PREP ROUNDUP: Western girls, Plymouth boys beat Mapleton

COLLINS — A big first half sparked Western Reserve to a blowout victory over visiting Mapleton on Wednesday in a Firelands Conference game. The Roughriders outscored the Mounties 15-7 in the first quarter and led 29-12 at halftime of the 53-33 victory at Western Reserve High School. With the win, the 'Riders improved to 4-3 overall and 4-1 in the FC, good for second place behind unbeaten Crestview (6-2, 6-0). Four players scored in double figures in Wednesday's win for Western, led by Ellie Blankenship's double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Izzi Duchette led the team with 13 points, while Ashlyn Barnhart made three 3-pointers and added 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Baylee Ruppert also scored 11 points for Western. Western finished 20-of-41 shooting (49 percent), which included 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. The 'Riders, who visit St. Paul (5-2, 4-1) on Tuesday in a key FC game, also grabbed 32 rebounds in the 32 minutes. MAPLETON (3-5, 1-4) Roxie Hamilton 4-0—8; Sarah Hickey 5-0—11; Bailey Davis 2-2—6; Bella Tabler 0-1—1; Heidi Earl 1-3—5; Holly Earl 1-0—2. TOTALS 13-6—33. WESTERN RESERVE (4-3, 4-1) Izzi Duchette 4-4—13; Baylee Ruppert 5-0—11; Anna Woodrum 1-0—2; Lily White 0-1—1; Ashlyn Barnhart 4-0—11; Sydnie Prince 0-1—1; Ellie Blankenship 4-2—10; Katie Woodruff 2-0—4. TOTALS 20-8—53. Mapleton 7 5 12 9 — 33 W. Reserve 15 14 19 5 — 53 3-point FGs: (M) Hickey; (WR) Barnhart 3, Ruppert, Duchette BOYS BASKETBALL Plymouth 47, Mapleton 44, OT PLYMOUTH — The host Big Red coughed up a six-point lead with 90 seconds left, but recovered to win in overtime and pick up their first FC win of the season in Wednesday's win over the Mounties. Plymouth (2-7, 1-5) led 39-31 with just over three minutes left, and 39-33 with 1:35 left. After Mapleton (0-7, 0-5) converted a three-point play with under a minute to go, the Big Red turned it over with 41.8 seconds left, then were whistled for an offensive foul with 26.4 seconds to go to give Mapleton the ball. The Mounties' Cameron Sloter then made a 3-pointer with 11.2 seconds left from the top of the key, and a Plymouth shot from just inside the key after inbounding with 3.2 seconds left out of a timeout was off the mark to send the game to overtime. Gavin Bishop opened the extra four minutes with a falling down layup to give the Big Red the lead. The Mounties then had two good looks that rimmed out, and a mad scramble for the basketball was whistled a jump ball with the possession going to Plymouth. The Big Red then split a pair of free throws, and with 1:23 left after another missed Mapleton jumper the Big Red had possession. A layup with 1:15 left by Josh Beebe made it 44-39. The Mounties then scored off a steal with a layup with 24 seconds left, and Plymouth's Zeth Goth was fouled and sent to the foul line with 11.3 seconds left, where he split the pair for a 45-41 lead. Sloter again made another 3-pointer, but just two seconds remained and the Big Red didn't need to inbound the ball as time expired. However, the officials conferred and put one second back on the clock. Goth was then fouled with 0.4 seconds left and made both free throws for the final margin. The Big Red have a tall task up next when they host Colonel Crawford (9-0) in a non-league game on Tuesday.