FINDLAY — Shelby was 12 points away Friday from returning to regionals at Bowling Green State University.
A year after their Final Four run, the Whippets’ (16-9) season was snapped in a Division IV district final game at Findlay High School after a 52-40 verdict administered by top-seeded Elida (18-7).
Shelby’s journey to reach Friday’s game was nothing short of thrilling.
The Whippets began by taking down Ottawa-Glandorf 51-49 in overtime to claim a sectional title. A few days later, a career-night from senior Karsen Homan fueled Shelby’s 60-58 win over No. 2 Upper Sandusky.
The Whippets edged to an 11-10 lead Friday after the first quarter. Alternating between a 2-3 zone and man-to-man defense, Shelby continued to dictate the pace of the game until halftime.
Outscoring the Bulldogs 8-7 in the second, Shelby took a 19-17 margin to the break. Elida shot 1-of-6 from the free throw line in the first half — where points were hard to come by.
The script quickly flipped to begin the second half.
Elida opened the third period with a 9-2 flurry, launching the Bulldogs back in front 26-21 — which they extended to 31-22 by the 2:47 mark.
Shelby senior Nic Eyster exited the game midway through the third quarter with a leg injury, but returned to action in the quarter’s closing seconds.
Down 11 with eight minutes left, the Whippets struggled to keep pace with Elida’s speed.
The Bulldogs’ advantage ballooned to 16 midway through the fourth quarter. Shelby was able to bring things back within 12 with 2:30 remaining, but its comeback ultimately fell short.
Shelby will lose three seniors to graduation this spring — Homan, Eyster and Brubaker.
Shelby/Elida by the numbers:
Junior Brayden DeVito finished with a team-high 18 points for the Whippets, including three triples. Homan ended the night with six, to go with 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Both seniors, Eyster and Anderson Brubaker, each scored four, as did sophomore Michael Shepherd. Juniors Landon Foltz and Avery Lambert finished with two each.
Elida’s leading-scorer, A’mari Wash, finished with a game-high 22 points.
Zori Island scored all of his nine points for the Bulldogs in the second half, and Marcus Hill contributed eight. Parker Crim finished with seven and Brody Altenbach had five.