Friday night had Paulding winning the tip and scoring the first two points in the non league boys basketball season opener at Continental. The Pirates countered with a pair of baskets by Wade Stauffer and Jacob Williams. Another Panther basket made it 4-4 when the Pirates hit for 5 (Caleb Olds basket and Williams 3 point play) and took a lead that they would hold the rest of the night. The teams traded baskets to make it 11-6 at the end of one. The Panthers opened the second with a basket that was matched by Trevor Williamson. Another Panther basket was followed by a Williamson basket and a Williams free throw to make it 16-11 midway through the second. Tyler Brecht matched a Panther basket to make it 18-13 Pirates. Another Panther basket was met with a Pirate 5 point run (3 pointer by Brecht and a basket by Stauffer) to make it an 8 point Pirate lead 23-15. The Panthers scored the next 3 points. Jarret Keck finished the half by making a pair of baskets for the Pirates to make it 27-18 at half.
The scoring action picked up in the third quarter as Stauffer put in 8 for the Pirates and Nick States came off the bench for 5 as part of the Pirates 21 point third quarter effort. The Panthers put in 13 in the third to make it 48-31 Pirates after 3. The Panthers would close the gap to 11 in the fourth quarter but in the end it was Pirates 61-46.
Wade Stauffer lead the Pirates with 18 points while Jacob Williams contributed 11. Trevor Williamson had 9 points and Caleb Olds 6. Tyler Brecht and Nick States both finished with 5, Jarret Keck 4, and Chris Potts 3. Brecht, States, and Potts all had a single 3 pointer.
The Pirates are now 1-0 and will host Lima Temple Christian on Saturday with a 5 pm JV start. The Panthers are now 0-1.
The game was broadcast on WPMN. Paulding won the JV game 62-20.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
–Photos by Kelly Sarka
