Ontari0-for-3 against Whippets, as Shelby wins Sectional title

by Marc Hartz

The Shelby boys basketball team defeated Ontario, 70-48, to capture a sectional championship Friday night at Madison Middle School.

Shelby advances to the Division II district semifinal game versus Lexington Thursday night (March 2) at 7:30 p.m. at Ashland High School.

The game saw Alex

Bruskotter become the sixth player in Shelby boys basketball history to eclipse the 1,000 point mark for his career. Bruskotter scored his 1,000th point in the fourth quarter.

The sectional championship game was the third time the MOAC rivals faced each other this year, with Shelby winning both regular season games (83-67 in January and 74-43 February 17).

Just as the February matchup, the Whippets held Ontario scoreless for most of the first period. Casey Lantz swished two free throws to give Shelby a double digit lead, 11-0, with 2:11 left in the quarter and Bruskotter followed with a three-point play for a 14-0 lead.

Ontario then drained two consecutive threepointers to open their scoring and close the gap to 14-6. Lantz ended the first quarter scoring with a layup to put the red and gray up 16-6.

Lantz continued his hot start by draining a three-pointer to open the second quarter that saw the Whippets jump out to a 26-8 lead.

The teams traded baskets for the rest of the second quarter, giving Shelby a 37-21 lead at halftime.

Ontario was able to narrow the gap in the third quarter by outscoring Shelby 20-15 in the period, to make score 52-41 after three quarters.

Bruskotter then got the hot hand for Shelby, scoring 10 of his game high 24 points in the final quarter, including his 1,000th career point.

The Whippets scored the first four points of the quarter on free throws by Bruskotter. Ontario hit a shot, but Max Hess followed with a layup. Bruskotter scored the next four points to put things away, building an insurmountable 62-45 lead.

Bruskotter also led the Whippets in rebounding with eight.

Casey Lantz added 13 points, including a thunderous baseline dunk. Hess also reached double digits with 10 points.

Bryson Baker scored nine. Issaiah Ramsey and Carson Brubaker each scored five. Brayden Devito and Karsen Homan rounded out the Shelby scoring with two apiece.

Shelby will face Lexington in Game Two of the Division II district semifinal games played at Ashland. Tip time is scheduled for 7:30, but will be 30 minutes following the conclusion of first game between Sandusky and Mansfield Senior.

Tickets must be purchased online via ohsaa website. The game is a rematch from February 14, that saw the visiting Minutemen beat the Whippets, 6659.