BELLVILLE –– Clear Fork was eight minutes away from capturing a share of the Mid-Ohio Athletic League title in its first year in the league.
Ontario had other ideas Tuesday night at the Colt Corral. The Warriors outscored the Colts 23-7 in the fourth quarter to claim a 70-60 win, handing Marion Pleasant (18-4, 13-1) the undisputed MOAC title.
Clear Fork (17-5, 12-2) had to settle for second while Ontario finished third (13-8, 10-4) with a non-conference home game coming up Friday against Madison.
FAST START, SLOW FINISH: The loss was even more disappointing for Clear Fork since the Colts built a 24-9 lead in the second quarter before being held without a field goal during the first six minutes of the fourth period.
“We were moving the ball better and we found our spots (from) where we wanted to score from,” Clear Fork coach Steve Bechtel said. “We adjusted very well early on and that is something we will need to continue to do.
“We didn’t start that fourth quarter very well. They finished the game and we didn’t.”
Clear Fork was just 3 of 14 from the field in the final period. Ontario was eight of 14 in the fourth quarter, opening the period with three baskets from offensive rebounds.
Ontario coach Joe Balogh didn’t panic when his team trailed by 15 in the second quarter, or even by six going into the fourth, 53-47.
“Offensively, one of the things that makes us successful is when we move the ball, not so much getting player movement, but we need to move the ball side to side to get the defense to move,” Balogh said. “We weren’t doing that. There was a lot of head down, put the dribble down and try to attack.
“Any defense is going to be good when it’s just sitting there and that’s what it was.”
DEFENSIVE FOCUS: Clear Fork won at Ontario on Feb. 3 as senior Chance Barnett scored 20 points, including the game-winner in overtime.
Balogh was not going to let the high-scoring forward beat his Warriors again, doubling him when he had the ball. Barnett finished with a team-high 15 points, but only two in the fourth quarter.
“We did a pretty good job with Barnett, although he is really a tough cover,” Balogh said. “Our big emphasis is we wanted to make things difficult for Barnett. We also tried to make sure we didn’t leave (sophomore guard Brennan) South.”
Bechtel saw it coming.
“Based on what happened last game, we expected them to try to take him away. He still had a nice game and we saw some other guys step up with Brady (Tedrow) and Brennan having nice games.”
South and Tedrow each finished with 12 points, though South was scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Balogh said the key to his team’s rally was also finding more ways to get the ball inside against the shorter Colts.
Senior Logan Jones led the Warriors with 19 points. Sophomore guard Logan Houle and freshman Griffin Shaver each had 14. Sophomore Chance Mott scored seven points, all in the fourth quarter.
“What kind of turned it for us a little bit is when we started using our post-ups inside,” Balogh said. “I thought Logan Jones was really huge. The big emphasis was we need to move the ball and let Jonesy and our other posts get touches.”
UP NEXT: Clear Fork and Ontario will play in the same Division II sectional/district tournament.
Balogh is not ready to talk about first-round opponent, Clyde, scheduled for Feb. 28 at Willard.
“We will really be preparing for Madison,” Balogh said. “We have to focus on the next game. Part of trying to be ready for the tournament is to make sure you’re playing pretty well in your next game. Madison is a really good team and will be a challenge for us.”
Clear Fork is idle until March 2, when the Colts will play at Bucyrus against the winner of the Mansfield Senior-Port Clinton game.
The loss to Ontario didn’t dampen how Bechtel feels about the season.
“This one stings and it isn’t the outcome we wanted, especially on our home floor, but we had a great year. We still have a lot of basketball in front of us, I hope,” Bechtel said.
