Saturday was a great day to be a Pirates as both the Boys and Girls Varsity picked up key wins that should improve their Martin RPT score. The Boys game at North Central was a battle of survival as both teams struggled with foul trouble. The game started out fast with 5 fouls called in the a little over a minute setting the tone for the game. The Pirates would open up with a 4 point lead thanks to a basket by Konnor Knipp Williams and a pair for free throws from Carson Etter. That would stake the Pirates to a lead that they would not give up. After an Eagle basket the Pirates would put in the next 8 points with Mason Rayle hitting a pair of free throws and a 3 and Monty Rayle making a 3. The Eagles cut the Pirates lead to 6 with a pair of baskets. The teams would then exchange points as the Pirates got a pair of Rhenn Armey free throws and the Eagles a basket. Pirates 14-8. The Pirates would put the lead to 9 as Mason Rayle would make a basket and Armey a free throw, Pirates 17-8. A basket by the Eagles and a 3 by Mason Rayle would finish off the first scoring with the Pirates owning a 20-10 lead. Mason Rayle put in 10 for the Pirates in the first.
The second quarter was even as both teams would put in 10 points. The Eagles would not get within 8 of the Pirates in the quarter. Mason Rayle added 4 to his total as he hit his 3rd 3 and made a free throw. Knipp Williams would score 4 with a basket and a pair of free throws. Armey would score 2 on a pair of free throws. Pirates 30-20 at half. The Pirates were 12-16 from the line in the first half.
The third quarter would have the Eagles open up the scoring with 3 points off a basket and a free throw. Pirates 30-23. A 3 by Jonathon Etter put the Pirates back up by 10 33-23. An Eagle free throw was followed by a Pirate 7 point run with Mason Rayle hitting a 3 and a basket and Monty Rayle making a basket. Pirates 40-24. An Eagle basket and another Jonathon Etter 3 made it Pirates 43-36. An Eagle basket and a Mason Rayle basket left the score at 45-38 Pirates. The Eagles would get a basket and a free throw to make it Pirates 45-31. The Pirates did not go to the free throw line in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was a battle of free throws (28 were taken) and deep foul trouble on both sides. North Central ended up with 2 disqualifications and 3 players with 4 fouls while the Pirates had 1 disqualification and 3 with 4 fouls. The Pirates would score 18 points with 12 coming from the foul line while the Eagles would put in 20 with 8 coming from the line. The Pirates got great foul shooting in the fourth with Armey going 2-2, Mason Rayle 1-1, Carson Etter 5-6, Monty Rayle 3-4 and Knipp Williams 1-2, overall the Pirates were 11-14 from the line in the fourth. Knipp Williams would add a pair of baskets to his total in the fourth and Mason Rayle 1 basket. Pirates 63-51 final.
Mason Rayle led the Pirates with 24 points, Konnor Knipp Williams and Jonathon Etter both put in 11. Monty Rayle added 8, Rhenn Armey 7 and Carson Etter 2. The Pirates made seven 3 pointers with Mason Rayle hitting 4, Jonathon Etter 2, and Monty Rayle 1. The Eagle did not make a 3. The Pirates were 24-33 from the line. Jonathon Etter was 5-6 (all in the fourth), Rhenn Armey 7-8, Mason Rayle 4-5, Monty Rayle 3-4 (all in the fourth), Konnor Knipp Williams 3-6 and Carson Etter 2-2. The Eagles were 13-22 from the line.
Continental improves to 6-9 and will host Columbus Grove on Saturday in a Putnam County League game and Homecoming. North Central falls to 6-9.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
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