Lots of reasons to watch Continental Boys Varsity at Kalida on Friday night. Could the Wildcats finish their league schedule still in the Putnam County League title hunt? A Wildcat team that was 1-10 outside PCL. Could the Pirates improve their Tournament seeding and stop a 4 game losing streak? A close game at half went to the Wildcats in the second half. The Pirates took the early advantage by going inside to Brady Thomsen with a basket. Pirates 2-0. A Wildcat basket put them on the board but the Pirates went back inside with Thomsen hitting a basket and a pair of free throws and Tyson Clementz basket. Pirates 8-2. The Wildcats would take their first lead with a 7 point run on a basket, a 3 and a pair of free throws. Wildcats 9-8. Quinn Tegenkamp and Thomsen would both hit baskets to put the Pirates back up 12-9. A 3 by the Wildcats would finish of the first quarter with the two teams tied at 12. The Pirates regained the lead with a Monty Rayle basket Pirates 14-12. A pair of baskets put the Wildcats up 16-14. A 3 by Rayle and the Pirates were back in the lead 17-16. The Wildcats would take the lead for good with a basket and a 3, 21-17. A Tegenkamp 3 would cut the lead to 1, 21-20. A Wildcat 3 would finish off the half scoring. Wildcats 24-20.
The Wildcats opened up the second half with a pair of free throws that Rayle matched with a basket. Wildcats 26-20. Then it was all Wildcats as they would outscore the Pirates 11-1 the rest of the quarter to take a 34-23 lead into the fourth. Nolan Cordes hit a free throw for the Pirates point. The fourth quarter was all Wildcats as they added 20 to their total while the Pirates got 3s from Thomsen and Tegenkamp. Wildcats 54-29 final.
Brady Thomsen led the Pirates with 11 points. Monty Rayle added 7. Tyson Clementz and Quinn Tegenkamp both scored 5. Nolan Cordes made a free throw. The Pirates made four 4 pointers with Thomsen, Rayle, Clementz, and Tegenkamp all making 1. The Wildcats made five 3 pointers. The Pirates were 3-4 from the foul line while the Wildcats were 7-13. Continental falls to 4-15 (1-4 PCL) and will host Holgate on Saturday. Kalida improves to 8-11 (6. 6-1 PCL).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
