Flyers overpower W-G boys in sectional
MARIA STEIN — Waynesfield-goshen got hung out at the Hangar.
Marion Local used a combination of speed and sharp shooting from long range to win 65-31 in a Division IV sectional contest on Wednesday night.
The loss brings Waynesfield-goshen’s season to a close with a final record of 3-18. The Flyers advance to a sectional final where they will face New Bremen.
The Tigers kept up with the hosts for the first period, trailing by just three points. But a dry stretch for W-G allowed Marion Local to extend that lead to 16 at the break. Marion Local then used runs in the third to push it out around 20-25 points, and rolled to the finish.
The Flyers hit 11 three-pointers on the night, with six different players making one. Senior Alex Eyink led all scorers with 19 points, while Brady Ronnebaum had 14.
For Waynesfieldgoshen, Za’mere Daniel had nine points and Jayden Elliott scored eight.
“In the first half, the kids played hard,” said W-G coach Nathan Swaney. “We did a lot of really good things.” He noted that Marion Local is “well coached. They have a lot of talent.”
Looking ahead, he said, “We’ll keep getting better. We’ve got some young kids and we will keep building.”
Swaney also praised the effort of Elliott, who was playing with an injury.
Marion Local took an 8-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game, which included treys by Charlie Huelsman and Peyton Otte.
Hunter Craig had the Tigers’ first score, which came on a second chance with 5 1/2 minutes to go.
The Tigers then held off the Flyers while getting a score by Layton Campbell and two from Daniel.
That second one tied the contest at eight with 2:51 left in the period.
The Flyers regained the advantage on a three by Alex Knapke. That’s where things stood at the close of the period.
Marion Local then gained some ground on W-G in the second. Eyink made a three in the opening minute, then Ronnebaum hit back-to-back, the second from several steps behind the line.
After a W-G timeout, Eyink scored again to make it 22-8.
The first Tigers points came with 3 1/2 minutes to go with Campbell making one of two free throws. Blake Barnes followed up with a one-handed layup.
Marion Local would keep the Tigers off the board for the final stretch of the first half. Eyink made a jumper, then let a shot fly from the top of the key as time expired. It swished through and gave the Flyers a 27-11 lead at the break.
Craig put the ball through just over a minute into the third period. Marion Local then went on a 9-0 run to stave off hopes of a rally.
Waynesfield-goshen kept battling, however. Elliott made a
free throw with 3:13 to go. They then got a pair of nice plays. Travis Nanchoff rose up and hit a jumper from the left side, and Elliott made an acrobatic move for a layup.
But the Flyers would close out the period with three more scores, and led 42-18.
Ronnebaum started the hosts off with a triple. Elliot and Campbel each responded with threepointers of their own.
Ronnebaum then came back with his fourth of the night.
The teams then traded scores over the next few minutes, which allowed Marion Local to preserve its lead.
The Flyers then closed the night with a 12-0 run and clinch a spot in the next round.
Game Notes
Good crowd on hand for both schools, who both have blue and gold as their school colors.
Playing their final game for Waynesfieldgoshen were seniors Layton Campbell, Hyatt Kaufman and Bryan Ferris.
Marion Local will meet New Bremen, which defeated Ada 64-46 on Wednesday, in a sectional final.
That game will be Friday at 7 p.m., with the Cardinals hosting as the higher seed.
Score by quarters Waynesfield-goshen 8 3 7 13 -- 31 Marion Local 11 16 15 23 -- 65
WAYNESFIELD-GOSHEN (31)
Brody Barrington 0-0-0-0-0; Za’mere Daniel 3-1-0-5-9; Travis Nanchoff 1-0-0-0-2; Dalton Jordan 0-0-0-0-0; Layton Campbell 1-1-1-2-6; Jason Carder 0-0-0-0-0; Blake Barnes 1-0-0-0-2; D. Breitigam 0-0-0-0-0; Jayden Elliott 2-1-1-2-8; Hunter Craig 2-0-0-0-4; Bryan Ferris 0-0-0-0-0; Jay Carter 0-0-0-0-0; TOTALS 10-3-2-9-31.
MARION LOCAL (65)
Alex Eyink 5-3-0-1-19; Brady Ronnebaum 1-4-0-0-14; Dane Goettemoeller 1-1-0-0-5; Jadyn Mescher 0-0-0-0-0; Tate Hess 0-0-0-0-0; Charlie Huelsman 1-1-0-0-5; Aidan Eifert 0-0-00-0; Peyton Otte 1-1-0-0-5; Hudson Rose 0-0-0-0-0; Alex Knapke 0-1-0-0-3; Chris Hartings 1-0-0-0-2; Ben Knapke 2-0-0-04; Jack Knapke 4-0-0-0-8; Luke Pohlman 0-0-0-0-0; Brandon Eyink 0-0-0-0-0; TOTALS 16-11-0-1-65.