Defense paces first-place Norwalk to win

NORWALK — There were defensive contributions from all over. But with 4:14 left and the game in hand, the Norwalk boys basketball team got a defensive play that encapsulated the identity of not only a 53-35 win over Sandusky, but its style of play to be successful. After the Blue Streaks got a steal off an inbounds pass, they appeared to have an easy 2-on-1 break to the basket. But then Norwalk junior Kyler Kromer sprinted past everyone, and was able to help teammate Will Gehlhausen force the ball loose. The Streaks then got two point-blank range shot attempts, and Garrett Chapin then grabbed the rebound for the Truckers. Norwalk head coach Steve Gray noted that his team was up 14 points (48-34) at the time of the play. "Kyler just made an unbelievable hustle play to not give up on it, which is something we've been stressing lately," Norwalk head coach Steve Gray said. "We need to make championship plays throughout a game, whether it's sprinting back, a loose ball, a deflection … I thought tonight we were pretty good at that." The Truckers made plenty of those plays in Friday's SBC Lake Division win over the Streaks. They limited Sandusky to no field goals and just two free throws over the final 11:18 of the game. With the win, Norwalk improved to 11-7 overall and 8-1 in the league. The Truckers are alone in first place with three league games remaining. Early in the third quarter, it was just a four-point game. "At halftime we talked about how we needed to really clamp down on defense," Norwalk senior guard Will Gehlhausen said. He led the Truckers with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting. "We needed to keep playing hard every possession of the game, and it felt like at times in the first half we got a little lackadaisical with that," Gehlhausen added. "In the second half we did a lot better staying focused." Norwalk never trailed in the game, as Ian Minor scored down low and a Gehlhausen 3-pointer made it 5-0 just 1:19 into the game. The Truckers led by as many as nine (26-17) in the first half, then the Blue Streaks (8-6, 6-5) closed to within 28-24 on a Davion Henry basket with 1:24 left in the second. It was again a four-point game (32-28) with 6:14 left in the third, but then the Truckers took control. Caleb Sommers made a left-corner 3, followed by consecutive baskets from Garrett Chapin and Sommers for a 39-28 lead at the 4:34 mark. After Sandusky's Omarrion Grandberry scored with 3:18 left in the third to bring the Streaks within 41-33, they did not score another basket the rest of the game. Single foul shots by Kye Scott (1:37 left in the third) and Henry (3:28 left in the fourth) were the lone points from there. For the season, Norwalk has held eight of its nine league opponents to below 50 points. The lone exception was a 58-57 loss at the buzzer at Tiffin Columbian on Jan. 22. The Truckers are allowing 45.3 points per game on defense within the SBC Lake. The next best average in the seven-team division is Columbian at 52.8 points allowed. In Friday's win, Norwalk also held Sandusky's Davion Henry — who averages 18 points and 11 rebounds — to just three points and five rebounds. "I thought we played really well defensively," Gray said. "Ian played well offensively, but is really starting to play well at the defensive end. His ability to block shots is a big factor for us. "Getting those types of efforts will only make us better, and it shows we're more than a two-man team," he added. "I thought all seven kids tonight played really well." Minor finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Chapin added nine points and seven rebounds, and Sommers scored seven points. Norwalk visits Bellevue (3-10, 1-7) and Perkins (5-7, 3-4) next weekend. Two potential wins would mean at least a share of the league championship. "It's a great feeling, but we can't be satisfied," Gehlhausen said. "If you're alone in first place, there is a target on your back. We're going to play every game like our last." Added Gray, "It's one step at a time. Our next step is a good practice on Monday. We cannot get ahead of ourselves — especially this year. We never know what is going to happen. We're excited, and Friday at Bellevue is a big game." Norwalk (10-4) won the junior varsity game, 48-43. Parker Evans scored 14, while Braedyn Demuth and Ashton Coe each added 10 points. SANDUSKY (8-6, 6-5) Kye Scott 1-1—3; DeMar Moore 1-0—2; Daylen Green 1-1—3; Jarrein Alexander 5-0—11; Israel Fletcher 1-0—2; Omarrion Grandberry 5-0—11; Davion Henry 1-1—3. TOTALS 15-3—35. NORWALK (11-7, 8-1) Andrew Mozina 2-0—4; Will Gehlhausen 6-2—16; Daniel Traczek 1-0—2; Ian Minor 7-0—15; Garrett Chapin 3-3—9; Caleb Sommers 3-0—7. TOTALS 21-5—53. Sandusky 17 7 10 1 — 35 Norwalk 18 12 14 9 — 53 3-point FGs: (S) Alexander, Grandberry; (N) Gehlhausen 2, Minor, Sommers JV: Norwalk, 48-43