On Tuesday Continental High Varsity Boys basketball traveled to Delphos Middle School to take on Jefferson in a game that will have a lot to do with seeding in the OHSAA DVII Van Wert District. The Pirates and Wildcats were among 7 of the 8 teams in the Van Wert District with 3 or less wins heading into the night. The game was held at the Middle School since it has a lot more seating, double if not triple that of the gym at Jefferson High School. The Middle School itself was built in the 1880s so over 140 years ago while the gym was built in the early 1950s so more that 75 years ago. The playing surface is on a stage (3 feet off the ground on the auditorium side). Seats start at the -3 foot level in the first row and the gradually move out and then there is a balcony (great seats to see the game) to add seating on the stage side. On the back stage is bleachers that host Wildcat students and visitor fans. Who knows, this might be the site for a rematch in a sectional final game.
As for the game, the Pirates got on the board first with a basket by Monty Rayle. The Wildcats matched the basket to tie the game at 2. The Pirates would get a pair of free throws form Rayle and a basket from Tyson Clementz to take a 6-2 lead. The Wildcats would have a 6 point run to take their first lead of the game at 8-6. A Nolan Cordes basket was followed by a Wildcat basket to end the first. 10-8 Wildcats after 1. The Pirates would put together a 6 point run to open up the second quarter with Collin Hammond, Rayle and Clementz all making a basket. Pirates 14-10. Clementz came on a heads up play where a Wildcat pass appeared to be thrown off the stage but hit a referee and stayed in bounds. Clements gathered the ball after it had bounced 4 times and went in for the layup. Three straight baskets from the Wildcats had them retake a 2 point lead, 16-14. A basket by Hammond tied the game at 16. A pair of Wildcat basket and a Cordes 3 made it a 1 point Wildcat lead 20-19. The half closed with the Wildcats making a free throw and the Pirates getting a 3 by Rayle. Pirates 22-21 at half.
The Wildcats opened up the second half scoring with a basket to take a 1 point lead, 23-22. Pirate Rayle would then put in 8 of the next 10 points hitting a pair of 3s and a pair of free throws. Pirates 30-25. A pair of Wildcat free throws and basket would make it a 1 point game 30-29 Pirates. The Wildcats would then score 6 of the last 8 points in the third with the Pirates getting single free throws form Rayle and Cordes. Wildcats 35-32 after 3. Clemetz would pull the Pirates to within 1 35-34. A basket by the Wildcats put them back up by 3 37-34. The Pirates would take the lead when Cordes would covert a 3 point play and a pair of free throws. Pirates 39-37. A couple key events then followed as Cordes would pick up foul #5 and after a tangle near the sideline where the referees sent the teams to their benches. After that break in the action it was all Wildcats as they would put in 12 of the next 14 points with the Pirates getting a pair of free throws from Quinn Tegenkamp. Wildcats 52-41.
Monty Rayle led the Pirates with 18 points while Collin Hammond put in 9. Nolan Cordes and Tyson Clementz both scored 6. Quinn Tegenkamp scored 2. The Pirates had 4-1 advantage on 3 pointers with Rayle draining 3 and Cordes 1. The Pirates were 11-15 from the line while the Wildcats were 14-23 from the line finishing the game making their last 5 in crunch time. Continental falls to 3-7 and will host Ayersville on Saturday. Delphos Jefferson improves to 4-4.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
