Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
FRANKLIN FURNACE — The 3-ball can be a team’s best friend or it can be its worst enemy.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
On Friday, the 3-point arc and the Green Bobcats struck up an instant friendship and assisted one another in taking down Notre Dame in Southern Ohio Conference action.
The Bobcats dialed long distance nine times in a 56-49 victory to stay unbeaten in league play, handing their opponent its first conference loss in the process.
“The past couple of games, we haven’t hit many 3’s,” Green’s Jon Knapp said. “But tonight, I think with all of the adrenaline, we just went out there [and took good shots] and the shots fell.”
Knapp canned four triples by his lonesome. Meanwhile, while Bobcats point guard Abe McBee may not have lit up the 3-point column, he stuffed the stat sheet with a little of everything.
Green’s offensive leader ended the night with eight points, five rebounds and six assists.
“He really gets our offense going,” Green’s Levi Sampson said of McBee. “It’s crazy. If we’re not moving, he’s still trying to boost us and trying to make us move. He’s a great player to have.”
Tale of the tape
On the backs of Dominic Sparks and Cody Metzler, Notre Dame (7-3, 4-1 SOC I) ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 14-8 lead into the second.
However, after a hot start, Sparks was held scoreless throughout most of the remaining three quarters. Sampson had a huge part in that feat, clogging the passing lane into the interior and denying Sparks the basketball.
PHOTOS: Images from Green’s win over Notre Dame
“The first quarter, we were playing man [defense],” Sampson said. “In the second quarter, we switched to zone and really held them. In the third and fourth [quarters], we held [Sparks] to zero points. That was a defensive game right there. That’s it.”
While Sampson held his own on the defensive end, Green (9-3, 6-0 SOC I) began to heat up from behind the arc — a charge led by Knapp and Levi Blevins.
The Titans took a 16-8 lead before the Bobcats ripped off a 13-0 run, one highlighted by back-to-back deep balls from Blevins. Knapp scored with 3:48 remaining in the second to put Green ahead 18-16 before nailing a triple for a 21-16 advantage and ending the run.
By halftime, the Bobcats had a 24-20 edge and rode that momentum to a strong showing in the third.
The four-point lead turned into 12 at 43-31 heading to the final eight minutes after Gabe McBee added a triple before Knapp hit back-to-back deep balls near the end of the frame.
The Titans made a late rally attempt, led by Carter Campbell, and managed to cut the deficit to seven with less than a minute remaining. But they had dug far too large of a hole to climb out of.
Stat book
Knapp led the Bobcats in scoring with 16 points while Sampson was steady all night long on both ends of the floor, adding 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in a winning effort. Gabe McBee also helped out with 11 points and six rebounds while Blevins ended with eight points.
For Notre Dame, Campbell turned in a game-high 20 points alongside five boards while Metzler had 10 points and eight rebounds. Landon Barbarits also chipped in with eight points, four rebounds and five dimes.
What’s on tap
Green will try and continue its winning ways on Tuesday at New Boston in league action while the Titans attempt to bounce back the same evening, hosting Ironton St. Joe.
“We’ve been rivals [with Notre Dame] since my freshman year,” Sampson said. “They’ve won one, we’ve won one … it seems like we always split with them. To get this win, it just really feels good. We played great defense. That’s the biggest win of our season right there. It boosts us into New Boston on Tuesday. That’s a tough place to play.”
BOX SCORE
Notre Dame: 14-6-11-18 — 49
Green: 8-16-19-13 — 56
Notre Dame: 19-46 FG, 8-10 FT, 3-10 3pt., 21 rebounds (Metzler 8), 13 turnovers, 7 assists (Barbarits 5). Scoring: Campbell 20, Metzler 10, Barbarits 8, Sparks 7, Bradford 2.
Green: 20-42 FG, 7-14 FT, 9-16 3pt., 25 rebounds (Sampson 11), 12 turnovers, 8 assists (A. McBee 6). Scoring: Knapp 16, Sampson 13, G. McBee 11, A. McBee 8, Blevins 8.
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