Offensive drought costs Tigers against Blue Lions
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — After having a 17-day break since their last game, the McClain Tigers were unable to put up a consistent offensive effort Saturday night. Though they played well defensively for parts of the South Central Ohio League matchup, MHS was unable to overcome their offensive woes against the Washington Blue Lions, falling 42-25 at McClain High School.
Washington never trailed in the SCOL matchup.
Entering the game, the Tigers did have a three-game winning streak, defeating Lynchburg-Clay, Fairfield and Adena, all non-league games. This season hasn't been the best of years for MHS in SCOL play, falling to 0-6 in the league. In SCOL play, they are averaging 39.3 points per game, and on Saturday were held to their lowest scoring total of the season with the 25-point effort.
Before Saturday's game, the last time the Tigers played was on Dec. 30.
In the first quarter, the Blue Lions outscored MHS 14-5, and the scoreboard read 26-13 at halftime.
"We struggled to shoot it, that was obvious (Saturday)," MHS head coach Brent Eaton said. "But a positive note was the things we talked about at halftime, the kids did. We talked about being more patient, trying to grind it out, and once the ball goes inside we have to kick it out, and we got to make a few to make them extend, but we just didn't make enough."
In the opening quarter, the Blue Lions (4-3, 8-3) started with a 9-2 run on a combined effort from Laike Wallace and Kyle Slone. McClain's Zach Matracia, who had been the Tigers' leading scorer during their winning streak, scored his only point Saturday with a free-throw, cutting the Washington lead to six points.
"We thought (Zach) Matracia was their best player, and Jared (Loftis) did a good job against us," Washington head coach Gary Shaffer said. "Overall, besides a couple touch fouls we had, I was pleased with our defense.
"I think the key was (holding Matracia to a free throw) was he didn't touch the ball much."
At the start of the second, Slone sank a wide-open 3-pointer to put the Blue Lions up 17-5 with 7:15 left in the first half. McClain's Jared Loftis answered with a 3-point shot for the Tigers, but his feat was topped with four straight points by Slone, giving the visiting team a 21-8 lead with 3:52 left on the clock.
After two free throws from Zach Uhl, Slone continued to put his stamp on the first half with another 3-pointer. With 1:55 left in the second, Washington showed their passing skills when Chris Warning gained an assist with a crafty pass to Wallace who made the layup, putting the Blue Lions up 26-10. Uhl ended the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer at the 1:03 mark.
Slone, who finished with a game-high 20 points, scored 17 in the first two quarters. For the game, he was 3-of-6 from the free-throw line, with three 3-pointers.
"They (McClain) gave him (Slone) some wide-open threes, and you just can't do that," Shaffer said.
In the final two quarters, the Blue Lions outscored MHS 16-14.
"We hit one three in the entire second half (three in the game), and again, we just didn't make shots," Eaton said. "We came into this game with a game plan, and we didn't do it in the first half. In the second half, we lost by four."
Another bump in the road was the Tigers had to play without senior starter Scott Balzer, who injured his ankle on Friday and was unable to play.
"Scott is our leader, a vocal leader, means a lot to our team. The kids were crushed, and we tried to find a way around it, but losing him the day before the game was tough."
The Blue Lions took a 30-13 lead at the start of the third with points from Wallace and Julian Wyatt. Wallace tallied 11 points.
"He did real well," Shaffer said. "I think Michael Penwell has been coming along and getting better with each game. We need those guys to step up and take some of the load off … I was very pleased with our effort."
Loftis broke out in the third frame, scoring five of his team-high 14 points in the quarter. He ended the third with a jumper and free throw to bring MHS within 15 points of Washington.
In the third, Thomas Schrader sank a 3-pointer for MHS.
The Tigers continued to try to make something happen offensively by passing and holding onto the basketball, but managed just four points in the fourth. Washington had six points in the final eight minutes. Loftis scored all four MHS points in the fourth.
"Washington is a well-coached team, and Coach Shaffer has won a lot of games for a reason," Eaton said. "They are a very good team, but to win the game, you have to put the ball into the basket more than they do."
The loss drops the Tigers to 0-6 in the SCOL and 3-9 overall. Washington improves to 4-3 in SCOL play and 8-3 overall.
The Tigers will face Highland County rival Hillsboro on Tuesday night at Hillsboro High School. The Indians are tied for first in the SCOL (with Miami Trace) with a 5-1 mark in the league. Overall, the Indians are 8-3.
