BLUESTREAK SENIOR … Archbold’s Jayden Seiler scores over a Bryan defender in the low post during the first half of a 50-38 win. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jessie@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (January 11, 2024) – The Bluestreaks and Golden Bears traded leads several times in first half play before the Archbold boys basketball team kicked it into overdrive in the final quarter, notching a double-digit win over Bryan at home last Thursday night.
Early on, the teams maintained similar momentum, trading baskets up to 4-4 before Bluestreak senior Chase Miller sank the first three of the game halfway through the first quarter.
A pair of fouls by Archbold players provided an opening for Bryan seniors Sam Herold and Karter Brown to sink a trio of free throws to tie it back up at 7.
The Bluestreaks took back the lead with a dominant pair of shots by senior Cade Brenner, who sank one basket before immediately stealing the ball for a breakaway layup, putting Archbold up 11-7.
The Golden Bears didn’t take the points laying down, however, with a basket from senior Jase Kepler, a three-point jumper from Herold, and a shot up close over the heads of two Bluestreaks by junior Gavin Jaessing putting them up 11-14 to end the quarter.
After a free throw by Miller early in the second quarter, Bryan kept their momentum going with a three pointer from Brown that brought an eruption of cheers and baskets from Kepler and junior Carter Dominique, putting the Golden bears up 21-12.
With half the period left, a layup from Miller for the Bluestreaks and a basket by Jaessing for the Golden Bears brought the score to 23-14 just in time for a massive 12-point run by Archbold.
Senior Jayden Seiler sank two shots from outside, which, along with baskets from Brenner and junior Sonny Phillips, who also stole a Golden Bears pass and capitalized with a layup, brought them back into the lead 26-23 to end the half.
That lead would be approached, but never retaken by Bryan throughout the remainder of the game, as Archbold mounted a smothering defense in the second half – bringing pressure in both ends of the court – which they maintained until the end.
Although they were only able to sink two free throws out of the entire opportunity, a pair of simultaneous fouls against Bryan including a technical foul gave two Bluestreaks a pair of chances each at the line alone as well as possession afterward.
For their part, half of the Golden Bears’ points in the third quarter would come from free throws, one each from Kepler (who scored a basket in the process of being fouled) and Herold, and two from Dominique.
A fadeaway jumper for two from Jaessing rounded out their scoring. Bluestreak scoring in the form of a layup from junior Micah Nofziger and single baskets from Brenner and Seiler made it 36-31.
Dominique made a basket for the Golden Bears early in the final quarter, but the overall 36-33 score would be as close as they would get for the rest of the game.
In fact, another hard-fought basket from Dominique and a three-pointer from junior Landon Basset with a minute to go would be the only points they would get, thanks to the continuing domination of the Bluestreak defense.
Just as Archbold’s defense kept the Golden Bears from scoring, their offense kicked into high gear, doubling their opponent’s points with 14 in the quarter.
Miller made one basket, senior Stephen Diller put in two, and Phillips and Brenner each sank one basket and two free throws to bring the score to an even 50 over Bryan’s 38 for the win at home.
BRYAN (38) – Kepler 7; Koenig 0; Oberlin 0; Muehlfield 0; Jaessing 8; Welling 0; Bassett 3; Brown 0; Herold 6; Dominique 10; Totals: 11-3-7 – 38
ARCHBOLD (50) – Phillips 10; Brenner 14; Wendt 0; Bickel 0; Seiler 8; Valentine 0; Diller 4; Miller 8; Nofziger 6; Piercefield 0; Totals: 17-3-7 – 50
BRYAN 14 9 8 7 – 38
ARCHBOLD 11 15 10 11 – 50
GAME STATISTICS
BRYAN: FG – 14/34 (41%); FT – 6/14 (42%); Rebounds – 22 (7 offensive); Turnovers – 6; ARCHBOLD: FG – 20/48 (41%); FT – 7/11 (63%); Rebounds – 25 (12 offensive) Turnovers – 10
JUNIOR VARSITY: Archbold, 38-26