CHS royalty! King Rhenn Armey and Queen Bryn Tegenkamp were crowned as the Pirates celebrated homecoming on Saturday with a Putnam County League game against Columbus Grove. For the second straight Saturday the Pirates boys were trying to make it a Varsity sweep as the Lady Pirates had dispatched Paulding earlier in the day. A game of momentum changes and a last second 3 to send the game into overtime keyed this battle. The Bulldogs went inside to put in the first basket of the night. The Pirates would do the same, going inside, as Konnor Knipp Williams would open up the Pirates scoring with a basket and Rhenn Armey would also hit a 2, Pirates 4-2. A basket by the Bulldogs was followed by a pair of Jonathon Etter free throws Pirates 6-4. A basket by the Bulldogs would finish off their scoring in the first quarter at 6, the Pirates would get 2 Knipp Williams baskets to take a 10-6 lead after 1.
The second quarter would start with the Panthers hitting a 3 to make it a 1 point game Pirates 10-9. The Pirates would put in the next 7 points, a 3 by Jonathon Etter, Monty Rayle put in a pair of free throws, and a Knipp Williams basket. Pirates 17-9. A free throw by the Bulldogs and a Mason Rayle basket put the Pirates up a game high 9 points 19-10. The Bulldogs would finish off the first half with a basket. Pirates 19-12 at half.
The Bulldogs would put in the first 7 points of the second half to make it a 2 point game 19-17. The Bulldog run was stopped when Carson Etter would make a basket Pirates 21-17. A Bulldog basket was followed by a Knipp Williams basket and Monty Rayle free throw, Pirates 24-19. A Bulldog basket and a Knipp Williams basket would make the score 26-21. A string of 3 Bulldog baskets gave them their first lead since early in the first Bulldogs 27-26. Mason Rayle would put the Pirates back in the lead 28-27. A pair of Bulldog free throws finished off the 3rd quarter. Bulldogs 29-28 after 3.
Knipp Williams would open up the fourth quarter scoring and put the Pirates back in the lead 30-29. The Bulldogs would get the next 5 points off a 3 and a 2 to take a 34-30 lead which they would maintain till the end of game buzzer (spoiler alert). Knipp Williams would cut the Bulldog lead to 2 with a basket. Bulldogs 34-32. 2 baskets and a free throw put the Bulldogs up by 7. Carson Etter would make a free throw only to have the Bulldogs make a basket and take an 8 point lead 41-33. A pair of Rhenn Armey free throws would make it a 6 point game 41-35. The Bulldogs would push their lead back up to 8 with a basket, 43-35. A Knipp Williams free throw and an Armey 3 would cut the Bulldog lead in half, Bulldogs 43-39. A Bulldog basket pushed their lead back to 6 but the Pirates would rally back with basket by Jonathon Etter and a 3 by Mason Rayle. Bulldogs 45-44. The Bulldogs would make two free throws to make it 47-44 and the Pirates needing a 3 to tie. As the clock expired Mason Rayle got off a 3 that went in to put the game into overtime. 47 all.
The Pirates would take the lead for good in overtime as they scored first with a Knipp Williams free throw and a Armey basket, Pirates 50-47. The Bulldogs would make a basket to make it 50-49 Pirates. The Pirates Armey iced the game by making 3/4 from the line for a 53-49 Pirate final. Pirate Seniors Konnor Knipp Williams and Rhenn Armey scored all the Pirates points in overtime.
Konnor Knipp Williams led the Pirates with 18 points, Rhenn Armey added 12. Mason Rayle had 10 points, Jonathon Etter 7 points, Carson Etter and Monty Rayle 3 each. The Pirates made four 3 pointers. Mason Rayle hit 2 in the closing seconds of the 4th quarter. Rhenn Armey also hit a key 3 in the 4th. Jonathon Etter put one in in the second quarter. The Bulldogs made three 3s. The Pirates were 13-20 from the line with Rhenn Armey going 5-6 in the 4th quarter and overtime. The Bulldogs were 8-13 from the line.
Continental improves to 7-9 (3-1 PCL) and will travel to Ottoville on Friday in a battle of teams that currently sit in second place in the Putnam County League. Columbus Grove falls to 5-9 (1-2 PCL).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
–Photos by Jamey Armey
