Tigers lose to Piketon on senior night

The McClain varsity boys basketball team suffered a disappointing 43-36 loss to visiting Piketon Saturday night in Greenfield.

Senior night was being observed before the game for three Tiger players who played their final regular-season home game in the McClain gymnasium.

Jordan Bell, Julien Evans and Carson Chandler were all recognized before the game by an appreciative and overflowing crowd for their accomplishments and dedication to the Tigers’ basketball program.

McClain jumped out to a big 17-5 first-period lead, despite missing on their first six shot attempts. Things quickly changed for the Tigers at the 5:10 mark of the opening period when senior captain Jordan Bell drilled the first of five consecutive three-point shots. Bell and junior point-guard Brady Binegar both connected on two each, and Hudson Lovett converted the other long ball.

Things slowed down some offensively in the second period for the Tigers when Piketon outscored McClain 11-7, but the Redstreaks still trailed 24-16 at the half.

The big offensive highlight of the second quarter for McClain was a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Connor Chandler that sent the huge crowd into a halftime frenzy. 

Binegar led McClain in scoring at the break with eight first-half points, followed by Bell, who added six.

The Tigers’ offensive struggles really showed over the final two periods when they scored a total of just 12 second-half points.

McClain was outscored 12-8 in the third and still led 32-28, but the fourth quarter doomed the Tigers and was the difference in the game when they scored just four points while Piketon was scoring 15. Another key factor in the lack of point production for McClain was when the Redstreaks went to a 1-3-1 half-court zone defense that the Tigers never were able to figure out.

“After they went to that zone, we stopped attacking the basket and couldn’t make shots and had way too many turnovers,” said McClain head coach Jarrod Haines. “We tried a little bit of everything against it, trying to get our kids in the right spots, but unfortunately you don’t see that many 1-3-1 zones.”

Coach Haines spoke after the game about his three seniors and the fast start they had at the beginning of the ball game.

“I think the way we started the game was a testament to our three seniors and the way they came out and played,” Haines said. “They played really hard, and I thought the other kids were playing hard for them too. I was really pleased with all of my kids for that.

“Jordan Bell has put so much time and effort into this program and getting shots up while always being under-sized but still gets the job done.

“Then, Julien Evans will do whatever we ask of him. Anywhere we want him to play, he does it with no questions asked,” Haines continued. “He plays great defense and rebounds the basketball. Those are two kids that have really helped us a lot this year.

“Of course, Carson Chandler, our other senior, has been hurt all year and not been able to play due to a knee injury. It was great to get him his moment out there tonight. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to knock down a shot. He also has meant a lot to this team with everything he brings.”

Before the start of the varsity game, the McClain administration and athletic department also honored the 1,000 career point athletes of the past and their most recent recipient, current Lady Tiger junior Paisley Pryor. Those honored were Audra Cook, Sarah Hull, Liz Cockerill, Kate Hammond, Shania Massie, Taylor Polley, Bob Bristley, Bill Cullom, Bryson Badgley and McClain’s only 2,000-point athlete, Dante Jackson.

Individual scoring for McClain: Brady Binegar 3,1,9, Lucas Banks 1,1,3, Jordan Bell 3,0,9, Conner Chandler 2,0,5, Hudson Lovett 2,1,7, Leiland Bond 1,0,2, Elijah Storer 0,1,1, totals 12,4,36. The Tigers converted just 4-of-10 free throws for 40 percent.

Piketon was led in scoring by Bo Henry, who had a game-high 15 points followed by Jace Ritchie, who also had double figures with 14. 

McClain next travels to Clinton-Massie on Tuesday, Feb. 10.