Willard routs Edison to stay atop the Bay

WILLARD — Depth will be an issue all season for the Willard boys basketball team. But some nights, the Crimson Flashes talent is so strong, the numbers don't matter as much. Just four players scored for Willard in Wednesday's SBC Bay Division game vs. visiting Edison. That proved more than plenty in a 63-42 win over the Chargers inside Robert L. Haas Gymnasium. With the win, Willard improved to 5-4 overall and 4-0 in the league, and is assured to enter a Jan. 6 game at Huron alone atop the standings. Already short on numbers, the Flashes are currently without second-leading scorer Cam Robinson because of an injury. Willard had lost a 61-50 game on Tuesday at unbeaten Carey in a non-league game, and Wednesday's game was the third in five nights. "I thought it was a good response," Willard head coach Joe Bedingfield said. "Our kids were disappointed (Tuesday) night after the loss at Carey with maybe how we have had a habit of getting behind, then fighting really hard at the end and coming up short. "We talked about getting off to a good start tonight," he added. "We used our 1-3-1 and extended it early instead of late and got off to a good start. We got out in transition with 24 points in the first quarter, so that was key on a night tonight after last night. Credit to the kids for responding from that loss." Max Dawson scored 21 points for Willard, which led 24-7 after one quarter and 40-18 at halftime. Isaac Robinson scored 20 points, followed by Alex Strayer with 15 and Braydon Thompson with seven. "Isaac also had some nice passes and just really distributed and rebounded well while stepping into that second scorer role," Bedingfield said. "We got some balance tonight despite only four kids scoring." Kayden Bourget scored 16 points for the Chargers, who fell to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the Bay. The Flashes have played a difficult non-league slate, and that will continue over the holidays. Willard will first play Sandusky (5-1) at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Dec. 29, they face Toledo St. Francis (6-1) at 3 p.m. in the Jingle Bell Jam at Cedar Point Sports Force. "We always talk to the kids about the peaks and valleys of the season," Bedingfield said. "It's all about the journey. What better way to have experiences to remember forever and give them opportunity then to be able to have a game where the Cavaliers play. Having that chance to provide that for high school kids is what it's about. We thank Sandusky for agreeing to it, because that was their home game. "So it will be a great atmosphere no matter who you play, but Sandusky is obviously very good," he added. "Same thing with what we know about St. Francis. They are very similar and a well-coached team like Sandusky. That's the kind of environment we want to play in. It's a chance to create memories while also preparing ourselves to hopefully play our best basketball against good teams we will see in the tournament." EDISON (1-5, 0-4) Jack Brown 2-0—6; Rang 1-0—2; Kayden Bourget 7-2—16; Luke Blatnik 2-2—6; Grayson Smith 2-0—4; Coltyn Meagrow 1-0—2; Bryson Wittmer 3-0—6. TOTALS 18-4—42. WILLARD (5-4, 4-0) Max Dawson 8-3—21; Isaac Robinson 9-0—20; Braydon Thompson 3-0—7; Alex Strayer 7-0—15. TOTALS 27-3—63. Edison 7 11 10 14 — 42 Willard 24 16 15 8 — 63 3-point FGs: (E) Brown 2; (W) Dawson 2, Robinson 2, Thompson, Strayer WRESTLING Perkins 49, Plymouth 21 PERKINS TWP. — The Big Red fell in a dual meet on Wednesday against the host Pirates. Winning for Plymouth included Ben Trimmer, who won by a 12-5 decision over Benny Weyer at 132 pounds. At 165, Hunter McClure pinned Aiden Grunden in 2:46, while Colton Sparks pinned Hayden Bollini in 2:25 at 190. Riley Huston also won by forfeit for the Big Red at 175. Perkins 49, Plymouth 21 106: Marco Muratori (PER) pinned Thomas Winegardner (PLY), :48 113: Double forfeit 120: Sawyer Smith (PER) dec. Cameron Wagers (PLY), 8-7 126: Wyatt Nemitz (PER) pinned Andrew Miller (PLY), 4:51 132: Ben Trimmer (PLY) dec. Benny Weyer (PER), 12-5 138: Noah Villereal (PER) pinned Jordan Thoman (PLY), :18 144: Collin Calderon (PER) technical fall Cayle Pope (PLY), 15-0 150: Zach Oprazadek (PER) technical fall Zachary Miller (PLY), 19-4 157: Braxden Martin (PER) pinned Jackson Kennison, 2:52 165: Hunter McClure (PLY) pinned Aiden Grunden (PER), 2:46 175: Riley Huston (PLY) won by forfeit 190: Colton Sparks (PLY) pinned Haiden Bollini (PER), 2:25 215: Kyle Magyar (PER) pinned Noah Robinson (PLY), 4:54 285: Adam West (PER) won by forfeit GIRLS BASKETBALL Loudonville 62, South Central 35 LOUDONVILLE — The short-handed Trojans were outscored by 14 points in the first quarter against the powerhouse Redbirds in Tuesday's non-league loss. Angela Williams scored 14 points for South Central, which fell to 2-5 with the loss. Kaili Ingram added seven points for the Trojans, who visit St. Paul at 6 p.m. Thursday in a Firelands Conference matchup. SOUTH CENTRAL (2-5) Bailey Swander 1-0—2; Angela Williams 5-1—14; Emily Lamoreaux 1-0—2; Hannah Ayers1-2—4; Grace Lamoreaux 2-0—4; Kaili Ingram 3-1—7; Karlee McAvoy 1-0—2. TOTALS 14-4—35. LOUDONVILLE (8-1) Corri Vermilya 10-6—30; Jena Guilliams 3-0—9; Sophie Spangler 4-0—9; Liberty Gethart 2-0—4; Maddie Kline 3-1—8; Alesha Felix 1-0—2. TOTALS 23-7—62. So. Central 7 8 9 11 — 35 Loudonville 21 8 23 10 — 62 3-point FGs: (SC) Williams 3; (L) Vermilya 4, Guilliams 3, Spangler, Kline.