SMCC rallies past South Central

GREENWICH — The South Central boys basketball team came up a couple baskets short of an upset over St. Mary Central Catholic in a 57-53 non-league loss on Saturday. The Panthers (13-3) — ranked No. 13 by MaxPreps in Division VII — used an 18-10 edge in the fourth quarter to post the comeback road win. SMCC trailed 43-39 after three quarters, but Cayden Wikel scored eight of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Gabe Burch added 12 points for the Panthers while Leo Will scored 11 points. For South Central (8-9), Bryan Chaffee scored a game-high 23 points and Wes June added 12. The Panthers are the No. 1 team in the latest Div. VII Northwest Group D rankings, while the Trojans are No. 3 in Group E. South Central (3-7 FC) is slated to visit Crestview (7-8, 6-3) on Thursday and host Mapleton (1-13, 0-9) on Saturday in a pair of Firelands Conference games. ST. MARY CC (13-3) Cayden Wikel 5-5—16, Blake Finneran 1-3—5, Leo Will 4-3—11, Elijah Conway 1-0—2, Cullen Dillard 4-1—9, Jackson Grimm 1-0—2, Gabe Burch 5-0—12. TOTALS 21-12—57. SOUTH CENTRAL (8-9) Wyatt Hall 1-1—3, Wes June 3-3—12, Dom Paynter 2-1—5, Tanner Back 2-0—5, Bryan Chaffee 10-3—23, Gavin Olney 1-0—3, Troy Ayers 1-0—2. TOTALS 20-8—53. St. Mary CC 13 13 13 18 — 57 So. Central 10 19 14 10 — 53 3-point FGs: (SM) Burch 2, Wikel; (SC) June 3, Buck, Olney. Willard 64, Clyde 55 CLYDE — The Crimson Flashes rode a hot 17-3 start after one quarter to another victory Saturday night in non-league play against the Fliers. Clyde (7-9) outscored Willard 40-29 in the second half to draw closer, but it wasn't enough to stop the Flashes from improving to 15-2 overall. Ranked No. 16 by MaxPreps in Div. V, the Flashes got a game-high 29 points from Jaxson Hall in the win. Kaleb Weaver scored 12 points and JJ Bedingfield added 11 for Willard, which visits Port Clinton (12-6, 3-5) on Friday in SBC Bay Division play. With a win over the Redskins, the Flashes (7-1 Bay) will be assured of hosting Div. V No. 3 Margaretta (14-3, 7-0) on Feb. 13 with first place on the line in the league. The Polar Bears won the first meeting, 67-55, on Jan. 9 in Castalia. WILLARD (15-2) Kaleb Weaver 3-3—12, Jaxson Hall 8-11—29, Mason Dawson 3-1—7, JJ Bedingfield 4-0—11, Gage Stover 2-1—5. TOTALS 20-16—64. CLYDE (7-9) Karcen Garner 5-4—15, Max Swander 1-2—4, Oscar Webb 7-0—17, Michael Scruggs 3-3—10, JeCori Roberts 3-1—7, Kaidence Cooksey 1-0—2. TOTALS 20-10—55. Willard 17 18 14 15 — 64 Clyde 3 12 18 22 — 55 3-point FGs: (W) Weaver 3, Bedingfield 3, Hall 2; (CL) Webb 3, Garner, Scruggs. LATE FRIDAY W. Reserve 62, South Central 49 GREENWICH — The Roughriders were two points from putting four players in double figures while steadily outscoring the host Trojans for a Firelands Conference win Friday night. Western (8-6, 6-3) got 19 points, four assists and three steals from Chase Hipp in the win. Hayden Dobias added 14 points, six rebounds, eight steals, and four assists. Also for Western, Tyler Wood had nine points and four rebounds, while Evan Goodwin added nine points, and Hayden Keith grabbed nine rebounds. The Roughriders led 16-12 after one quarter and 31-24 at halftime. They then used a 23-12 third quarter to take control. South Central (8-8, 3-7) was led by Brayden Viock with 14 points and seven rebounds. Wes June added 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Trojans host St. Mary Central Catholic (12-3) Saturday night. WESTERN RESERVE (8-6, 6-3) Hayden Keith 2-0—4; Cooper Roe 2-1—5; Hayden Dobias 6-1—14; Tyler Wood 4-0—9; Chase Hipp 8-0—19; Evan Goodwin 3-0—9; Tyler Cooper 1-0—2. TOTALS 26-2—62. SOUTH CENTRAL (8-8, 3-7) Brayden Viock 5-2—14; Wyatt Hall 2-1—6; Gavin Olney 2-0—6; Bryan Chaffee 3-0—6; Wes June 3-4—11; Tanner Back 2-0—4; Troy Ayers 0-2—2. TOTALS 17-9—49. W. Reserve 16 15 23 8 — 62 S. Central 12 12 12 13 — 49 3-point FGs: (WR) Hipp 3, Goodwin 3, Tobias, Wood; (SC) Viock 2, Olney 2, Hall, June.