Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Round one to the Green Bobcats.

Green used a big fourth quarter to beat the East Tartans 69-57 Tuesday in a Southern Ohio Conference 1 game.

The two teams will get to see a lot more of each other. They meet at East on Friday in a makeup game and battle on Feb. 26 in the Division IV sectional tournament.

“We played a fast, up-tempo game on our floor and that was in our favor,” said Green coach Bobby Blanton.

“We drew five charges and played great defense on (Justin) Crager. We held him scoreless the first half. We did a good job knowing where he was and forcing someone else to try and score.”

Clay Applegate scored 16 points, Tyler Crace had 14 points, 4 rebound and 3 steals, Rob Applegate had 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Mark Allen came off the bench to get 10 points and 12 rebounds for Green (8-13, 6-7).

“Allen really banged inside with Bias,” said Blanton.

Patrick Bias scored 14 points Hayden Russell 11 and Dakota Walker 10 to pace East (14-6).

Bias scored 7 points as East led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

The Tartans were up 26-25 at the half.

Each team scored 14 points in the third quarter to make it 40-39, but then Green outscored East 30-17 in the fourth quarter.

Crace scored 11 points in the quarter and Green converted 12 of 21 free throws with Brody Stormes going 4 of 6 at the line, Rob Applegate 3 of 5 and Allen 3 of 6.

The game marked the final home contest for Steven Blanton, Rob Applegate and Crace.

“I told the seniors to leave it on the floor and they did that,” said coach Blanton.

East 14 12 14 17 = 57

Green 12 13 14 30 = 69

SCIOTOVILLE EAST (14-6): Justin Crager 2 1 0-1 7, Shain Siebert 2 0 1-2 5, Hayden Russell 2 2 1-4 11, Tyler Bradford 3 0 2-2 8, Ricky Bolda 0 0 2-2 2, Dakota Walker 2 2 0-2 10, Patrick Bias 4 0 6-8 14. Totals: 15 5 12-21 57. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: Crager, Siebert, Bradford.

GREEN (8-13, 6-7): Steven Blanton 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Howard 0 0 0-0 0, Ryan Gaffney 0 0 0-0 0, Brody Stormes 0 0 4-6 4, Rob Applegate 3 0 4-7 10, Clay Applegate 3 3 1-3 16, Tyler Crace 6 2 2-3 14, Trent Marcum 1 2 1-2 9, Caleb Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Mark Allen 3 0 4-9 10. Totals: 16 7 16-30 69. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Allen.