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By AARON PETCHAL

For the Intelligencer

Trailing by 25 points at the end of the first half, the Toronto boys’ basketball team had two choices as it made its way out of the locker room and onto the court to start the second half of its game against Wellsville on Friday night at Toronto High School.

The Red Knights could either have thrown in the towel, or they could have come out fighting against their local rivals.

The Toronto players chose to come out fighting, and the Red Knights staged a rally in the second half, outscoring the Tigers by 14 points, but in the end it wasn’t enough as Wellsville defeated Toronto, 71-60.

The Tigers are 2-0 on the season, and Toronto drops to 0-2.

“No excuses. No excuses,” Toronto coach Greg Mitts said. “They beat us in every phase of the game. They outcoached us. They outplayed us. They outrebounded us. They killed us at the foul line. No excuses. They just beat us in every way you can be beaten.

“That is a good basketball team. Give credit to Coach (David) Thompson. He deserves it.

“He is a Wellsville lifer. He has really worked hard for the kids of Wellsville and for Wellsville High School. I am glad to see him have success.

“I am sorry that is at our expense, but obviously they have got a good basketball team. They are well coached. They play at a frenetic pace, but they are good at it.

“In Zane and Jeremy Carter, they have got two of the best players in the three or four county area.”

The Red Knights led 5-1 earlier in the first quarter, but the Tigers ripped off a 19-0 run to take a 20-5 lead.

“It sealed the deal, but we got kind of sloppy when we got a big lead, and I didn’t like that too well, but I guess you will take what you get if you win,” Wellsville coach David Thompson said.

Mitts said it was difficult watching Wellsville score point after point.

“I thought we had some shots,” Mitts said. “I thought Zane intimidated a few of them, and when they get their transition game going as it seems like they did in that stretch, when they get that going, that is when they start to have fun.

“That is when their confidence goes up, and that is when they really start clicking. Boy, that 19-0 run was hard to watch.

“It was hard to sit through, and those are the things they did during that stretch.”

Mike Stock led the way offensively for the Red Knights. Stock finished with a team-high 21 points. Zach Stewart tallied 16 points. No other Toronto player scored more than five points.

Stewart pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, and Stock grabbed seven rebounds.

Three Tigers scored in double figures.

Jeremy Carter led the way for Wellsville with a game-high 24 points. Zane Carter contributed 23 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Jamion Edison netted 15 points.

In the second quarter, Toronto scored six straight points to pull within 20-11, but the Tigers followed with a 7-0 run making the score 27-11.

A 6-0 run gave the visitors a 33-12 lead.

The lead grew to 42-17 before Andrew Brower scored right before the end of the first half making it 42-17 at the half.

Buckeye Local 58

Indian Creek 53

At Connorville, Joe Rine had 16 points and Isaac Omaits scored 15 as Buckeye Local defeated Indian Creek.

The Redskins were led by Michael Smith and Jimmy Wood, each with 14 points.

R.J. Roberts added 11 in the loss.

River 63

Monroe Central 46

At Hannibal, Zach Hammond scored 23 points and Ty Ash added 17 as the Pilots kicked off the season with a victory against Monroe Central (1-1).

Hammond and Ash combined for 19 points in the final quarter as River outscored the Seminoles 24-15.

Ethan Rose tallied 16 points for the Seminoles while Ryan Kuhn, Kyle Jorris and Ryan Highman each scored 10.

Martins Ferry 68

Edison 62

At Martins Ferry, Derek Edwards ignited for 29 points to lead Martins Ferry past Edison (0-1).

The Purple Riders (2-0), who also got 14 points from Tony Sabatino, outscored the Wildcats 43-26 during the middle two quarters.

Edison was led by 24 points from Bryson Anderson and 18 from Cale McCoy.

Caldwell 59

Beallsville 39

At Beallsville, Caldwell picked up its first victory at the expense of winless Beallsville.

Ryan Keith paced the Redskins with 17 points while Robbie Lamp had 12 points and Cody Crum added 11.

Aaron Lucas led the Blue Devils with 16 points.

Shadyside 61

Shenandoah 57

At Shadyside, Shadyside jumped out to a 26-14 lead after one and hung on in a victory against Shenandoah (0-2).

The Tigers (1-0) were led by 20 points from B.A. Holloway and 17 points and six rebounds from Jared Andes.

Garrett Chapman had 14 points to lead the Zeps with Aaron Bridgeman totaling 12 and Cody Farmer chipping in 10.

 

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