First-half run sparks Flyers past Truckers

NORWALK — There were plenty of statistics and numbers to break down. Both the Norwalk and St. Paul boys basketball teams had positive and negative numbers to digest following an OHSAA Foundation game Saturday night at Norwalk High School. But the most important number for both sides was more than $3,000 that was raised for the Piggyback Foundation. It's a great thing, and I'm so glad we were able to do that," St. Paul head coach Steve Minor said after his team claimed a 48-32 win. "When you plan something like this, you get worried that no one will come because there are so many things to do on a Saturday night. "But the Norwalk community brings it no matter what. Our fan base showed up, and it was nice for Norwalk to include all the youth programs and give them some recognition. It was a great idea and a great job by everyone involved." A Foundation game is played as part of the OHSAA Foundation service week initiative, designed to encourage community service and charity while replacing one of a team's five allowed scrimmages. The game can also be used as a regular-season game under normal game rules with game uniforms or played as an exhibition. Norwalk grabbed an early 6-3 lead midway through the first quarter. The Flyers then went on a 21-0 scoring run to build a double-digit lead they never let go of. Connor Lindenberger started the run with a basket inside after he rebounded a missed shot. Landon Fries was then fouled and made both free throws at the 2:57 mark of the opening quarter to give St. Paul the lead for good at 7-6. Freshman Casey Fries then sank a 3-pointer, and teammate Nate Griffin followed with a 3 off a Norwalk turnover. Landon Fries then scored in transition with 7.2 seconds left in the quarter for a 15-6 lead. Landon Fries opened the third quarter with a three-point play for an 18-6 lead, then his younger brother added a foul shot before the senior made a 3 of his own for a 22-6 lead with 6:21 left in the half. The scoring run closed on a basket by Griffin to make it 24-6 with 4:53 left in the first half. The Truckers trailed 31-11 at halftime and also had 11 turnovers in the 16 minutes. Norwalk enters the season opener on Wednesday vs. Oregon Clay with no seniors and no varsity returners from last season. "And really, all 11 turnovers were unforced," Norwalk head coach Adam Kreischer said. "It wasn't like they were trapping or we were getting all kinds of pressure. We had jitters and a bunch of guys who are used to throwing freshman or JV passes that do not get through at the varsity level." The Truckers limited their turnovers to just three in the second half, and it showed. Trailing 36-14 after consecutive scores by St. Paul senior Brady Fritz, the Truckers scored six of the next eight points on two baskets by Caiden Schmidt and one from Denzille Williams and Kingston Gonzales to make it a 38-22 deficit with 1:11 left in the third. The teams played to a 10-10 stalemate in the final eight minutes. "We did better in the second half with three turnovers, and that changes things," Kreischer said. "When you get eight more possessions because you don't turn it over, you can compete better. This was good for us. "We knew we had the situation with no seniors or anyone with true varsity experience, and we got a chance to get that tonight. Hopefully it pays dividends later, but it was for sure a rough start for us." Minor thought the Flyers looked a little more comfortable at both ends of the floor. St. Paul went 37-13 over the past two seasons with consecutive Firelands Conference championships and a district title last year, but only Landon Fries and Fritz returned from those teams. "It was nice to make shots, and I liked the way we competed," Minor said. "Norwalk played very physical. I know they're young, but we're not exactly a veteran team, either. "But it was good to come out and see some different things from them, and it helped us at both ends of the floor — and I hope it was beneficial for them, too." Landon Fries scored 15 points for St. Paul, while Fritz had 13 points and Griffin added 12 points and five rebounds. Isaac Kalizewski added six rebounds, and Lindenberger added five. The Flyers open the season Wednesday at Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic. "We want to maintain this," Minor said. "Slowly improve, but maintain where we are. Don't try and overload it or pile stuff on, but obviously keep improving as we move forward." Gonzales scored 12 points and had four rebounds for Norwalk, with Xavier Saunders adding seven points. "The win or loss doesn't matter in this, even though you'd feel better if you played well," Kreischer said. "We've had some good scrimmages and done some good things in the preseason that have given us reasons to be optimistic, but tonight there wasn't a lot of that, so that part was disappointing. "But to raise the money we did, that's really what we're wanting to do when we put this together," he added. "The fact that the communities came together to raise over $3,000 is certainly something we're excited and happy about." The two teams also played one half at the freshman and junior varsity levels. The St. Paul freshman won, 17-10, while the JV Flyers won 22-20 when Mason Beatty made a 3-pointer at the buzzer. About the foundation The Piggyback Foundation was started by Lisa and Dirk Hiler in 2007. The non-profit helps families in Huron and Erie counties during times of serious illness. The foundation has four programs to assist with various expenses, including events such as anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, extracurricular activities, and school expenses. There is also a fund to help families with food and travel expenses. About half of the foundation's budget also comes from the resale and retail shop "When Pigs Fly" at the E. Main St. location. ST. PAUL Nate Griffin 5-0—12; Casey Fries 1-1—4; Connor Lindenberger 1-0—2; Isaac Kalizewski 1-0—2; Brady Fritz 4-3—13; Landon Fries 4-5—15. TOTALS 16-9—48. NORWALK Kingston Gonzales 5-0—12; Denzille Williams 1-0—2; Xavier Saunders 3-0—7; Nolan Jones 1-0—2; Brandon Carty 1-0—3; Caiden Schmidt 2-0—4; Josh King 1-0—2. TOTALS 13-0—32. St. Paul 15 16 7 10 — 48 Norwalk 6 5 11 10 — 32 3-point FGs: (SP) Griffin 2, L. Fries 2, Fritz 2, C. Fries; (N) Gonzales 2, Saunders, Carty