Roughriders hold off Cougars for win

The Roughriders answered the bell.

St. Marys defeated Van Wert 6260 on Friday night in a WBL boys basketball contest that was nip and tuck from start to finish.

Van Wert held the lead early on, but St. Marys surged ahead to take a three-point lead at the half.

After an even third period, the Riders stretched their lead to eight with five minutes to go, only to see Van Wert hit three 3-pointers to regain the lead.

Scores by Austin Parks and Noah Payne put St. Marys up four.

After a score by Van Wert, junior Cobain Owens hit two free throws with 12.4 seconds left that proved to be the difference.

St. Marys evened its league record

at 2-2 and is now 6-5 overall.

Parks finished with 22 points on the night. He moved into second place on the career scoring list and now has 1,203. He now trails only Derek Jay, who had 1,296 from 2013-17.

Also in double figures were Jace Turner with 15 and Owens with 14.

For Van Wert (1-3 WBL, 7-4), Aidan Pratt had 26 points and Carson Smith scored 19.

Van Wert won the opening tip and drew a foul from Parks. Smith hit a three-pointer. After a travel by the Riders on the ensuing inbounds, Pratt connected to make it 6-0.

Parks assisted Turner for the first Riders’ score, but Smith hit again from long range.

After trading baskets, the Cougars led 11-4 as the quarter passed the midway point.

Parks, Brayden Sullivan and a three by Turner in the span of just over a minute got the Riders back even.

After another scoring exchange, Pratt hit for three to put his squad up 16-13.

Van Wert preserved that lead for a good chunk of the second period, answering St. Marys’ scores with baskets of their own.

Scores by Parks and Turner gave its first lead, 23-22, with three minutes to go in the half.

Garrett Gunter hit for the Cougars, but Parks made a free throw and a basket. A basket by Sullivan with 41 seconds left made it 28-24.

Nate Phillips of the Cougars made one of two from the line with 10 seconds showing, and that’s where it remained at the break.

Three baskets, two by Luke Wessell, put the Cougars back in front 31-28 to start the second half.

The squads kept pace with each other for the rest of the period, with Van Wert taking the lead, then St. Marys getting scores to regain it. Going to the fourth, the Riders were up two, 44-42.

St. Marys found its touch from long range in the fourth, with two 3-pointers by Owens and one by Parks, plus another jumper by the big man.

The defense held Van Wert to a basket by Pratt and a three by Smith in that stretch and the Riders were up 55-47.

Two quick threes from Smith and Pratt cut that lead. Gunter made a steal and drew a foul, but missed both free throws. A trey by Smith with 3:48 to go gave Van Wert a 56-55 lead.

Parks scored with 2:47 left. He then dished to Payne, The SOPHWAYNESFIELD

omore hit for three and it was now 60-57.

After St. Marys missed two free throws, the Cougars ran 30 seconds off the clock and called time with 1:06 to play.

Gunter fired a pass to Smith for a score to make it 60-58.

Van Wert then had fouls to give and used them.

Finally, with 12.4 seconds, they had their seventh, sending Owens to the stripe. He put both through the net.

Van Wert was then slowed enough by the Riders defense that they could only get a shot at the final buzzer.

Game Notes

In the JV contest, St. Marys defeated Van Wert 66-42. Scoring for the Riders: Alex Hoenie 22; Brennan Steger 13; Keaton Fischbach 11; Lennon Cisco 9; Noah Dixon 6; Calon Mizutani 3; Noah Payne 2.

St. Marys will face Lexington in the third game of the MLK Classic at Fort Loramie on Sunday. Tipoff is set for about 3 p.m.

Score by quarters Van Wert 16 9 17 18 -- 60

St. Marys 13 15

16 18 -- 62

VAN WERT (60)

Nate Phillips 1-0-1-23; Kaden Shaffer 0-0-0-0-0; A.J. Proffitt 0-0-0-0-0; Luke Wessell 2-0-4-4-8; Carson Smith 1-5-22-19; Garrett Gunter 2-0-0-2-4; Aidan Pratt 7-4-0-0-26; TOTALS 13-9-7-10-60.

ST. MARYS (62)

Jaden Lotz 1-0-0-0-2; Noah Payne 1-1-0-05; Heath Dilsaver 0-0-0-0-0; Cobain Owens 3-2-2-4-14; Brayden Sullivan 2-0-0-1-4; Jace Turner 5-1-2-2-15; Evan Angstmann 0-0-0-00; Austin Parks 9-11-2-22; TOTALS 21-55-9-62.