BLANCHESTER - It was an appropriate game for Groundhog Day. Blanchester's 68-50 loss to No. 8 (The Associated Press Div. IV poll) Georgetown Saturday was a virtual carbon copy of the Wildcats loss Friday to Batavia.
Both losses were at home to Southern Buckeye Conference foes. In both, Blanchester scored 10 points in the first quarter and 23 in the first half to fall behind early, erased its deficit by the middle of the third quarter and succumbed to a late run.
Saturday, the Wildcats (4-14, 2-11) trailed by 14 after the opening period and by 12 at halftime but clawed to within 37-35 with 5:28 left in the third period.
Wildcat Steven White scored the first five points of the second half. Georgetown's Jess Chadwell and Blanchester's Nash Ballinger traded baskets. Then, A.J. Wiley scored five straight points.
All 12 of those Blanchester points were scored in the paint.
"I thought we could have done that a little bit more," Blanchester head coach Bennie Carroll said. "They did a good job pressuring our guards. Our guards didn't handle it well enough, so we couldn't get it in there more."
White answered two Dylan Kattine free throws with another inside bucket to make it 39-37 midway through the third quarter.
"We didn't show a lot of intensity in the third quarter," Georgetown head coach Jerry Underwood said. "I thought Blanchester showed a lot of heart."
Blanchester had four possessions to tie or take the lead before Georgetown (14-2, 12-1) ended the third quarter on a 10-4 run.
"When you are playing a team like Georgetown, you can't have mental lapses," Carroll said. "We battled and fought but had turnovers at inopportune times."
Chadwell led all scorers with 21 points. Teammate Marc Gray added 17, including four three-pointers. White led Blanchester with 18 points. Wiley chipped in with 16.
Blanchester stayed within 10-13 points for the first half of the final period. Georgetown finished the game with another 10-4 run.
"We regained our intensity and held onto the ball better offensively," Underwood said. "Plus, we did a good job getting to the line. We're really pleased with that."
The G'Men hit 21-of-29 free throws compared to Blanchester's 8-of-13.
Georgetown swept the season series with Blanchester. The G'Men won the first meeting 68-53.
Georgetown's reserves (9-7, 9-6) avenged a loss to Blanchester from earlier this year with at 51-27 victory. David Howser led the way with 21 points. Ty King scored 10 for Blanchester (6-12, 5-8).
Four G'Men reached double-figures in the freshmen contest to help Georgetown to a 67-58 win. Ben Cropper poured in 20 points, followed by Cody Pack (15), Cody Drake (13) and Alex Otto (12). George Carter had 24 for Blanchester. Records were not available.
Election 2010
