ONTARIO — The Northern Ohio League championship picture came into focus Saturday at the O-Rena. Lenell Shelby scored 16 points and Bradley Garverick added 12 points and 11 rebounds as Ontario pulled away from a fourth-quarter tie for a 64-54 win over Sandusky.
The Warriors (15-1, 8-0) opened a two-game lead over Sandusky (13-4, 6-2) with four league games to play. The Blue Streaks had won nine straight before Saturday.
“This was a big win in terms of putting ourselves in a good situation to achieve our first goal, which is to win the NOL,” Ontario coach Joe Balogh said. “When you have seniors who are solid like Lenell and Bradley and Paul (Homan), that is the kind of resolve you have.”
Shelby and Garverick led Ontario’s fourth-quarter charge, scoring seven points apiece. The two combined to make 11 of 16 free throws in the period.
Ontario went to the foul line 24 times in the fourth quarter, converting 15.
“If you look at our stats, we get to the free throw line a lot more than our opponents,” Balogh said. “That is our aggressive nature. We have some guards who can attack the basket.”
Ontario’s final field goal of the fourth quarter came on an offensive rebound and putback by Corey Thomas with 2:20 remaining, giving the Warriors a 56-48 advantage. The Blue Streaks committed a couple costly turnovers down the stretch, much to the dismay of Sandusky coach Colin Irish.
“We didn’t do the little things you need to do when you play against a good team like Ontario,” Irish said. “We didn’t take care of the ball and we didn’t get good help side defense.
“Those little things have to go your way.”
Homan backed Shelby and Garverick with nine points. Andrew Rathburn added eight.
Cavon Croom led Sandusky with 14 points. Jayrese Williams added 13.
“The big emphasis we had was we had to do a good job of preventing transition baskets,” Balogh said. “That is where they have really hurt the teams they have played against during the stretch of wins they have had.”
Home Court: Ontario won its 25th consecutive home game. The last time Ontario lost at the O-Rena was Dec. 29, 2012, a 58-50 loss to Lexington.
“It’s always important to defend the home court, especially in the league,” Balogh said. “(The streak) is not something we talk about, but the guys know if they want to win a league championship they have to take care of business at home.”
Big Week: Garverick scored just two points in Ontario’s 74-72 win at Willard on Thursday, but had a critical steal in the final seconds. He was at it again Saturday, coming up with big rebounds down the stretch.
“It’s just his effort on both ends of the floor that make us to go,” Balogh said. “He had a key defensive play Thursday and a couple key defensive plays tonight where he was just reading and reacting and grabbing tough rebounds in traffic.”
Next: Ontario hosts Bellevue on Friday, while Sandusky welcomes Willard.
“This was a big win in terms of putting ourselves in a good situation to achieve our first goal, which is to win the NOL,” Ontario coach Joe Balogh said.
