Cardinals get dramatic win over Botkins
NEW BREMEN — The birds flew down to — and just under — the wire.
David Homan’s last second layup proved the difference as New Bremen topped Botkins 47-45 on Saturday night in nonconference boys basketball action.
The game was close throughout, with Botkins leading through the first half.
They were up seven in the third before New Bremen rallied to even it. The Trojans got back in front, and were up five with 5 1/2 minutes to go.
Three scores gave New Bremen a one-point edge. After trading baskets, New Bremen got another score by Alex Homan.
Botkins’ Carter Pleiman hit a three pointer to tie it with 11 seconds to go.
New Bremen moved the ball to midcourt and called timeout with six seconds left. They got the ball in and Homan slashed to the basket, laying the ball in with just a few tenths left.
New Bremen coach Cory Stephens said that the team talked at halftime about getting stops on defense. They did so, and were able to outscore the Trojans in the third and fourth.
Botkins coach Phil Groves said, “It was a disappointing way to end. There was a lack of communication, which was frustrating. All we can do is learn from it.”
Aaron Thieman had 13 points, and Hayden Zeller 11 to lead New Bremen, which improved to 8-5.
For the Trojans (8-7), Pleiman had 23 points on the night. Jordan Herzog added eight.
New Bremen got the first basket, but a score by Pleiman,
then a two and a three by Herzog made it 7-2.
Evan Eyink hit a three and Alex Homan banked in a jumper to tie it midway through the frame.
A trey by Brandt Boerges put Botkins back ahead. Scoring exchanges had the Trojans up 14-11 at the end of the quarter.
Thieman scored for New Bremen, with Boerges answering with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc.
Gavin Schrader missed one shot, but the Cards grabbed the rebound and got it back out to him. The second time was good.
Pleiman scored, then made one of two after Thieman was called for an intentional foul, putting Botkins up 20-16.
Both offenses stalled for the rest of the half. New Bremen got a three-point play by Zeller with 4:21 to go.
Botkins did not score until Noah Topp hit a three with about 2 1/2 seconds to go, making it a four-point spread.
A couple of scores, one by Collin Doseck and a three by Pleiman put Botkins up 28-21 with five minutes left in the third.
Zeller and Thieman brought the Cardinals back to even with just under three minutes left.
After a score by Pleiman, Dylan Bambauer splashed a three from the corner, giving the Cards its first lead of the contest, 31-30.
Pleiman tied it again with a free throw. Threepointers by Herzog (late in the third) and Rylyn Paul (early in the fourth) made it a six-point spread, 37-31.
A runner by Thieman saw him draw contact and hit the ensuing free throw. Another foul shot made it 37-35.
Pleiman then had a basket and foul shot with 5:36 left.
Alex Homan scored. A steal by the Cards led to a layup, followed by another score, both by David Homan.
Pleiman’s three pointer made it 42-41 with 2:12 to go. Zeller scored with 1:35 left to retake the lead for the hosts.
A steal by David Homan with one minute set up a chance for the cards. Alex Homan made a nice catch and shoot near the bottom of the free throw lane.
Then came Pleiman’s and Homan’s efforts, with the latter sending the Cardinals faithful home with a win.
Game Notes
New Bremen won the JV contest 37-31.
Big crowd on hand for a showdown between neighbors and Division IV rivals.
Elementary school cheerleaders performed their routines at halftime of the varsity game.
New Bremen (3-2 MAC, 8-5) hosts Celina this evening. JV play begins at 6 p.m.
Score by quarters Botkins 14 9 11 11 -- 45
New Bremen 11 8 12 16 -- 47
BOTKINS (45) Carter Pleiman 7-2-3-923; Collin Doseck 1-0-00-2; Rylyn Paul 0-1-0-0-3; J.J. Meyer 0-0-0-0-0; Grant Flora 0-0-0-0-0; Brandt Boerges 0-2-0-0-6; Noah Topp 0-1-0-0-3; Jordan Herzog 1-2-0-0-8; Rusell Lenhart 0-0-0-0-0; Colton Pleiman 0-0-0-0-0; TOTALS
9-8-3-9-45.
NEW BREMEN (47) Aaron Thieman 5-0-35-13; Carter Elking 1-00-1-2; Gavin Schrader 0-1-0-0-3; Hayden Zeller 5-0-1-1-11; Ben Sailer 0-00-0-0; Cooper Scheib 0-00-0-0; Alex Homan 3-0-00-6; Evan Eyink 0-1-0-0-3; Dylan Bambauer 0-1-0-0-3; David Homan 3-0-0-0-6; TOTALS 17-3-4-7-47.