Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Several area teams had successful postseason openers as Lake, Gibsonburg, Clay, Cardinal Stritch, and Genoa all won sectional titles, while Waite was slated to open play in the district tournament.
Carter Behlmer put on a show for Lake with a career-best 30 points in leading his team to a hard-fought 80-61 victory over Clyde in a Division IV sectional final on Feb. 26. Down 38-21 at the half, Clyde opened the second half on a 15-5 run, but the Flyers scored the next nine points, which helped them eventually take a 55-38 lead to the fourth. Preston Snyder added 17 points, while Xavier Scott (12), Jack Sobczak (11), and Jace Ayers (10) combined for 33.
Gibsonburg battled its way to a 68-60 win over Evergreen in a Division VI sectional final on Feb. 27. Reece Walby, who eclipsed 1,000 career points, tied Aiden Morant for a game-high 16 points, while Luke Foster (14) and Xander Zimmerman (11) totaled 25. Those four also had at least five rebounds apiece, while Hunter Wasserman pulled down a game-best 15 boards along with seven points, four assists, and two blocks. Morant and Chuy Rodriguez each had four assists, and Walby had a pair of steals.
Clay joined the club with a 50-46 win over Sandusky in a Division III sectional final on Feb. 27. Sandusky led by double digits early and by as many as 12, but Grant Oberdick scored a game-high 17 points to lead a come-from-behind victory for the Eagles. Liam Cody’s layup with just under a minute left provided a two-possession lead for Clay. Carson Vincent added 10 points, while Max Morrison (7) and Aiden Berryman (5) combined for 12.
Stritch, meanwhile, enjoyed a blowout 91-38 victory over Danbury in its Division VII sectional final on Feb. 26. Xavier Blackman (25) and King Wilson Jr. (20) produced a combined 45 points, while Dennis Clark (18) and Erick Graham (11) also tallied double figures. Marquis Evans (7), Simon Ross (5), and Rasean Gordon (5) rounded out the scoring.
Genoa remained undefeated, opening up a 42-11 lead at the half before cruising to a 56-33 win over Collins Western Reserve in a Division V sectional final on Feb. 27. Walter Plantz (16) and Myles Mollenhauer (13) led the Comets in scoring, while Jacob Woollard and Ty Asman added nine apiece. Jax Magnone (6) and Ryan Routson (3) rounded out the scoring.
In Division II tournament play, Waite was slated to open against Lima Senior in a district semifinal on March 4 at Fostoria High School.
Oak Harbor, Eastwood, Woodmore, Northwood fall in openers
Despite a combined 33 points from Zach Hallett (19) and Brayden Ayres (14), Oak Harbor lost to Edison in a Division V sectional semifinal on Feb. 25. The game was tied entering the fourth before Edison used a 25-15 fourth-quarter advantage to produce the win. Braxtin Witt added six points for Oak Harbor (8-15), while Alex Rife and Zayne Brooks each scored four.
Eastwood suffered a heartbreaking 68-67 loss to Huron in a Division V sectional final on Feb. 27. The visitors sank four free throws down the stretch to break open a 64-all tie, and Brayden Luidhardt’s 3-pointer at the buzzer provided the final margin. Luidhardt, who hit a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter to give Eastwood (15-8) a 35-14 lead, had a game-high 28 points, while Cam Schumaker added 21.
Woodmore fell on the road to top-seeded Maumee Valley, 76-46, in a Division VI sectional final on Feb. 27. The hosts scored the game’s first six points and led 20-9 through one. Carson Slates concluded his high school career with 20 points to lead the Wildcats (9-14).
Northwood was defeated by Liberty Center, 80-26, in a Division V sectional final on Feb. 27. Mason Hurley (15) and Aaron Torres (10) combined for 25 of the 26 points for the Rangers. Northwood (4-19) made six 3-pointers as a team.
