Columbian edges Norwalk for Lake title share

NORWALK — They didn't go away. That was the best way to describe the Norwalk boys basketball team in Friday's big SBC Lake Division finale on Friday vs. Tiffin Columbian. But it can also summarize how the Truckers have performed throughout the 2020-21 regular season. The Truckers — who entered Friday's game having already clinched a share of the league title — trailed 14-2 just over four minutes into Friday's game. They trailed by nine points at halftime, and by 11 points through three quarters. And yet with 20.9 seconds left, they were a deflection away from having possession of the basketball down two points. But the call correctly didn't go Norwalk's way, and the Tornadoes ultimately closed the door on a 50-46 win. Columbian improved to 18-4 overall and 10-2 in the Lake, forcing a co-championship with Norwalk (14-8, 10-2). "We just kept hanging around and hanging around," Norwalk coach Steve Gray said. "We had a few slip-ups defensively, and against Columbian, a slip-up here or there is a 3-pointer. You leave (Cyrus) Burden alone, he's almost a 50 percent shooter from back there. (Logan) Beaston hit a couple big ones, but (LJ) Reaves hurt us early with the first nine points." Reaves opened the game with a 9-0 scoring run by the 5:04 mark of the first quarter. The Tornadoes were up 14-2 with 3:50 left in the first on a 3-pointer by Beaston. However, the Truckers then went on a 13-1 scoring run to tie the game at the 5:21 mark of the second. Garrett Chapin scored consecutive baskets for five points, then a Kyler Kromer 3-pointer and a basket from Daniel Traczek tied the game. Leading 22-18, the Tornadoes then scored the last five points of the second quarter to take a 27-18 halftime lead. Norwalk clawed within 29-25 on a Caleb Sommers basket with 5:51 left in the third, but the Tornadoes closed the quarter on a 10-3 scoring run to open up a 39-28 lead. The Truckers then opened the fourth quarter with six straight points, including four by Will Gehlhausen, which made it 39-34 with 6:39 left. Down 43-36 with under five minutes to go, Chapin converted a 3-point play, and Gehlhausen made a 3-pointer for a 43-42 deficit with 3:15 left. However, just 11 seconds later, Beaston's other 3-pointer was a big answer for a 46-42 Columbian lead. The Truckers kept in it down the stretch, twice cutting it to a two-point game, the last with 35.2 seconds left when two Chapin free throws made it 48-46. Norwalk trapped Columbian on its next possession, forcing a timeout. As the Tornadoes inbounded the ball, Gehlhausen and a Tiffin player both smacked the ball, and it appeared to graze Gehlhausen's hand last. Two of the officials conferred briefly to determine the call, and it was ruled the ball did go off Gehlhausen last, and the Tornadoes kept possession with 20.9 seconds remaining. Columbian was then able to inbound the ball, and after trying again for a steal, the Truckers were forced to foul Myers with 12.2 seconds left. He made both foul shots to put the Tornadoes up two possessions for the final 50-46 margin. "I thought our bigs started rebounding better and we started attacking the basket," Gray said when asked about the fourth quarter surge. "Caleb and Will got a few good looks and finished at the rim, Garrett as well. Once we started attacking, we were a lot better. Will had a sluggish first half, but in the second half he did a great job." Norwalk has won six league titles in the last 11 seasons following the title share with the Tornadoes. The Truckers were 2-5 after seven games this season, but won 12 of 14 prior to Friday. "We're the SBC Lake champs," Gray said. "If you would have told me at the beginning of the year we'd be league champions and hosting in the sectional, I would have taken it. When we were 2-5, I would have said you might be pushing it." Norwalk struggled overall shooting the ball, as it finished 16-of-41 (39 percent) from the floor, and just 5-of-18 (28 percent) from the three-point line. "This loss tonight will make us better," he added. "We played in a good environment against tough competition. I think we should come away from this game with a lot of confidence because of how we competed and got back in the game in the second half." Gehlhausen led Norwalk with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists. Chapin added 14 points and seven rebounds. Norwalk will host Galion (0-21) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a Division II sectional semifinal. In the junior varsity game, Norwalk finished the season with a 15-4 record after Friday's 49-35 win. Parker Evans, Carson Bauman and Braedyn Demuth each scored nine points, while Griffin Peiples and Ashton Coe each had eight points. COLUMBIAN (18-4, 10-2) LJ Reaves 7-3—18; Bryce Burns 3-0—6; Cyrus Burden 3-0—8; Logan Beaston 3-2—10; Jaden Myers 0-6—6; Brayden Roggow 1-0—2. TOTALS 17-11—50. NORWALK (14-8, 10-2) Kyler Kromer 1-0—3; Will Gehlhausen 4-6—15; Daniel Traczek 2-0—4; Ian Minor 2-0—6; Garrett Chapin 5-3—14; Caleb Sommers 2-0—4. TOTALS 16-9—46. Columbian 15 12 12 11 — 50 Norwalk 8 10 10 18 — 46 3-point FGs: (TC) Burden 2, Beaston 2 Reaves; (N) Minor 2, Kromer, Gehlhausen, Chapin JV: Norwalk, 49-35