Disciplined Springfield earns hard-fought win
CENTERVILLE — Springfield boys basketball coach Isaiah Carson knew the key to beating rival Centerville was playing disciplined — especially on the defensive end of the floor.
The Wildcats had to stay structured in the paint against Centerville’s 6-foot-9 post player Mo Njie, who is 4 inches taller than any player on Springfield’s roster.
Springfield’s game plan worked to perfection as the Wildcats beat Centerville 64-60 in a Greater Western Ohio Conference National East Division game.
“We defended extremely well, not just in the full court, but in the half court,” Carson said. “(Centerville) had possessions of 1-to-2 minutes at a time. We were just locked in and did our job. I’m proud of our guys.”
RaHeim Moss scored a game-high 21 points, Jalan Minney added 13 and Larry Stephens and David Sanford each had 12 for the Wildcats. Springfield improved to 3-2 and took sole possession of first place in the division at 3-0.
“It was a great team win and puts us on top of the division where we want to be,” Carson said. “We’ve got to keep building from here. I thought we took a step in the right direction, and I’m looking forward to what we’ve got coming up.”
Matt Pearce had 19 points for the Elks, who fell to 2-3 and 2-1 in the division. Davis Mumaw added 12 points and Njie scored 11.
“Springfield did a really good job of what they do well, attacking the basket and getting us into foul trouble,” said Elks coach Brook Cupps. “We struggled to really to get stops. We couldn’t keep them out of the lane, they shot a ton of free throws. It’s a credit to them. We’ve got to get better. We’re not good enough.”
The score was tied at 30 at the half. Pearce hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give the Elks a 49-48 lead. Springfield regained the lead on an old-fashioned 3-point play by Minney with 5:49 remaining.
Centerville tied it at 58 on a putback by freshman Rich Rolf with two minutes remaining.
Minney and Sanford each made two free throws to give the Wildcats a four-point lead with about 30 seconds remaining. Centerville cut the lead to 3 with 12 seconds remaining but couldn’t pull any closer.
Springfield went 10 for 15 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
“You’ve got to hit free throws and take care of the ball, especially at the end of games,” Carson said. “That’s exactly what we did tonight.”
Moss had 14 of the 21 points in the first half.
“He was attacking the basket and was just very control,” Carson said.
Strikes and Santa, good times and gifts — Jingle Bell Bowl has been helping Miami Valley families ring in the holiday season for more than two decades.
Thousands of children and their families have experienced the excitement of the annual holiday event since it began in 1996. While the venue has changed — it was first held at Royal Z Dayton and his now hosted by Capri Lanes — the purpose remains the same — give families that are struggling an afternoon of fun, food and fellowship.
Over the years, their stories have varied – a family who lost their home to fire, a young mother facing homelessness after a job loss, a mother escaping domestic violence with her children. Most of the families at this year’s event were from Homefull, an organization that currently has 75 families, about 200 total children, living in either their Family Living Center or an emergency shelter.
“Jingle Bell Bowl is an incredible example of how a community comes together for a common cause, and for the families at Homefull,” said John Patterson, Homefull chief development officer. “To see so many people there just to make our families’ holiday season a little brighter shows how much they care.”
The event wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of the local bowling community — especially the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Greater Dayton, the Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress and the Capri staff, who always go above and beyond. But it’s the volunteers — some of whom have been a part of this since Day 1 — who are the heart and soul of Jingle Bell Bowl.
Some of those awesome elves share, in their own words, what Jingle Bell Bowl means to them.
“It means so much to see the smiles on the kids faces when they see Santa Claus, and all the good elves that help to make this day a special day for them. I just wish that we could keep this spirit going every day of the year. Chuck and I get so much more out of this day, than the kids themselves.”
— Debbie Dean, Mrs. Claus
“Our club has a requirement to do community service each season. While we have many options to choose from, Jingle Bell Bowl is always on our list of the two or three functions we do. Our bowlers love the event because they get to give back to those less fortunate and they get to do it in their favorite environment — a bowling center. It’s a very natural fit for them. Our team is a close knit family and they love to step up and help other families. This is not a chore for them, but an opportunity that they truly look forward to each season. I believe we all feel a sense of truly sharing the Christmas spirit during this event.”
— Jeff Fleck, Wright State Raiders coach
“I think I’ve been helping from the beginning. I love that it gives me a chance to give back to the community. I love seeing the kids and how happy they are when they get a present from Santa. It’s also fulfilling to be a part of something that has touched so many people through the years.”
— Myra Michaels, elf