On Saturday Continental Middle School 8th grade boys team had the last game of the day in the Putnam County League Tournament at Fort Jennings. Ottawa Elementary provided the worthy adversary on this dreary day but the young Pirates provided some sunshine. The Pirates opened up the game with the first 11 points as Gavin Huff hit for 6, Andrew Hoeffel 3 and Luke Recker 2 but that would be it for the Pirates in the first as the Titans put in the next 5 points. Pirates 11, Titans 5 after 1.
A made free throw by Ottawa opened up the second quarter scoring. A basket by Huff made it a 7 point game 13-6 Pirates. A four point by the Titans was stopped when Huff put in another basket, Pirates 15, Titans 10. A 5 point run by Ottawa evened the score at 15 only to have Cody Auch put in a basket for the Pirates to make it Pirates 17, Titans 15. A made free throw by the Titans finished up the scoring for the half. Pirates 17, Titans 16 at the break.
The second half opened with Pirate Huff making a basket and Ottawa matching that to make it 19-18. A 3 point play by Pirate Wyatt Davis was followed by a Titan 2 to make it 22-20. The Pirates Huff would put in the last 4 points of the quarter to make it Pirates 26, Titans 20 after 3 quarters.
Ottawa put in the first 2 of the final quarter to make it a 4 point game 26-22. A basket by Huff put it back to a 6 point Pirate lead. A pair of baskets by the Titans made it a 2 point game 28-22. But the Pirates sealed the deal as they finished off the game hitting 6-7 from the line. With Davis, Hoeffel, and Recker both going 2 for 2 in crunch time. 35-28 Pirate final.
Continental moves on to take on Kalida on Thursday at 6:15 at Fort Jennings. Kalida advanced by defeating Columbus Grove St Anthony 36-16. Continental and Kalida played to an overtime thriller last week with the Wildcats prevailing. Go Pirates!
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
