Port Clinton pulls away from Norwalk

PORT CLINTON — In the first quarter, there were three ties and five lead changes. But when Port Clinton's Martez Wilson scored on a drive near the end of the first quarter to give Port Clinton a 16-14 lead, that proved to be the spark. From there, the Redskins cruised to a 68-28 non-league win over Norwalk on Saturday. In the second quarter, the Redskins (7-4) continued their run. Port Clinton took the game from a 14-14 tie late in the first quarter to having a 29-16 advantage midway through the second quarter. In that run, six different players scored for Port Clinton — Wilson, Tre Armendariz, Grayson Jones, Jonny Peck, Zach Speer and Lucas Bodie. Norwalk's Xavier Saunders, who had a game-high 14 points, scored on a drive to end the run, but the Redskins responded with a 10-0 run to finish out the half, taking a 39-18 lead into the break. Port Clinton outscored the Truckers, 23-4, in the second quarter. Wilson had a team-high 12 points while Speer and Danny Baker scored nine points apiece. Port Clinton coach Jared Rhode talked about the reasons for his team's improved play in the second quarter. The Redskins allowed just 14 points in the final three quarters. "I told our kids at the end of the end of the first quarter, we had to be better (defensively)," Rhode said. "I told them that we had to get into the passing lanes, be physical and bring pressure. "(Norwalk) is young, they lack a great deal of experience, but they play extremely hard. We trapped some ball screens and that led to turnovers and points (on the other end)." Offensively, Port Clinton did a good job of setting screens, moving without the ball and getting open looks. "Offensively, in the second quarter, we shared the ball, were more patient, and were able to knock down some shots," Rhode said. "I think our leading scorer had 12 points and we had a lot of guys with seven to nine points." The Truckers fell to 0-9 with the loss. "We have some work to do," Norwalk coach Adam Kreischer said. "We had some long scoring droughts. I think we were ahead, 14-12, (because) we attacked their pressure and got some easy baskets. Then we stopped taking care of the ball. We sat back and we stopped doing a good job of passing the ball. "I'm proud of our effort, but we have to be stronger and more skilled." Saunders scored half the points for Norwalk with 14. The Truckers (0-3 Lake) return to the court on Thursday at Tiffin Columbian (3-7, 0-3) in an SBC Lake Division matchup. NORWALK (0-9) Kingston Gonzales 2-0—4, Xavier Saunders 6-0—14, Kian Kreischer 2-0—4, Nolan Jones 2-0—4, Caiden Schmidt 1-0—2. TOTALS 13-0—28. PORT CLINTON (7-4) Grayson Jones 3-2—8, Martez Wilson 4-3—12, Danny Baker 4-0—9, Tre Armendariz 2-1—5, Payton Meade 1-0—3, Lucas Bodie 2-0—4, Jonny Peck 3-2—9, Derek Abernathy 1-0—3, Landon Leis 3-0—6, Zach Speer 3-1—9. TOTALS 26-9—68. Norwalk 14 4 6 4 — 28 P. Clinton 16 23 17 12 — 68 3-point FGs: (N) Saunders 2; (PC) Speer 2, Wilson, Baker, Meade, Peck, Abernathy.