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Wayne Trace moves to regional finals; defeat Ayersville 61-60

Thursday, 06 March 2008

FINDLAY – The Wayne Trace Raiders are now one step away from the state tournament, as they upended GMC-rival Ayersville by a 61-60 count in the Division IV boy’s basketball regional semi-finals at Findlay Wednesday night. The win avenges a 58-55 setback to the Pilots in the season battle. Dane Treece hit a 14-foot jumper with six seconds remaining to lift the Raiders to the victory.

Both teams took turns with first and second half scoring spurts. The Raiders ran out to a first quarter lead of 18-14, only to watch Ayersville tie the game at the break at 32-all after the Pilots ended the first half with their own 18-14 run.

The game then turned at the start of the second half in Ayersville's favor, as the Pilots opened with a 17-8 tear, propelling them to a commanding lead at the end of three stops at 49-40. The Raiders were not to be outdone though, as Wayne Trace regrouped and ended the contest with an offensive spurt of their own by rolling to a 21-11 advantage, with the last two points coming on Treece’s game winning shot.

Wayne Trace (20-4) rode the shoulders of two double-digit performers to the victory. Riley Linder and Treece tallied 21 and 18 points, respectively to lead the Raiders. Ayersville (21-3) was led by Logan Wolfrum’s 19 points.

Wayne Trace will now play Van Buren (20-4) in the regional championship at Bowling Green State University on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

(Stats provided by: KEVIN WANNEMACKER – WT stats manager)

Score by Quarters:

Wayne Trace 18 14 8 21 = 61

Ayersville 14 18 17 11 = 60

Wayne Trace: 2pt 3pt FT RB A S Pts

Aaron Hockenberry 0-1 0-4 4-6 1 3 2 4

Ryan Davis 0-1 6-6 1 2 2 6

Alex LaBounty 3-3 3 6

Riley Linder 4-6 3-4 4-5 5 1 1 21

Dane Treece 5-10 0-2 8-10 2 3 1 18

Nathan Jewell 2-4 2-2 3 1 6

Totals 14-25 3-10 24-29 17 10 5 61

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Ayersville: 2pt 3pt FT RB A S Pts

Demetrius Trapps 3-3 1-2 2 7

Travis Flint 1-2 2-2 3 1 3 4

Eric Fishpaw 1

Mathew Martin 5-13 3-4 7 2 13

Preston Zachrich 1-2 2-4 2 2 8

Anthony King 1-6 5-12 6 1 1 7

Joe Ewers 1-1 0-3 4 3 2

Logan Wolfrum 3-4 3-3 4-6 3 2 1 19

Totals 15-32 5-7 15-29 31 9 7 60

Turnovers – Wayne Trace 14, Ayersville 16

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GAME NOTES (BY: KEVIN WANNEMACKER - WT stats manager): Both teams shot 29 free throws in the contest but Wayne Trace made 24 and Ayersville connected on only 15. The Raiders were 17 of 35 from the field compared to the Pilots' 20 of 39. Ayersville dominated the boards 31-17 but also had more turnovers, 16-14. Ayersville limited Wayne Trace's Aaron Hockenberry, who entered the game averaging 18 points, to only four markers. Hockenberry's first points didn't come until 47 seconds remained in the first half on two free throws. Wayne Trace and Van Buren have never played each other before. In common opponents, Van Buren defeated Miller City (57-45), Vanlue (69-49) and Kalida (47-45). Wayne Trace also defeated Miller City (72-59) and Vanlue (75-53). The Raiders also lost to Kalida (66-63, OT) before defeating the Wildcats (56-36) last Friday in district final action. The Black Knights are coached by Jack Frost, a 1982 graduate of Bluffton College and a 1977 graduate of Van Buren. Frost, in his 11th season at Van Buren, has posted four Blanchard Valley Conference championships (two at Van Buren) and he has led three teams to the regional tournaments in the past. Frost has a career record of 230-144.