Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Green Bobcats’ head coach Dick Hollar might have thought his players were wearing horse blinders.
The Bobcats were totally focused on their opponent in a 79-44 Southern Ohio Conference win over the Sciotoville East Tartans on Friday.
“We stayed in front and made them shoot over us. We didn’t overplay,” said Hollar. “Our press was very effective in the first half and we were able to get out and run off their turnovers and missed shots.”
Tanner Kimbler was focused on the basket as he scored a game-high 27 points that included six 3-point goals. Gage Sampson had a career-high 22 points as the duo combined to outscore the entire East team.
But Hollar wasn’t focused just on his two big scorers or his starting lineup. He said the Bobcats got a great team effort.
“Our bench was great tonight,” said Hollar. “Troy Otworth had a great week of practice, so I plugged him in there and the first play he grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw and put it right back in.
“In the third had put another tip back in. He’s one of the longest kids on our team and plays hard. Ethan Huffman and Rylee Maynard also came off the bench and did a great job defensively and rebounded well.”
East was led by Will Shope with 12 points while J.D. Hatcher and Brayden Queen scored 10 each.
Green wasted little time getting in front by taking a 24-12 first quarter lead. Kimbler sizzled as he hit four 3-pointers and Sampson also had a 3-pointer as he scored five points.
The offense slowed in the second quarter but the Bobcats continued to build on their lead as Kimbler hit two more 3-pointers and scored eight points and the lead was 38-19 at the half.
Sampson scored nine points, Caden Blizzard had five points including a 3-pointer and Kimbler was 5-of-5 at the foul line as he scored seven points and the lead ballooned to 67-36.
Shope scored 10 of hit points in the quarter while Hatcher hit a 3-pointer and scored five points.
Green will host New Boston next Friday.
Sciotoville    12    7    17    8    =    44
Green       24    14    29    12    =    79
SCIOTOVILLE EAST (NA): Kyle Winston 0 0 0-0 0, Will Shope 5 0 2-2 12, Ethan Carver 2 0 1-1 5, Austin Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Sam King 1 0 0-0 2, Devon Stevens 1 0 1-4 3, Zach Garrett 0 0 0-0 0, J.D. Hatcher 2 2 0-0 10, Brayden Queen 4 0 2-3 10, Jordan Huffman 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 2 6-10 44. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
GREEN (NA): Tanner Kimbler 2 6 5-5 27, Tayte Carver 3 1 0-0 9, Zach Huffman 1 0 0-0 2, Gage Sampson 8 1 3-10 22, Caden Blizzard 2 1 0-0 7, Rylee Maynard 0 1 0-0 3, Levi Singleton 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Huffman 1 0 1-2 3, Troy Otworth 2 00-0 4, Mason Barber 0 0 0-0 0, Mason Hensley 0 0 0-0 0, Caden Brammer 1 0 0-1 2. Totals: 20 10 9-11 79. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.