Saturday - February 27: After two postponements because of snow days the Tiger Men's team finally got to wrap up the regular season this past Friday evening. It was a sluggish win over backyard rival Southern Local at home. Actually we viewed it as an on again - off again game.
The Tigers came out of the locker room in low gear and seem to have trouble shifting out of it in the first quarter. It was something like Southern 9 - zip before the Tigers got their first points on the board. They came back to survive the first quarter at 11 all. Back in January when they played the Indians out there the Tigers took off finishing that first quarter by a score of 31 - 9.
The Tigers picked it up a bit out scoring the Indians in the second quarter by 10 points going into the locker room with a 36 - 26 score. By the end of three it was Wellsville 55 - 44. By the end of the game they chalked up victory #18 of the season with a final score of 71 - 61.
From what we saw after the initial quarter the Tigers would build up a ten point or better lead then relax and let the Indians get back into the game. We don't recall the Indians ever taking the lead after the first but they got within striking distance quite a few times. Jordan Dalrymple came off the bench like a rocket and showed us some spark. There were moments when the Tigers flashed some of that run & gun, aggressive control the boards team we've seen all season. We thought "now they're getting into it. Here we go". Then...
We saw DeSarro play more outside then we have all season. Jalen is usually near the bucket snagging rebounds adding to the lead. Johnston looked like he had a hot hand outside the perimeter in warm-ups, had trouble buying a bucket at times. It was a worrisome game and shouldn't have been. In spite of a visual height advantage for the Indians they were hampered by injuries. By the second half it was obvious their big guys were hurting.
Being sluggish aside the Tigers showed that balance everybody has been talking about all year. Although there were no double-doubles recorded Friday night they did have six players hit double digit scoring. Jeremy Carter had a game high 16 points with five rebounds and four assists. Dalrymple & Nunzio Lombardozzi each had 12 apiece. DeSarro had 10 points and got near the basket long enough to grab eight rebounds. Mike Johnston netted 10 points and five assists. DeShon Pullie rounded out the double digit scoring with another 10 points.
In the Reserve game the J.V.s dropped a 48 - 45 loss to the Indians. Trailing by one at the half the Tigers came back to take the lead in the second half until the last 37 seconds of the fourth period. The Reserves split with Southern this year. They won their first game of the season against them.
So, it's on to Struthers tomorrow, March 2, to open up tournament play in the Tiger's first game in the Districts. Wellsville is seeded #3 in the District and take on 14th seeded Columbiana Heartland Christian tomorrow evening at 6 P.M.
The District games will be played at the Struthers Field House at 111 Euclid Avenue. Tickets will be on sale at the WHS office from 3 to 4 this afternoon and again from 10:45 tomorrow morning until 2 P.M.
Good Luck fellows. We know you all are going to make it known that you are the best team in the District. We have no doubt.
ole nib
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