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West Branch overcomes Regina
by Gregory R. Norfleet · Sports · January 09, 2008
West Branch High School boys basketball team came from behind to win, 51-47, over Regina Jan. 2.
The Bears scored first, but the Regals made an early nine-point run that put them ahead and kept them there until there were less than three minutes in the game.
Regina’s first run put the team six points up and though it battled its way to seven-point leads at times, the Bears narrowed the gap to four or five points by the end of each quarter.
West Branch tied the score 34-34 with two minutes left in the third quarter, but Regina pulled away again with a short run, taking a 41-34 lead. West Branch then closed to within one when Regina sank another 3-pointer and called its first time-out of the game.
With the score 44-40, West Branch used that time-out and one of their own to get their hands on the ball and muscle their way to the basket for two more shots to tie the game again at 44-44.
With under three minutes to play, the Regals would score only one more field goal and only two more free-throws as the Bears plugged in two more field goals and three more free-throws to take the lead.
In a last-ditch effort, Regina tried to get the ball in the hands of point leader and all-conference player, Zach O’Connell, in hopes that he would sink a sixth 3-point shot that night, but the basket fell short.
Bears Head Boys Basketball Coach Stephen Bender said that Regina is “a much better team than their record shows,” which accounts for the tough game.
“Our guys had a great start, but then they didn’t score,” he said. The Bears suffered from not running their offense and not being patient, Bender said.
But the team worked hard later in the game, making turnovers, rebounds and other big plays.
“When we were down we never gave up,” he said. “This was a great team win.”
He noted that Cale Lenton had a strong night with 22 points and that Matt Mercer also did well with 16 points.
Regina Head Coach Randy Larson said the toughest part was the Bears keeping the Regals to the outside.
“We didn’t have much scoring other than Zach,” he said. “Our offense is designed to go inside ... and we just couldn’t get it done.”
The Bears were nine for 18 (50 percent) at the free-throw line and had 11 assists, eight steals, one block 34 rebounds and had 17 turnovers.
WB 8 11 15 17 51
R 12 12 14 9 47
WB: Matt Mercer 7 2-4 16; Adam O’Neil 0 1-2 1; Jake Kabela 5 2-6 12; Cale Lenton 9 4-6 22. Team totals: 21 9-18 51.
R: Derek Heachon 2 0-0 6; Jon Smith 1 0-0 3; Ray Tunnveg 2 1-2 5; Zach O’Connell 10 1-2 25; Kouse Arnold 1 0-0 2; Owen Gerard 1 0-0 2; Mike Lyon 1 0-0 2; PJ Lonchon 1 0-0 2. Team totals: 19 2-4 47.
WB 40, Williamsburg 75
Jan. 4
WB 12 12 7 19 50
Wbrg 18 10 24 23 75
WB: Matt Mercer 10 1-2 23; Jake Kabela 2 0-0 4; Ryan Skriver 2 2-3 6; Cale Lenton 0 1-2 1; Ryan Baker 2 0-0 4; Aaron Lynch 3 0-0 8; Calvin Tuttle 1 0-0 2; Adam Donohoe 0 1-2 1; Brack Bingham 0 1-2 1. Team totals 20 6-12 50.
Other stats: 15 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 20 rebounds, 23 turnovers, 50 FT%
Williamsburg: Jacob Meyer 1 0-0 2, Ross Doehrmann 5 5-9 15, Josh Cox 5 2-2 12, Chad Malloy 1 2-2 4, Tyler Klosterboer 1 0-0 2, Aaron Von Ahsen 6 0-0 14, Shane Hartnet 1 0-0 2, Bryce Von Ahsen 9 6-6 24. Team totals: 29 15-19 75.
WB 56, Solon 76
Jan. 6
WB 12 16 13 15 56
Solon 15 24 13 24 76
WB: Matt Mercer 6 1-2 16; Adam O’Neil 0 1-2 1; Jake Kabela 3 2-3 8; Ryan Skriver 3 2-4 8; Cale Lenton 0 1-2 1; Ryan Baker 3 0-0 6; Aaron Lynch 2 0-0 6, Jordan O’Neil 1 0-0 3; Calvin Tuttle 1 4-4 6; Mitch Moon 0 1-2 1. Team totals: 19 12-19 56.
Other stats: 15 assists, 6 steals, 1 block, 22 rebounds, 25 turnovers, 54.6 FT%
Solon: Kyler Stahle 2 0-0 5, Ben Weeks 5 4-4 16, Cody Strang 2 0-4 4, Collin Sleeper 4 2-3 10, Matt Morrison 8 4-4 23, Tucker Wentzein 6 3-6 15, John Kakacek 0 3-4 3. Team totals: 27 16-25 76.
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