LOW POST OFFENSE … Wauseon big man Nicholas Stinner scores inside during the first quarter of a 61-38 win at Bryan. (PHOTOS BY RICH HARDING / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BRYAN (February 24, 2023) – The job was simple for Wauseon entering their season finale at Bryan. Win and get at least share of the NWOAL title.
The Indians did just that by shooting 55% from the field to roll to a 61-38 win giving them a piece of the league title with Archbold and Liberty Center after winning it outright last season.
After a jumper from Bryan’s Gavin Jaessing at the elbow tied the game at 4-4, the Indians reeled off seven straight points to take a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Nicholas Stinner started the run with a bucket inside before Trey Parsons was 2/2 at the line and then buried a triple from the right corner to make it 11-4.
Maddox Langenderfer and Jaessing would hit shots with Tyson Rodriguez countering for Wauseon with one as the Indians led 13-8 after one quarter.
Rodriguez scored from the low post to open the second quarter followed by a Stinner layup and two free throws by Braden Vajen pushed the lead to 19-10.
Sam Herold drilled a trey from the top of the key to keep Bryan close at 19-13, but a 12-2 Wauseon surge ensued as Wauseon took control.
The run featured three steals and scores by Parsons, the last two ending with dunks, and Rodriguez buried a deep three ball as the Wauseon lead was now 31-15.
Herold ended the run with a drive and score, but the Indians ended the half with a corner three-pointer by Connor Keefer for a 37-20 halftime lead, their largest of the night to that point.
LEADING SCORER … Bryan’s Sam Herold takes a shot while an Indian defender challenges. Herold paced the Bryan offense with 19 points.
Herold carried the Bryan (6-15, 0-7 NWOAL) scoring in the third with seven of the Golden Bears ten points, including a triple to cut the Indians lead to 44-29.
The third quarter ended the same as the second for Wauseon as Keefer took a pass and splashed a wide-open trey from the right corner just before the horn for a 47-30 lead.
The Indians (13-9, 6-1 NWOAL) slammed the door by scoring the first eight points of the final frame as Rodriguez got to the rim for a pair of buckets, Vajen scored in the post, and Parsons was 2/2 at the charity stripe to give the Indians their largest lead of the night at 55-30.
The Rodriguez-Parsons connection accounted for 40 of Wauseon’s 61 points by recording 21 and 19, respectively.
Herold was the lone Golden Bear in double figures with 19.
Bryan opens tournament play on February 27 at home versus Port Clinton with the winner going to Wauseon on March 1 for the sectional final.
WAUSEON (61) – Parsons 19; Rodriguez 21; Richer 0; Vajen 6; Schnitkey 0; Keefer 6; Fruchey 0; Ni. Stinner 6; Gype 3; Patterson 0; Na. Stinner 0; Totals: 15-6-13 – 61
BRYAN (38) – Langenderfer 7; Koenig 3; Huard 0; Jaessing 4; Bassett 0; Brown 0; Herold 19; Kennedy 4; Dominique 1; Taylor 0; Oberlin 0; Totals: 12-3-5 – 38
WAUSEON 13 21 10 14 – 61
BRYAN 8 12 10 8 – 38
GAME STATISTICS
WAUSEON: FG – 21/38 (55%); FT – 13/15 (86%); Rebounds – 16 (3 offensive); Turnovers – 6; BRYAN: FG – 15/33 (45%); FT – 5/10 (50%); Rebounds – 12 (3 offensive); Turnovers – 10
JUNIOR VARSITY: Wauseon 40, Bryan 25