GAME NOTES: The Tigers were 4-of-7 from the free-throw line (57 percent) … Washington was 6-of-10 for 60 percent in free throw shooting … Washington had double-digit scoring in the first three quarters, MHS had single-digit scoring in all four quarters … The Blue Lions committed 16 turnovers (MHS had 10) … Washington committed three fouls in the second half.[[In-content Ad]]
Washington never trailed in the SCOL matchup.
Entering the game, the Tigers did have a three-game winning streak, defeating Lynchburg-Clay, Fairfield and Adena, all non-league games. This season hasn't been the best of years for MHS in SCOL play, falling to 0-6 in the league. In SCOL play, they are averaging 39.3 points per game, and on Saturday were held to their lowest scoring total of the season with the 25-point effort.
Before Saturday's game, the last time the Tigers played was on Dec. 30.
In the first quarter, the Blue Lions outscored MHS 14-5, and the scoreboard read 26-13 at halftime.
"We struggled to shoot it, that was obvious (Saturday)," MHS head coach Brent Eaton said. "But a positive note was the things we talked about at halftime, the kids did. We talked about being more patient, trying to grind it out, and once the ball goes inside we have to kick it out, and we got to make a few to make them extend, but we just didn't make enough."
In the opening quarter, the Blue Lions (4-3, 8-3) started with a 9-2 run on a combined effort from Laike Wallace and Kyle Slone. McClain's Zach Matracia, who had been the Tigers' leading scorer during their winning streak, scored his only point Saturday with a free-throw, cutting the Washington lead to six points.
"We thought (Zach) Matracia was their best player, and Jared (Loftis) did a good job against us," Washington head coach Gary Shaffer said. "Overall, besides a couple touch fouls we had, I was pleased with our defense.
"I think the key was (holding Matracia to a free throw) was he didn't touch the ball much."
At the start of the second, Slone sank a wide-open 3-pointer to put the Blue Lions up 17-5 with 7:15 left in the first half. McClain's Jared Loftis answered with a 3-point shot for the Tigers, but his feat was topped with four straight points by Slone, giving the visiting team a 21-8 lead with 3:52 left on the clock.
After two free throws from Zach Uhl, Slone continued to put his stamp on the first half with another 3-pointer. With 1:55 left in the second, Washington showed their passing skills when Chris Warning gained an assist with a crafty pass to Wallace who made the layup, putting the Blue Lions up 26-10. Uhl ended the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer at the 1:03 mark.
Slone, who finished with a game-high 20 points, scored 17 in the first two quarters. For the game, he was 3-of-6 from the free-throw line, with three 3-pointers.
"They (McClain) gave him (Slone) some wide-open threes, and you just can't do that," Shaffer said.
In the final two quarters, the Blue Lions outscored MHS 16-14.
"We hit one three in the entire second half (three in the game), and again, we just didn't make shots," Eaton said. "We came into this game with a game plan, and we didn't do it in the first half. In the second half, we lost by four."
Another bump in the road was the Tigers had to play without senior starter Scott Balzer, who injured his ankle on Friday and was unable to play.
"Scott is our leader, a vocal leader, means a lot to our team. The kids were crushed, and we tried to find a way around it, but losing him the day before the game was tough."
The Blue Lions took a 30-13 lead at the start of the third with points from Wallace and Julian Wyatt. Wallace tallied 11 points.
"He did real well," Shaffer said. "I think Michael Penwell has been coming along and getting better with each game. We need those guys to step up and take some of the load off … I was very pleased with our effort."
Loftis broke out in the third frame, scoring five of his team-high 14 points in the quarter. He ended the third with a jumper and free throw to bring MHS within 15 points of Washington.
In the third, Thomas Schrader sank a 3-pointer for MHS.
The Tigers continued to try to make something happen offensively by passing and holding onto the basketball, but managed just four points in the fourth. Washington had six points in the final eight minutes. Loftis scored all four MHS points in the fourth.
"Washington is a well-coached team, and Coach Shaffer has won a lot of games for a reason," Eaton said. "They are a very good team, but to win the game, you have to put the ball into the basket more than they do."
The loss drops the Tigers to 0-6 in the SCOL and 3-9 overall. Washington improves to 4-3 in SCOL play and 8-3 overall.
The Tigers will face Highland County rival Hillsboro on Tuesday night at Hillsboro High School. The Indians are tied for first in the SCOL (with Miami Trace) with a 5-1 mark in the league. Overall, the Indians are 8-3.
GAME NOTES: The Tigers were 4-of-7 from the free-throw line (57 percent) … Washington was 6-of-10 for 60 percent in free throw shooting … Washington had double-digit scoring in the first three quarters, MHS had single-digit scoring in all four quarters … The Blue Lions committed 16 turnovers (MHS had 10) … Washington committed three fouls in the second half.[[In-content Ad]]