Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
ATHENS — All it takes is one run at the right moment. And, on Tuesday, that was all she wrote.
Tied midway in the fourth with a trip to a district final hanging in the balance, Wheelersburg got a huge boost from Graer Woodward off the bench to change its fortunes.
Woodward tipped the scales in the Pirates’ favor as part of a late 8-2 run that gave ‘Burg enough juice to cross the finish line with a 60-52 victory over Fairland.
“Graer is so talented. He is such a lift for us when he comes in the game. Everybody knows he’s a great defender,” Wheelersburg coach Alex Prater said. “I was so happy for him tonight to see some of those shots go in and showcase his offensive abilities. I was really proud of our guys. I thought they were locked in and focused on our game plan and made it really tough on Fairland.”
Both teams came out gunning from distance.
Wheelersburg’s Hunter Bevins knocked down a pair of triples alongside another from teammate Jack Doerr.
On the other end, however, Cliff Fransen, Trevor Lochow and Gerald Love also connected from deep. But Fransen also scored three times inside to put the Dragons on top by a 15-11 count after the first quarter.
The run-and-gun style continued on, but the shots weren’t falling at the same rate in the second.
Five of the Pirates’ nine points in the frame came at the free throw line. Meanwhile, Lochow hit a 3, Fransen scored twice inside and Ford Rickard converted a layup that put the Dragons ahead 25-20 at halftime.
“Obviously, we couldn’t throw it in the ocean. It was so important for us to rely on our defense coming in. Fairland is so talented and they shoot the ball so well,” Prater said. “We were a little upset at halftime that we’d given up too many offensive rebounds in the first half, so we really challenged the kids to pick it up on the glass.”
Lochow and Doerr traded 3’s to open the third.
However, Wheelersburg completely flipped the script with help from Woodward.
PHOTOS: Images from Wheelersburg’s district semifinal win over Fairland
The freshman came off the bench, and his length on the boards, alongside gritty defense, was the wave of momentum his team needed.
The Pirates closed the gap to 33-29, but Woodward scored on a rebound and putback. Then, he hit a 3 to put ‘Burg ahead 34-33.
Rickard later knocked down a triple to tie the game at 37, but Landon McGraw scored to give his Pirates a two-point lead heading into the fourth.
Tied 41-41 midway through the fourth, the Pirates saw their opportunity and took over.
Woodward, Braylon Rucker and Xavier Miller all scored as part of an 8-2 run that put them ahead 49-43.
Lochow buried a 3 on the other end, but the night belonged to the Pirates in the end as Rucker knocked down two free throws, Bevins came up with a steal and a bucket, and McGraw scored before they closed out the game at the charity stripe.
“We got some defensive stops, but also made some plays by getting into the passing lanes. We got two steals and runouts and it allowed us to get some easy ones,” Prater said. “I thought the glass was really important. We got the lead, got some stops and limited them to one shot and then were able to control it down the stretch.”
Bevins finished the night with 16 points to lead Wheelersburg, followed by Rucker with 14 points and Woodward with 11 points and eight rebounds.
For Fairland, Fransen had a game-high 24 points and eight rebounds while Lochow added 11 points to the mix.
Wheelersburg returns to action at 2 p.m., Saturday in a Division V district final against Ironton, who defeated Portsmouth to advance.
That game will happen at Ohio University’s Convocation Center.
SPONSORS
GLOCKNER FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS
SCHMIDT FAMILY RESTAURANT GROUP
