A cold start by Continental High Boys Basketball on Saturday had the Pirates not get on the scoreboard until 9 minutes had gone off the clock. Host Lima Temple Christian used the friendly North rims to take a 6-0 lead after 1 with 3 baskets. The Pirates would rally back in the second quarter to take the lead when they strung together a couple of 3s by Monty Rayle and Mason Rayle and a basket by Carson Etter to take an 8-6 lead. The Pioneers would take the lead for good when they connected on a pair of 3s and a pair of free throws and a basket to take a 16-8 lead. That run would be stopped when Jonathon Etter made a basket to make it 16-10 Pioneers. A pair Pioneer free throws finsihed the half scoring. Pioneers 18-10 half.
The Pirates also found the North rim friendly as Monty Rayle hit a 3 to cut the Pioneer lead to 5, 18-13. The Pioneers would hit a 3 to push their lead back to 8. A 6 point run by the Pirates fueled by a Monty Rayle 3 and a basket and free throw by Carson Etter would make it a 2 point game. Pioneers 21-19. The Pioneers would close out the quarter by scoring the last 6 points to push their lead back up to 8, 27-19. The Pirates came out in the fourth making it a game when they put in the first 7 points on a basket from Carson Etter, a 3 from Mason Rayle and a pair of free throws from Jonathon Etter. Pioneers 27-26. The Pioneers would finish the game off with a 12 -1 run to make it a 39-27 final.
Monty Rayle led the Pirates with 9 points. Carson Etter and Mason Rayle both put in 7 points. Jonathon Etter scored 4. Monty Rayle hit three 3 pointers, Mason Rayle put in 2. The Pioneer made 4 three pointers Continental was 4-6 from the line.
Continental falls to 0-2 and will travel to Hicksville on Friday night. Lima Temple Christian improves to 2-0.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
