WILLIAMSBURG — In a matchup between two of the top teams in the Southern Buckeye Conference National Division, Tuesday’s game between Williamsburg and Blanchester was decided at the free throw line.
Williamsburg’s ability to get to the line, especially in the second half, proved to be the difference as they handed Blanchester a 64-57 defeat.
After not getting to the free throw line at all in the first half, Williamsburg (6-1, 3-0 SBC) got to the line 23 times in the second half, making 14.
While some of those free throws came at the end of the game, Williamsburg was able to get to the line late in the third quarter to increase its lead to seven by the end of the period.
Despite Blan holding Williamsburg without a field goal over the final 4:32 of the third quarter, the Clermont County Wildcats made 6 of 10 at the line to lead 47-40 after three.
After a Harbor Lovin basket to open the fourth, Williamsburg scored six straight points. Baskets by Drew McKibben, Jacob Wells and Cameron Hart expanded the Burg lead to 53-42 with 5:26 left.
Blanchester (2-3, 2-1) tried to chip away at its deficit. Jordan Stroud scored to pull Blanchester within 56-50 with 2:22 remaining. However, Williamsburg would make 6 of its final 8 from the free throw line to put the game away.
McKibben led the victorious Wildcats with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Nate Bogan added 17 points and 8 rebounds. Williamsburg shot 44.7 percent from the floor while holding Blanchester to just 36.8 percent.
Dylan Miller led BHS with 18 points. Quenton Miller added 13 points and 7 rebounds. Blake Baker knocked down four shots from behind the arc for 12 points.
Blanchester doesn’t have to wait long to get back on the court. The Wildcats host Waynesville on Wednesday in a make-up game.
SUMMARY
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016
@Williamsburg High School
Williamsburg 64, Blanchester 57
B…09.20.11.17…57
W…18.16.13.17…64
(57) BLANCHESTER (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Blake Baker 4-4-0-12, Quenton Miller 5-1-2-13, Dylan Miller 7-2-2-18, Harbor Lovin 2-0-0-4, Jordan Stroud 1-0-1-3, JD Wiederhold 2-0-3-7. TOTALS 21-7-8-57.
(64) WILLIAMSBURG (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Cameron Hart 1-0-1-3, Landen Ridener 3-3-1-10, Nate Bogan 5-4-3-17, Trent Kreimer 1-1-0-3, Jacob Wells 3-0-2-8, Drew McKibben 8-0-6-22, Jarrett Thatcher 0-0-1-1. TOTALS 21-8-14-64.
FIELD GOALS: B 21/57 (D. Miller 7/15, Q. Miller 5/11, Baker 4/10); W 21/47 (McKibben 8/12, Bogan 5/15)
3 POINT FIELD GOALS: B 7/22 (Baker 4/9, D. Miller 2/7); W 8/21 (Bogan 4/10, Ridener 3/5)
FREE THROWS: B 8/14 (Wiederhold 3/4); W 14/23 (McKibben 6/8)
REBOUNDS: B 38 (Lovin 8, Wiederhold 8, Q. Miller 7, Baker 4); W 33 (Wells 6, McKibben 6, Thatcher 5, Bogan 5)
ASSISTS: B 11 (Baker 2, Q. Miller 2, D. Miller 2); W 12 (Bogan 3)
STEALS: B 7 (Baker 2, D. Miller 2); W 6 (Wells 2)
BLOCKED SHOTS: B 1 (Wiederhold 1); W 3 (Wells 3)
TURNOVERS: B 13; W 11
