Gordon’s 27 points leads way for Sidney
It’s not hard CENTERVILLE — to find Sidney; go north on Interstate 75 and look for multiple silos on your right one long song past Piqua.
Or, as Sidney standout junior Andre Gordon confirms, “We’re on the map now; that’s what it is.”
To be certain, this is the Yellow Jackets’ time to shine. It started with a historical 10-2 run in football last fall and has continued with the boys basketball team, including Tuesday’s 56-45 leveling of Beavercreek in one of two boys high school basketball Division I sectional semifinals at Centerville.
Sidney (18-6) will take an eight-game win streak against Greater Western Ohio Conference heavyweight and No. 2 seed Springfield (19-4) in a D-I sectional at 7 p.m. Friday also at Centerville.
Gordon, as usual, did his part with a game-high 27 points. But it was his defense that coach John Willoughby raved about. He matched Gordon up against Beavercreek’s leading scorer Jon Alessandro and was instrumental in holding him to 16 points.
“We did our thing and played good defense,” Gordon said. “It was defense; that’s what it was. Everybody had energy.”
Ratez Roberts added 11 points for the Yellow Jackets.
Beavercreek (10-14) upset Franklin in the opening round. That was the first postseason win by the Beavers since the 2011-12 season.
Springfield 77, Springboro 60: Tied at halftime, Springfield overcame Springboro’s determined upset effort and pulled away in the second half in Tuesday’s opening boys D-I sectional semi at Centerville.
Raheim Moss led Springfield with 24 points.
The Panthers (8-16), guided by first-year coach Kyle Youker, were led by Kaleb Tabor’s 19 points. Garett Powell added 16.
Centerville 63, Northmont 52: Donnie Shelton had 14 points to pace a balanced attack as the Elks won a D-I sectional semi at Butler on Tuesday. Centerville (13-10) will play Wayne (22-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in a D-I sectional final at Butler. Danny Lewis led Northmont (11-13) with 16 points.
Wayne 55, Tecumseh 16: The top-seeded Warriors received 20 points from former Tecumseh standout Darius Quisenberry in another D-I sectional semi on Tuesday at Butler.
Trotwood-Madison 93, Northwestern 45: The topseeded Rams are moving on to a D-II sectional final, but without coach Rocky Rockhold. He was ejected from Tuesday’s D-II sectional semi at Springfield. Per OHSAA rules and confirmed by Trotwood athletic director Guy Fogle, Rockhold must sit out the Rams’ next two games.
Trotwood (21-3) will take a 14-game win streak against Northridge (11-12) at 6 p.m. in Friday’s D-II sectional final also at Springfield. Northridge defeated Meadowdale 66-53 in Tuesday’s other upper bracket sectional semi.
Alter 60, Badin 49: Jack Smith had 16 points, Derek Willits 15 and Dominic Ruffolo 13 as Alter won a D-II boys sectional semi at Fairmont Trent Arena on Tuesday. Alter (10-14) will play Chaminade Julienne (10-14) in a D-II sectional final at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at UD Arena.
CJ 56, Bellbrook 45: Jack Nauseef had 21 points and Milton Gage added 10 as the Eagles broke open a close game in the second half also Tuesday at Trent. Donnie Crouch had 17 points to lead Bellbrook (14-10).