Saturday night it was a night of 2 halves as visiting Edgerton took both first half quarters and took a 12 point lead into the locker room. The Pirates made a comeback in the second half and swept both quarters but fell just short of victory.
The Bulldogs came out and scored the first 8 points of the game on a pair of 3s and a basket. Monty Rayle hit a 3 for the Pirates to make it a 5 point game. Six more points by the Bulldogs and it looked like a runaway as they took a 11 point 14-3 lead early. The Pirates would score the last 6 points of the first as Nolan Cordes would hit a 3 and a basket and Quinn Tegenkamp a free throw. Bulldogs 14-9 after 1.
The Bulldogs opened up the second quarter by hitting a 3 to expand their lead to 8, 17-9. The Pirates Jackson Bidlack would make a free throw to make it a 7 point game. A Bulldog basket and a Rayle 3 would make the score 19-13 Bulldogs. A pair of Bulldog basket made it 23-13. A Collin Hammond basket was followed by a Bulldog basket. 25-15 Bulldogs. The quarter would end with the with the Bulldogs adding 4 to their total while the Pirates added a pair of Rayle free throws. Bulldogs 29-17 at half.
The Bulldogs put in a free throw to expand their lead to a game high 13. Cordes hit a 3 to make it a 10 point game, 30-20. The teams traded baskets twice with Cordes and Quinn Tegenkamp hitting for the Pirates. Bulldogs 34-24. The Bulldogs would finish the quarter making a basket and a pair of free throws while the Pirates drained a pair of 3s, 1 each by Tegenkmap and Bidlack. The Pirates took the third 13-9 and cut the Bulldog lead to 8 (38-30).
The Pirates opened up the last quarter with a Cordes free throw to make the game 7 (38-31). A Bulldog basket followed by a a 3 from Cordes and a basket from Rayle and the Bulldog lead was cut to 4, 40-36. A Bulldog basket and a Rayle basket would make it 42-38. The Bulldogs would take a maintain the 6 point lead when the teams exchanged free throws to make it 45-39. With 40.8 left Monty Rayle hit a long 3 to make it a one-possession game 45-42. The Bulldogs would finish the game going 4-4 form the foul line for the 49-42 decision.
Monty Rayle led the Pirates with 16 points making three 3s. Nolan Cordes put in 14 points and three 3s. Quinn Tegenkamp scored 5 and one 3. Jackson Bidlack added 4 with one 3. Collin Hammond scored 2. The Pirates had an 8-3 advantage on 3 pointers. The Pirates were 6-14 from the foul line while the Bulldogs were 12-14.
Continental falls to 2-6 and will host Leipsic on Tuesday in their Putnam County League opener. Edgerton improves to 5-4.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
