Bethel-Tate blasts Blanchester in National Division showdown

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BLANCHESTER — Bethel-Tate’s boys basketball team sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the Southern Buckeye Conference National Division.

If someone other the Tigers is going to win the division, they’ll have to go through Bethel to do it.

Bethel-Tate stormed out of the gate Friday night against Blanchester and never looked back, beating the Wildcats 60-43.

The Tigers (8-2 overall, 4-0 SBCN) outscored Blanchester 24-7 in the opening quarter. Bethel-Tate shot 8 of 14 from the floor in the period, while holding Blanchester to 2 of 11.

“I wasn’t worried about them jumping up on the scoreboard because that’s been the norm all season,” BHS head coach Adam Weber said. “What I was concerned about was through three possessions they had accumulated six offensive boards.”

When the period ended, the Tigers had a 17-point lead, and one of Blanchester’s top scorers, Dylan Miller, sat on the bench with three fouls.

“The other thing that disturbed me is they played straight man-to-man from start to finish,” Weber said. “Coming into this game, I would have been so excited to go against somebody where that’s all they’re going to play. They were defensively more physical and we shied away from it.”

Just three minutes into the second quarter, Quenton Miller would join Dylan on the bench with his third foul. Bethel-Tate held Quenton Miller scoreless on the night, while holding Dylan Miller to just seven points.

Blanchester (6-4, 2-2) pulled within 15 a couple of times, but the Tiger lead spent most of the night north of 20 points. Bethel led by as many as 26.

Trenton Weeks led the Tigers with 18 points. Tommy Bingamon added 16 points while Noah Pickelheimer added 11 points.

Jordan Stroud led Blanchester with 16 points. After 19 assists Tuesday against Fayetteville, Blanchester had just five against Bethel-Tate on 16 made field goals.

“They punched us in the mouth with their man-to-man defense, and guys went into JV mode,” Weber said. “That’s when we don’t get into an offensive possession with a lot of determination. We were just taking the easiest shot because it was the least painful.”

Blanchester steps out of division Tuesday night for a trip to Batavia before returning home Friday night to face Georgetown.

“I believe in them,” Weber said. “I told them after the game I’m ready to come back in tomorrow. I wouldn’t trade them for anybody, but I am alarmed (about) our Achilles’ heel being toughness.”

SUMMARY

January 6, 2017

@Blanchester High School

Bethel-Tate 60, Blanchester 43

BT…24.11.13.12…60

BL…07.11.08.17…43

(60) BETHEL-TATE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Pickelheimer 4-1-2-11, Weeks 7-1-3-18, Reinert 4-0-0-8, Bingamon 5-3-3-16, Reinhart 3-0-1-7. TOTALS 23-5-9-60.

(43) BLANCHESTER (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Baker 1-1-0-3, Hopkins 1-0-1-3, D. Miller 2-2-1-7, Burden 2-0-0-4, Lovin 2-0-0-4, Stroud 6-2-2-16, Wiederhold 2-0-2-6. TOTALS 16-5-6-43.

FIELD GOALS: BT 23/53 (Weeks 7/16, Bingamon 5/10, Pickelheimer 4/9, Reinert 4/6, Rinehart 3/5); B 16/54 (Stroud 6/17, D. Miller 2/7, Burden 2/3, Lovin 2/5, Wiederhold 2/5)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: BT 5/12 (Bingamon 3/5); B 5/21 (D. Miller 2/5)

FREE THROWS: BT 9/15 (Bingamon 3/6, Weeks 3/3, Pickelheimer 2/5); B 6/15 (Stroud 2/3, Wiederhold 2/3)

REBOUNDS: B 28 (Hopkins 7, Wiederhold 6, Stroud 5, Lovin 4)

ASSISTS: B 5

STEALS: B 6

BLOCKED SHOTS: B 3

TURNOVERS: BT 7; B 12

Jordan Stroud had 19 points in Blanchester’s 60-43 loss to Bethel-Tate Friday night.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/01/web1_BBK_blan_jordanstroud_kcd.jpgJordan Stroud had 19 points in Blanchester’s 60-43 loss to Bethel-Tate Friday night. Mark Huber | News Journal File

By Matt Sexton

WNJ Sports Writer

Matt Sexton covers high school sports for the News Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bymattsexton

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