The Washington Blue Lions hosted the McClain Tigers in a game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 22 on a cold, snowy, blustery Friday night.
The Blue Lions won the game, 57-47 to finish the SCOL schedule in second place by themselves at 11-3.
Chillicothe finished third in the league at 10-4 (with two losses coming to the Blue Lions).
Washington is now 16-6 overall heading into the Division II Sectional tournament where they will play the winner between Hillsboro and Jackson on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. at Southeastern High School.
It was also Senior Night and the Blue Lions recognized their five basketball seniors: Max Knisley, Cameron Eckles, C.J. Taylor, Ryan Flora and Jacob Knisley (which was the starting line-up Friday).
Washington also recognized its senior cheerleaders, swim team and bowling members.
Max Knisley was the high scorer in the game for the Blue Lions with 20 points.
Junior Griffin Shaw scored 19 points and Cameron Eckles was next with nine points.
For the Tigers, Jacob Starkey and Matt Barton both scored 13 points. Zach Peck had eight points for McClain.
It was good to get back on the winning side after a tough loss at Wilmington Thursday night, Washington head coach Shannon Bartruff said.
“We started our five seniors and they had fun with that,” Bartruff said. “We switched up some things, defensively. I thought we guarded well, with the exception of the fourth quarter where we let their three-point shooters get loose.
“I was pleased with our effort for the most part,” Bartruff said. “We were still a little tentative early, offensively. Our defensive intensity picked up and that allowed our offense to get out and run a little bit.”
Jacob Knisley and Ryan Flora don’t get to see much playing time.
Bartruff spoke about those two seniors.
“Ryan and Jake did a great job while they were in there,” Bartruff said. “I told them during the off season that if they wanted to be a part of the team, it was going to be tough, because I couldn’t guarantee them any playing time. I told them they would have to sacrifice and commit and have a good attitude and work hard every single day.
“For a high school kid to tell you they can do that is one thing,” Bartruff said. “But, for them to actually do that is another thing. It speaks to their character, their integrity and the kind of young men that they are. The team means way more to them than their playing time. They’re tremendous. Their effort and their attitudes are great, every single day.”
“I felt like at times we were a really good basketball team,” McClain assistant coach Brady Streitenberger said. “It just can’t be in spurts, it has to be a more solid effort. I thought we had some kids work really, really hard tonight. You have to: Court House is a good team.”
McClain finishes the SCOL portion of the 2015-16 season with a record of 2-12, tied with East Clinton for seventh place in the league.
McClain (4-16) has a game at Southeastern High School Saturday.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
W 7 17 16 17 — 57
Mc 11 8 11 17 — 47
WASHINGTON — Max Knisley 6 (1)-5-20; Jarett Patton 1-2-4; Kory Proby 1-0-2; Ryan Flora 0-0-0; C.J. Taylor 1-1-3; Kenny Upthegrove 0-0-0; Griffin Shaw 6 (2)-1-19; Cameron Eckles 4-1-9; Brian Wilson 0-0-0; Jacob Knisley 0-0-0. TOTALS — 19 (3)-10-57. Free throw shooting: 10 of 17 for 59 percent. Three-point field goals: Shaw, 2; M. Knisley. Combined field goal shooting: 22 of 32 for 69 percent. Three-point field goal shooting: 3 of 14 for 21 percent. Turnovers: 13.
McCLAIN — Owen O’Conner 2-2-6; Brock Dean 0-0-0; Jacob Starkey 5-3-13; Matt Barton 1 (3)-2-13; Jensen Knaff 1-0-2; Randall Mischal 0-0-0; Cody Hardesty 1 (1)-0-5; Zach Peck 3-2-8; Lane Hester 0-0-0. TOTALS — 13 (4)-9-47. Free throw shooting: 9 of 12 for 75 percent. Three-point field goals: Barton, 3; Hardesty. Combined field goal shooting: 17 of 41 for 41 percent. Three-point field goal shooting: 4 of 14 for 29 percent.
