Fouls. Fouls. And more fouls. That was the name of the game as host Delphos St Johns played Continental in non league Boys basketball action. A total of 43 fouls were called during the game forcing both teams to go to plans B and C. The Blue Jays started out the game hitting a 3 to take the early lead. The Pirates would get on the board with a basket from Gavin Huff to make it 3-2 Blue Jays. A basket by the Blue Jays finished their first quarter points at 5. The Pirates would get a pair of baskets from Konnor Knipp Williams, the second basket came off a steal and a breakaway layup and a free throw from Alex Sharritts. Pirates 7-5 after 1.
The second quarter saw the Blue Jays hit a 3 and a basket to take a 10-7 lead. A basket by Sharritts would make it a 1 point game 10-9. The Blue Jays would string together 5 points on a basket and 3 free throws to make it 15-9. A basket by Rhenn Armey was followed by a pair of free throws by Andrew Hoeffel to make it 15-13. The Jays would finish the half by hitting 3 free throws with the clock expired as a Pirate fouled a Blue Jay during a half court shot at the buzzer. Blue Jays 18-13 at half. The two teams combined to take 21 foul shots (Blue Jays 15, Pirates 6) and 10 made free throws (Blue Jays 8, Pirates 2).
The Pirates would get the first basket after the half by Knipp Williams to cut the Blue Jay lead to 3, 18-15. The Blue Jays would hit a 3 and a pair of free throws to take a 23-15 lead. A basket by Pirate Mason Rayle stopped the Blue Jay run to make it 23-17. The Blue Jays would take a game high lead when they would string together 3 baskets to take a 29-17 lead. The Pirates would score the last 5 points of the third with a 3 from Rayle and a basket by Dominque Moore. Blue Jays 29-22 after 3.
The Pirates would continue their comeback at the start of the fourth when they would put in the first 5 points with Knipp Williams making a basket and Huff making a free throw and a basket. Blue Jays 29-27. The teams traded baskets, Huff hitting to the Pirates 31-29. A 3 point play by the Blue Jays was followed by a pair of Sharritts free throws 34-31 Blue Jays. The Blue Jays would outscored the Pirates 9-2 at the end with Sharritts making a basket. Blues 43-33 final.
Konnor Knipp Williams led the Pirates with 8 points while Gavin Huff and Alex Sharritts had 7 points each. Mason Rayle put in 5 while Andrew Hoeffel, Rhenn Armey and Dominque Moore all had 2 each. Rayle hit the only 3 pointer for the Pirates while the Blue Jays made 3. The Pirates were 6-12 from the foul line while the Blue Jays were 14-25 (5-5 in the fourth quarter).
Continental falls to 2-5 and will travel to Patrick Henry on Thursday. Delphos St Johns improves to 2-2.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
