The Lancaster boys' basketball team was right there, but faltered in crunch time, losing its sixth consecutive game on the road at Teays Valley.
ASHVILLE – Talk about going through a rough stretch. The Lancaster boys’ basketball team is going through it right now, and the new year has not been kind.
The Golden Gales are playing with grit and determination and playing well enough to win, but they can’t seem to get over the hump.
Lancaster traveled to face Teasy Valley on Jan. 20 in an Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division game, hoping to snap a five-game losing streak. The game was within their grasp, but in crunch time, the Vikings were able to make just enough plays to pull out a hard-fought 62-54 victory, extending the Gales’ losing streak to six. They have yet to win in January after starting the season with a 5-3 record.
The Gales were able to answer the call time and time again, and with just over three minutes remaining, looked to be in business after senior Cam Eaton drained a 3-pointer to give Lancaster a 49-45 lead. However, the momentum was short-lived. With 2:59 left, the Vikings’ Brody Fields hit a deep 3-pointer and was fouled on the shot. He converted the four-point play tie it, and from there, Teays Valley converted 9-of-10 free throws to pull away.
Teays Valley (7-7) was able to capitalize on every play in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings did most of their damage at the free throw line by converting 11 of 15 in the final quarter. Teays Valley’s outstanding senior guard Brody Fields was held in check in the first half with only two points, but he scored 23 in the second half, including 14 points in the fourth quarter. He went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the 51 seconds of the game.
As well as and as hard as Lancaster played, the Gales didn’t do themselves any favors by making 19 of 50 shots from the field.
“I thought our lack of defensive rebounding gave them too many opportunities,” Lancaster coach Kent Riggs said. “It just seemed like we couldn’t get that key stop. They would miss a shot, get the rebound, and we would foul. I thought we played well, but it’s hard to win a game when you shoot 38 percent, and at the end of the day, you have to make shots.”
Lancaster led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter, and Eaton’s 3-pointer late in the first half extended the Gales lead to 24-19 at the break. Heading into the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 33-33.h
Lancaster held the lead throughout most of the fourth quarter, thanks to Drew Whitlatch, who was saddled with foul trouble throughout the game and eventually fouled out. He scored nine points to keep the Gales in front. Lancaster’s Shawn Willis got an offensive rebound and dished it to Carson Rhymer, who scored inside, and Eaton hit his 3-pointer, but the Gales would make only one more shot the rest of the way.
Whitlatch led the Gales with 20 points, including going 8 of 9 at the free throw line. Eaton added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Davis Call chipped in 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
“We are just in a bad stretch right now,” Riggs said. “The guys continue to play hard, but the ball isn’t bouncing our way. We just have to keep playing and try to dig out of this hole we are in.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at [email protected] for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Lancaster suffers another tough loss, falling at Teays Valley
Category: General Sports
