BLANCHESTER – On senior night at Blanchester High School, the Wildcats took care of their own business Friday night by defeating Georgetown 62-49.
However, it wasn’t until the game between Bethel-Tate and Williamsburg went final that the celebration began.
While players and fans milled around the floor, the news came 22 minutes after Blanchester’s victory. Bethel-Tate had defeated Williamsburg 54-43, giving Blanchester a share of the Southern Buckeye Conference National Division title.
It is the third league championship for the Wildcats since 2010.
“It feels really good,” BHS head coach Adam Weber said. “I’m appreciative of Bethel, but the bottom line is we had to handle what we did. The kids did a great job finishing off the game.”
Blanchester (14-5 overall, 7-3 in SBC) overcame a slow start to bury the G-Men.
After falling behind 8-2, Blanchester ripped off a 26-3 run that decided the game. Alec Richardson had 12 of Blanchester’s 26 points during the run, and the Wildcats led 28-11 with 5:20 left.
“Once we got in a rhythm, there was not much danger after that,” Weber said.
Georgetown hung around but never seriously threatened Blanchester’s lead. The G-Men had cut the deficit to nine, 45-36, early in the fourth.
The Wildcats put the game away with a 14-0 run. Nick Hopkins had seven of those points and Blanchester led 59-36 with 5:24 remaining.
Richardson led the way with 19 points. Quenton Miller added 10 points. Dylan Miller had 8 points and 8 assists.
Logan Doss led Georgetown with 15 points. Noah Pack finished with 11.
After two crushing defeats to Clermont Northeastern (5-15 overall), it looked like a league title had slipped away from the Wildcats.
“The wins, the losses, everything with this group was determined between the ears,” Weber said. “Ability-wise, and talent wise, I never questioned that at all. We told them, we’ve still got games to play.”
On senior night, Blanchester started all five of its seniors: Richardson, Cam Carroll, David Trivett, Nick Grogg and Dade Coyle, who suffered a knee injury against East Clinton and is unable to play.
Georgetown did not contest the tip, which Grogg tipped to Coyle. Coyle grabbed the ball, Blanchester took timeout, and Dylan Miller subbed in for Coyle, who got a loud ovation from the fans.
“I can’t even put into words the value he has been to the program,” Weber said of Coyle. “His demeanor, his character, his personality … you come in and enjoy working and coaching here because of kids like Dade.
“There are a lot of them like that. The student body, all three teams, it’s just a good group of people. This is a good way to cap it off for the community.”
Blanchester’s boys league co-championship is in addition to the girls winning the SBC title last week. In all between the five high school level teams at Blanchester this winter, they have combined for 74 victories so far this season.
Weber said the culture change in Blanchester basketball is the reason he has stayed in the program.
“There have been opportunities over the years,” Weber said. “When this opportunity came, that was the mission, and we’re taking steps in the right direction. This is hopefully one of many.
“This group right here has done a good job setting what we expect. They buy what you’re selling, and when they do that and the community backs you up on it, you can do great things.”
Blanchester wraps up its regular season 4 p.m. Saturday in the SBC crossover games at Clermont Northeastern High School against Norwood.
Summary
Feb. 12, 2016
@Blanchester High School
Blanchester 62, Georgetown 49
G 11.13.10.15…..49
B 20.15.10.17…..62
(49) GEORGETOWN (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Christian Linville 1-1-2-5, Mike Winkler 3-0-0-6, Logan Doss 4-1-6-15, Levi Burns 2-0-0-4, Luke Gast 1-1-0-3, Cameron Brookbank 1-1-0-3, Noah Pack 5-0-1-11, Jacob Cady 1-0-0-2. TOTALS 17-3-12-49.
(62) BLANCHESTER (fg-3fg-ft-tp) David Trivett 0-0-1-1, Alec Richardson 8-2-1-19, Nick Hopkins 2-0-3-7, Quenton Miller 5-0-0-10, Dylan Miller 3-0-2-8, Cam Carroll 0-0-1-1, Harbor Lovin 2-0-0-4, Jordan Stroud 2-0-0-4, Nick Grogg 1-1-0-3, JD Wiederhold 2-0-1-5. TOTALS 25-3-9-62.
FIELD GOALS: G 17/45 (Pack 5/7, Doss 4/8, Winkler 3/8); B 25/51 (Richardson 8/14, Q. Miller 5/7, D. Miller 3/7)
3 POINT FIELD GOALS: G 3/13; B 3/15 (Richardson 2/6)
FREE THROWS: G 12/16 (Doss 6/9, Brookbank 3/4); B 9/15 (Hopkins 3/4)
REBOUNDS: B 24 (Wiederhold 7, Grogg 5)
ASSISTS: B 12 (D. Miller 8)
STEALS: B 15 (Richardson 4, D. Miller 3)
BLOCKED SHOTS: B 3
TURNOVERS: G 23; B 11
