Roughriders win sectional title; New Bremen survives in OT.
Riders defeat Napoleon to clinch program’s first sectional title in 6 seasons
Sectional champions.
It has a nice ring to it and for this team, hopefully the postseason wins continue.
For the first time since Dan Hegemier’s final season in his first stint with St. Marys, the Roughriders clinched their first sectional title in six seasons on Friday with a 71-47 victory against Napoleon.
And the best part, it was the first sectional title the program had won on its home floor.
In some ways, thanks COVID, as the restrictions allowed the better-seeded teams to host games at the sectional level instead of having those games at a neutral site to cut down on players and teams traveling.
And for some players like LeTrey Williams, a sectional title meant everything.
Once a Van Wert Cougar, Williams never had a chance at a sectional title until he came to St. Marys.
“It means a lot and it feels amazing,” the senior point guard said. “In Van Wert, I wasn’t as developed as I am now and I miss all of the guys there, but it’s a great feeling to win at home and get the job done but we still have more games to play and hopefully keep going further.
“So the job is not done.” And for the program, it marks the first sectional crown since the 2014-15 season and just the second in 16 years after last season’s jubilating 19-4 season came to an abrupt end with a 46-39 defeat in a sectional final against Bryan.
“As a senior, I knew that if it came down to a close game and we were to lose, it was going to hurt a lot like it did for the seniors last year,” Williams said. “And I can’t say that I’m not afraid of that but at the same time, I’ve got to stay focused on helping the team and make sure I am doing the right things so we get the dub.”
“Last year we flat out laid an egg scoring 39 points,” Hegemier added. “I don’t know why it happened, but it happened. But when Jadin [Davis] comes out and scores like he did, Brayden Sullivan gave us great minutes, Brandon Bowers came in the second quarter and gave us some great minutes and Jace really grew up tonight. He doesn’t want to shoot it right away, but lord have mercy, you shoot it, you shoot it and he did a nice job.
“It was a nice win for us and it was a little bit of redemption from last year.”
After a 13-10 first quarter lead, the Roughriders offense was efficient on the floor by shooting 7-of-9 overall in the second quarter with contributions from freshman Jace Turner and the St. Marys bench to pull away from the Wildcats.
St. Marys added four points to open the second quarter on a 3-pointer by Williams and a free throw by Turner to lead 17-10. Napoleon pulled within five, 17-12 on a bucket by Zack Rosenbrook with 5:34 left in the first half, but that was the closest the Wildcats got the rest of the night as St. Marys concluded the half with a 16-5 advantage, 11-2 in the