Kade Focht (10) of Marysville leaps for a shot while a Westerville North defender blocks the effort. The Monarchs struggled to convert shots in the second half of Tuesday’s game, leading to their 51-45 loss. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The Marysville boys basketball team had all the momentum going into the second half of Tuesday’s contest against Westerville North.
However, a solid scoring push by the Warriors down the stretch swung the final scoreboard in their favor by a 51-45 count.
Marysville head coach Ryan Grose said a lack of MHS execution handed the Warriors the win.
“I thought we just have to execute better down the stretch and make sure we have quality possessions,” he said. “I think we had some bad choices there that didn’t give us scoring opportunities.”
Tlhe Monarchs stuck to a solid man-to-man defense during the first half.
North struggled to work around the alignment.
Marysville’s stout defense was coupled with sholid shooting from Jack Christian, who picked up eight points with the help of a pair of three-pointers.
Garrett Taylor and Gabe Schaeffer give Marysville a big presence in the low post. The pair added four points to the Monarchs’ 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
MHS’ defense continued to keep the Warriors at bay.
Westerville North converted only two buckets from the field on its way to a nine-point quarter.
Marysville, on the other hand, continued to find ways to score.
The Monarchs spread the ball around to five different shooters who converted buckets.
Christian maintained a hot hand with a pair of baskets on solid drives down the lane. Evan Brown added a shot outside the arc as Marysville tool a 31-20 lead into the locker room.
Grose said his team’s ability to score helped them set up solid defense on the inbounds pass.
“I think it is easier to play defense when your guys are making shots,” he said. “That allows us to set up at (half court) versus guarding transition.
“When you are struggling from the field and a team can get out and run on turnovers or missed shots, it makes your defense a little more susceptible to giving up easy shots.”
The tide of change started to rear its head in the third quarter for the Monarchs.
Schaeffer, though, hit enough shots to keep North at bay, 41-36, by the end of the third quarter.
The struggling Monarchs relinquished their lead midway through the final stanza. Brown hit a two-point bucket for a 43-42 MHS lead with just over three minutes left on the clock.
The Warriors, however, worked the ball low in transition to find the bottom of the basket.
In doing so, they took a 47-43 advantage.
MHS’ Joey Duke converted a late shot, but the damage was already done as the Monarchs slipped to 5-3 for the season.
Grose said the game came down to a lack of execution.
“We have to execute what we work on,” he said. “In the first half ,I thought we did an excellent job of executing on both ends of the floor.
“When they (North) made their run, we struggled to continue to execute the way we are capable of.”
Marysville will return to action Friday when it hosts Hilliard Davidson.
Westerville North
C. Perkins 5-4-14, Lawrence 4-4-13, Ledford 5-0-11, R. Perkins 2-3-7, Council 1-0-2, Iheukalu 1-0-2, Rojkoummale 1-0-2. Totals 19-11-51.
Three-point goals: Lawrence 1, Ledford 1.
Marysville
Christian 5-0-12, Schaeffer 3-1-8, Taylor 4-0-8, Duke 3-0-6, Barlow 3-0-6, Brown 2-0-5. Totals 20-1-45.
Three-point goals: Christian 2, Schaeffer 1, Brown 1.