ONTARIO — A flurry of outstanding basketball beat the flurries from the skies last weekend at the Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge in Ontario.
The flurries won early, knocking out the Clear Fork matchup with Tiffin Columbian at 11 a.m.
But the 1 p.m. tip-off saw Madison put together perhaps its best performance of the season in knocking off Bellevue 62-46 to get the day off to a solid start. That was critical for the Ohio Cardinal Conference in winning the league battle, 3-2.
It also highlighted one of the members of the All-Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge team. Jake Koehler poured in 13 points for Madison, including three hammer dunks that inspired the Rams.
Madison coach Tim Mergel was thrilled with his senior’s performance.
“He’s starting to understand he’s a 6-5 kid who can play above the rim when he wants to,” Mergel said. “Every time he attacks the rim he had to think he’s going to dunk it and he did that.
“The second one caught me by surprise because he was one-on-one. But once he threw that one down, I started to think he understands.”
Koehler was joined on the five-man all-star roster by Lexington’s Cade Stover, Ashland sophomore Garrett Denbow, Jacob Trautman from Norwalk, and senior Jayrese Williams of Sandusky.
It’s tough to remember Stover is just a sophomore. He’s already been a stalwart on the football and basketball teams for two years. On Saturday he recorded 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Minutemen held on for a 54-49 win over Ontario to keep the Minutemen undefeated.
“Stover was really good tonight,” Ontario coach Joe Balogh said. “We knew he was going to be a challenge for us.”
Ashland’s 6-4 Denbow was the star of his game, too, pouring in 19 points to lead the Arrows to a tough, 59-56 win over Shelby.
“Garrett is getting better and better,” Ashland coach Jason Hess said. “Our seniors recognize his ability and do a good job of getting him the ball.”
Trautman scored a career-high 22 points as Norwalk picked up its first win of the season, a 54-50 victory over Mount Vernon.
“George is pretty good offensively and tonight he did a good job defensively,” said Norwalk coach Steve Gray, who previously coached at Lexington. “Trautman was exceptional. That was his best game this year and it was good to see because he is capable of that.”
Mansfield Senior simply had no answer for Williams in the nightcap. He erupted for 28 points as the Blue Streaks pulled away from the Tygers, 78-62.
SPONSORSHIP: The Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge wouldn’t be possible without tremendous partners. The NOL-OCC Challenge is presented by Mechanics Bank Be the Change scholarship program in partnership with The Holden Agency, Marco Photo Service and BW3. Supporting sponsors include Olive Garden, North Central State College, The Ohio State University at Mansfield, Rinehart Walters Danner Insurance, Prospering Life Events, Text Loyal, The Vault Wine Bar, Best Buy, and Lantz Star Graphics.
