Norwalk, Willard bounce back in road wins

WEST SALEM — The Norwalk boys basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a fourth quarter rally in Saturday's 74-69 win over Northwestern in non-league action. The Truckers improved to 8-8 overall with the win. After home losses to Clyde, Huron and Perkins, Norwalk was in danger of falling two games below .500 this late into a season for the first time in five years. Norwalk trailed 18-13 after one quarter and 38-33 at halftime. However, the Truckers took control of the game with a huge third quarter. Parker Evans scored three straight baskets to help give the Truckers he lead for good at 42-40; then Daniel Traczek sank a 3-pointer for a 45-40 lead. After the Huskies (5-11) closed within 45-44, Caleb Sommers scored a basket, then he and Evans each split a pair of foul shots for a 49-44 Norwalk lead. Traczek then made a nine-foot jumper and Sommers scored inside to cap the quarter and put Norwalk ahead 53-44 entering the fourth quarter. The Truckers were outscored by four (25-21) in the final eight minutes, but the big third quarter was enough of a fusion for the win. Traczek scored a career-high 22 points and added five assists and three rebounds to pace Norwalk. Evans had 20 points and eight rebounds, while Ian Minor had 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Sommers added eight points, four rebounds and three assists for the Truckers, who shot 28-of-57 (49 percent) from the floor. One night after being out-rebounded 27-14 in a 48-39 loss to Perkins, the Truckers held a 40-25 edge in rebounding over the Huskies. Norwalk has a pair of stern home games up next when it entertains Sandusky (12-3) on Thursday and South Central (12-3) on Saturday. NORWALK (8-8) Daniel Traczek 9-3—22; Parker Evans 8-4—20; Ian Minor 3-4—10; Caleb Sommers 3-1—8; Ashton Coe 2-2—7; Jarren McLendon 2-1—5; Mason Gamble 1-0—2. TOTALS 28-15—74. NORTHWESTERN (5-11) Alex Ciolek 7-6—25; Brett Alberts 6-2—15; Ethan Siders 4-0—13; Brandon Barnette 3-0—9; Luke Wright 3-1—7. TOTALS 25-9—69. Norwalk 13 20 20 21 — 74 Northwestern 18 20 6 25 — 69 3-point FGs: (NOR) Traczek; Sommers, Coe; (NW) Ciolek 5, Barnette 3, Alberts Willard 72, Cardinal Stritch 43 OREGON — The Crimson Flashes trailed by a point after one quarter, but proceeded to outscore host Stritch by 26 points over the final three quarters of Saturday's non-league win. The 1-2 punch of Max Dawson and Trey Paxton again led the Flashes, who improved to 9-6 overall. The two combined for seven 3-pointers as Dawson scored 27 points and Paxton had 22. Cole Weiss added 10 points for Willard, which visits Port Clinton on Monday in SBC Bay Division play. WILLARD (9-6) Trey Paxton 9-0—22; Cole Weiss 4-2—10; Max Dawson 11-2—27; Aiden Slone 3-0—6; Cam Robinson 2-1—5; E. Rodriguez 1-0—2. TOTALS 30-5—72. CARDINAL STRITCH (12-4) Taylor 1-0—3; Hicks 2-0—4; 4-0—11; Whitehead 2-1—5; Burton 2-0—4; Carter 4-0—9; Highes 5-0—11. TOTALS 20-1—47. Willard 14 23 17 18 — 72 Stritch 15 15 10 7 — 47 3-point FGs: (W) Paxton 4, Dawson 3; (CS) Yost 3, Taylor, Carter, Highes