Norwalk beats Waite to end streak

TOLEDO — There was definitely some relief afterward. Sparked by a 9-0 start to the game, the Norwalk boys basketball team turned away host Toledo Waite the rest of the way for a 55-42 non-league win over the Indians on Saturday afternoon. It was the first win of the season for the Truckers (1-19). The victory also snapped a 24-game losing streak that dated back to last season, a win over Firelands by the same 55-42 score on Jan. 28, 2025, at NHS. "There is some relief, especially for our guys," NHS head coach Adam Kreischer said. "There has probably been a quarter here or a half there where they have not played as hard as they could during the season. "But for the most part, being 20 games in, I feel like they've given us all they have for 17 or 18 of our 20 games of a tough season. So for them to work that hard all season and be as coachable as they have been, for them to experience a win, I'm just happy for our guys." Norwalk's 9-0 run over the first 3:14 came on three 3-pointers from three different players: Kingston Gonzales, Kian Kreischer, and Xavier Saunders. The Truckers then led 16-8 after one quarter and 27-19 at halftime, with the 9-0 run looming big in the margin. "I think just the overall energy we started the game with was good, and it was our guys realizing we had an opportunity to get one," Kreischer said. "You never want to be a team that doesn't get any wins in a season. We were pretty balanced throughout with our shot attempts." The Truckers led by as many as 16 in the second half, only for the Indians (1-17) to get within 47-40 midway through the fourth quarter. Norwalk then closed the game on an 8-2 scoring run. Kian Kreischer finished with 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting and had five rebounds and two assists for the Truckers. Nolan Jones had 11 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. "Some guys stepped up and did some things today," Coach Kreischer said. "Kian didn't just settle for three-point shots today. He attacked the basket harder and finished well and just kind of had an all-around game we've been looking for from him. "Nolan stuffed the state sheet and did some other things for us, as always." Gonzales finished with nine points, while Saunders had seven points and four rebounds, and Caiden Schmidt had seven points and five rebounds. Jack Pittenger had four points and six rebounds, and Brandon Carty added six rebounds and three blocks. "Brandon really hustled and rebounded the ball well," Kreischer said. "Jack rebounded and attacked the basket more than he has in the past. And Kingston is a steady kid who we ask a lot of, and probably more than we should at this point, with him pretty much never coming off the floor. "You know what you'll get from Kingston, which is his best effort at all times." The Truckers have a quick turnaround with a non-league game Monday at Edison (8-11). The game was postponed from two previous dates for a schedule conflict and the weather. Coach Kreischer is interested to see how his team responds. "That's the hope, obviously, that they got the taste of winning," he said. "If nothing else, our growing pains and experience are showing them what a good varsity player looks like and what it will take to make yourself that kind of player. "I think our kids are waking up to that, and they will put in the time this next offseason to make themselves better players," he added. "But I am interested to see if we play with more confidence on a short turnaround since we're coming off a win finally." NORWALK (1-19) Kingston Gonzales 3-1—9; Xavier Saunders 3-0—7; Kian Kreischer 5-2—15; Nolan Jones 3-5—11; Brandon Carty 1-0—2; Caiden Schmidt 2-3—7; Jack Pittenger 2-0—4. TOTALS 19-11—55. TOLEDO WAITE (1-17) Jayden Conine 3-0—7; Montro Perez 2-0—5; Ricky Hester 2-0—6; Daveyon Holman 3-0—9; Marquez Walker 1-0—2; Belle 6-1—13. TOTALS 17-1—42. Norwalk 16 11 11 17 — 55 T. Waite 8 11 11 12 — 42 Three-point FGs: (N) Kreischer 3, Gonzales 2, Saunders; (W) Holman 3, Hester 2, Conine, Perez. Columbian 67, Norwalk 27 NORWALK — The Norwalk boys basketball team was outscored steadily in each quarter of Friday's 67-27 loss to visiting Tiffin Columbian in an SBC Lake Division game at NHS. The Tornadoes (10-10, 4-5) led 21-7 after one quarter and 36-15 at halftime. They outscored the Truckers by a 31-12 margin in the second half. Gonzales and Saunders each scored six points for the Truckers (0-19, 0-9). TIFFIN COLUMBIAN (10-10, 4-5) Nolan Miller 4-0—9; Blake Miller 2-0—4; Logan Gooding 6-1—17; Dashawn Russell 3-0—8; Brady Miller 3-0—9; Dazarius Russell 2-0—5; Blake Tucker 5-0—10; Kyle Hipp 1-0—3. TOTALS 27-1—67. NORWALK (0-19, 0-9) Kingston Gonzales 2-2—6; Xavier Saunders 2-1—6; Kian Kreischer 1-0—3; Brandon Carty 1-0—2; Yesh Bhatt 2-0—4; Caiden Schmidt 2-0—4; Jack Pittenger 1-0—2. TOTALS 11-3—27. Columbian 21 15 20 11 — 67 Norwalk 7 8 6 6 — 27 Three-point FGs: (TC) Gooding 4, B. Miller 3, Russell, Hipp, N. Miller; (N) Saunders, Kreischer.