Varsity Boys came away with a thrilling win at Celina with a score of 60-58. Trailing for most of the game, the boys stayed tough together and battled back, down 6 with just over a minute to go. The defensive pressure was turned up and created turnovers on the last few possessions. To begin the last minute of play, Gavin Jaessing hits a three pointer at the top of the arc off a set play, followed by a steal at half court by Kingston Sito for a dunk closed the Celina lead to 1 point. After a timeout, the bears full court pressure sped the bulldogs up in transition where Masen Welling gets a deflection and steal, laying it all out with a hustle diving play saving the ball back in bounds to Carter Dominique. The Bears down 1 point with 40 seconds on the clock, handled the basketball, moving it from side to side, ending with a hand off from Landon Bassett to Gavin Jaessing who knocked down a big time three pointer which would end up being the game winner, putting the Bears up by 2. One last defensive stop ended with a Jaessing block on a three point attempt, and Dominique contested the last desperation attempt from Celina.
Gavin Jaessing and Kingston Sito led the offensive charge with 24 points a piece. Jaessing knocked down 5 three pointers, and Sito took over in the paint. Carter Dominique with 6 points, including a late bucket that narrowed the deficit. Landon Bassett with a late tough drive for the bucket and free throw for 3 points, and Tucker Watson with 3 points.
Varsity is now 4-4 on the season, with the next game at Rossford on 12/28 at 6:30pm.
JV came away with the win on the road as well by a score of 32-29. The offense had many contributors in the game with Rhett McGill and Alex Diaz leading the offense with 9 points each. Bryce Welling followed with 7 points; Eric Koenig, Quinn Green, Cooper Beltran with 2 points each, and Easton Kerr with 1 point. The win takes the JV to 6-2 on the season, they will play again at Rossford on 12/28 with a 5:30pm start.