Ohio Locker Room - Felicity downs Blanchester 63-42 in sectional tourney

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Felicity downs Blanchester 63-42 in sectional tourney

Thursday, 14 February 2008

By SARAH CLARK

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CINCINNATI — The Blanchester High School boys basketball team was covered heavily in the paint and gave up too many points to Tyler Utter as the Felicity Cardinals defeated the Wildcats 63-42 in Division III Southwest District sectional tournament play Thursday at Sycamore.

Steven White

A.J. Wiley

Felicity advances to take on Deer Park in the sectional semifinals.

Utter led all scorers with 23 points — netting 13 in the opening quarter as the Cardinals pulled ahead of Blanchester 21-8.

Blanchester opened the game 4-0, but Utter started his work netting five six field-goals — one from long range — to put the Cardinals up.

The second quarter showed a little more offensive output by the ’Cats, but Felicity maintained its lead going 36-22 into the intermission.

“Utter is quick. They were much quicker than we were. We wanted to play zone because we knew that we would have trouble matching up,” said BHS head coach Bennie Carroll.

Although the Wildcats held a height advantage in the paint, the Cardinals worked hard at preventing BHS from getting the ball inside to Steven White and Donald Rhinehimer.

White was able to beak free some in the fourth quarter en route to leading BHS ins coring with 15 points.

“They did a very good job defensively,” Carroll said of the Cards.

It was unfortunately more of the same for the Wildcats who have been plagued all season. After returning Rhinehimer and A.J. Wiley from injuries, the duo were noticeably ill Thursday night.

“It has been a tough year. We got some bad breaks with injuries. These kids have stuck through and toughed it out. They hung in and I appreciate that,” said Carroll.

In the third quarter, FHS was led by Brandon Manz with eight points. The ’Cats still struggled offensively in the quarter and scored just six points.

BHS seniors Wiley, Rhinehimer and Dustin Barnes played their final games for the Wildcats Thursday.

“Donald has had a frustrating year missing three-quarters to an injury. A.J. was plagued all season with injuries. He never was able to play to his potential. They all have had great careers at Blanchester,” said Carroll.

SUMMARY

BHS 8 22 28 42

FHS 21 36 52 63

BLANCHESTER — Ballinger 1-0-0-2; Starks 3-0-0-6; Lewis 1-0-0-2; Wiley 3-0-0-6; Rhinehimer 1-0-2-4; White 7-0-1-15; Swormstedt 1-0-0-2; Cook 1-0-3-5; totals 17-0-6-42.

FELICITY — Grooms 2-1-1-8; Utter 9-1-2-23; Peron 3-1-1-10; Powers 2-0-0-4; Boggs 1-0-0-2; Manz 5-0-5-15; White 0-0-1-1; totals 22-3-10-63.