Teams look to ring in 2021 with wins
Area teams are seeking a good start to the new year, with some getting under way quickly.
WAPAKONETA ( 1- 1 WBL, 7- 2 overall)
The Redskins are experiencing their share of success under firstyear coach Trey Elchert. In their most recent game on Tuesday, Wapakoneta got contributions from the entire starting lineup in scoring, passing, and defense in a 54- 52 win over Allen East.
Noah Ambos had 14 points, Kaden Siefring had 11, Garrett Siefring nine, while Zach Rogers and Braeden Goulet scored eight apiece. Goulet had double- digit rebounds, and the team held off a rally by the Mustangs down the stretch.
Wapakoneta opens 2021 on Tuesday with a home game against Bluffton. The Pirates are 3- 2 overall and 1- 1 in Northwest Conference play. They opened with a loss to Leipsic ( 74- 69), followed by wins over Liberty- Benton ( 79- 67) and Ada ( 55- 52), and a loss to Crestview ( 6350). On Tuesday, they defeated Continental 68- 40.
Wapakoneta will then visit Shawnee next Friday night in its first league game since a win over Van Wert. The Redskins will then spend the following two weekends at home with games against Kenton, Fort Recovery, Elida and St. Henry, plus one more against Lima Central Catholic.
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WAYNESFIELDGOSHEN ( 0- 1 NWCC, 1- 5 overall)
Waynesfield- Goshen will look to continue the momentum from its most recent game, a 70- 55 victory over Calvary Christian.
The Tigers were scheduled to face Ada on Tuesday, but that game was postponed.
They will start off the new month and year with a home game against Temple Christian, a contest that was rescheduled from earlier.
The Pioneers have a record of 1- 4 overall. They opened with a loss to Continental ( 4123), then lost to Arlington ( 65- 44). They
got a league win over Elgin 39- 38 on Dec. 18, then lost to New Knoxville ( 61- 49) and Fort Jennings ( 53- 27). The latter game, on Dec. 22, was their most recent action.
Waynesfield- Goshen will then be back to the usual weekend schedule with a visit to Elgin next Friday and a home game with Vanlue on Saturday.
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BOTKINS ( 5- 0 SCAL, 7- 0 overall)
Botkins kept its perfect record intact earlier this week, downing Russia 61- 39 on Tuesday night.
Jayden Priddy- Powell had 15 points, Jacob Pleiman had 13 and Carter Pleiman added 11 in the win.
The Trojans will take a break from Shelby County League play, and also hit the road for the first two games of 2021.
On Saturday evening, they will visit Parkway. The Panthers are 2- 4 overall and 1- 1 in the Midwest Athletic Conference. They lost to Crestview ( 56- 38), defeated Versailles ( 44- 37), lost to Fort Recovery ( 51- 43) and St. Marys ( 54- 38), then defeated North Central ( 68- 42). On Tuesday, they were defeated by Upper Scioto Valley 55- 50.
Botkins then
will
travel to Riverside next Tuesday. The Pirates are 1- 6 on the year, and 0- 2 in the NWCC. The win came over Troy Christian by a score of 44- 41 on Dec. 15. The losses have come to Ben Logan ( 58- 40), Tri- Village ( 82- 46), Dayton Christian ( 63- 59), Perry ( 8337), New Bremen ( 7441), and Ridgemont ( 76- 56). The latter was the most recent contest, which was played Tuesday.
Next weekend, Botkins will host Jackson Center on Friday and Fort Recovery on Saturday.
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GIRLS WAPAKONETA ( 1- 2 WBL, 3- 5 overall)
The Wapakoneta girls closed out 2020 with a win over host Allen East on Tuesday. The Lady Redskins got the victory by a margin of 39- 28. Casey Minnig had 20 points and Nikane Ambos scored six.
The Lady Redskins will have a rare Saturday night contest this week, as they pay a visit to Bellefontaine. The Lady Chiefs are 1- 6 overall and 1- 3 against foes from the Central Buckeye Conference. They lost to Big Walnut ( 66- 22), Urbana ( 40- 37), Tecumseh ( 80- 40), North Union ( 45- 43), Grahm ( 35- 32) and Jonathan
Alder ( 67- 27). They got their first win on Dec. 19, over Kenton Ridge ( 39- 34). They lost to St. Marys 64- 34 on Dec. 22. The results for games against Springfield and Northwestern were not available.
Next Thursday, Wapakoneta will return to league action with a home game against Shawnee.
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WAYNESFIELDGOSHEN ( 0- 1 NWCC, 1- 7 overall)
Waynesfield- Goshen will be the busiest of the area teams this week.
They got their first win of the season on Wednesday, defeating Upper Scioto Valley 57- 39. That game filled in for the annual “Border Battle” Holiday Tournament which was canceled due to COVID- 19.
Waynesfield- Goshen will visit Vanlue on Saturday afternoon and then travel to New Knoxville on Tuesday.
Vanlue is 2- 3 overall. They lost to Leipsic ( 55- 30), defeated Elgin ( 44- 16), lost to LibertyBenton ( 78- 21), defeated Pandora- Gilboa ( 47- 45), and lost to Van Buren ( 55- 30). They faced Hardin Northern on Wednesday night.
As for the Lady Rangers, they are 3- 0 in the MAC and 6- 0 overall. The victories to date have come over Spencerville ( 57- 37), Marion Local ( 51- 44), St. Marys ( 53- 35), Coldwater ( 38- 28), Anna ( 36- 28), and Versailles ( 47- 24).
Next Thursday, the Lady Tigers will return home to take on Elgin.
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BOTKINS ( 4- 2 SCAL, 7- 2 overall)
While the Botkins girls’ record isn’t quite as spotless as their male counterparts, they are on a roll entering 2021.
Botkins edged Russia 34- 30 on Monday night, making it five wins in a row, with the other four all coming by wide margins.
Botkins will rest for the first few days of the new year, then host Parkway on Monday night.
The Lady Panthers are 1- 2 in MAC play and 4- 3 overall.
The wins have come over St. Henry ( 31- 29), Mississinawa Valley ( 72- 51), WaynesfieldGoshen ( 67- 32), and Celina ( 38- 33), while they have lost to Crestview ( 47- 43), Versailles ( 47- 45), and Fort Recovery ( 48- 41).
Next Thursday, Botkins will host Jackson Center.