circleville held off a couple of runs from Logan Elm in the second half, leading 46-34 after three on the way to the 11-point win.
“Jack Kline, Kiser Cassidy and Drew Thornsley all played a huge role for us defensively,” Callihan said. “We rotated those three on a couple of Logan Elm players and I thought they dug down deep and played with a lot of fight on that end of the floor.
‘Drew as a senior has stepped up for us and continues to improve as a basketball player. He’s really worked hard and it’s not easy when you are the only senior.”
Kole Nungester led the Tigers with 22 points while Riley Jenkins had 15 and Ed Kirk put in 11. Blain Fowler had five and Kline two points.
“Kole Nungester did a great job of getting us started early inside. He does a great job of reading the defense and scoring when he can or dishing off to other teammates,” Callihan said. “He also did a great job rebounding as a guard. He gets in there and gets after it on the boards.
“Riley Jenkins and Ed Kirk both got in double figures tonight scoring wise. Those two have remained steady for us.”
Tyler Speas led Logan Elm with 12 points and Ne’miah Waugh had 11. Owen Russell added sixm Lucas Bialy had five, Brady Neff had four, Zane Siemer three and Doren Patton two.
The Braves (1-5, 0-2) host Fisher Catholic Wednesday.
The Tigers (5-1, 4-0) have another big game coming up when they host unbeaten Hamilton Township (5-0, 3-0) Friday.
“I’m proud of our guys and how they handled big moments in the game. The game of basketball can be a roller coaster at times, and we try to focus on staying in the moment,” Callihan said. “We just have to keep working to keep getting better and continue to focus on building our habits.”
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Circleville 13 17 16 9 55
Logan Elm 7 17 10 10 44
Minford 46, Teays Valley 33
PORTSMOUTH — Minford pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Teays Valley Sunday afternoon as the teams faced off in the Battle in the 740 played at Shawnee State University.
The Vikings fell behind 12-5 in the first quarter and a Tessa Horsley three as the half was coming to an end made it a 21-18 game in favor of Minford.
It was a five-point game after three periods, but the Vikings only added three to their total in the final quarter.
Horsley, Avery Mann and Cooper McManaway each had seven points for the Vikings and Cami Robins had six. Horsley also grabbed six rebounds and Mann had five.
Lexi Conkle led Minford with 15 points and Lindsee Williams had 12 points with 11 rebounds and three blocks.
The Vikings (2-5) host Groveport-Madison Tuesday.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Minford 12 9 14 11 46
Teays Valley 5 13 12 3 33