Over the Christmas break, Miami East Boys Basketball traveled to Versailles for a non league game that will go a long way to determining top seeds in the OHSAA SWDAB Division III North District. Versailles came into the game undefeated at 6-0 while Miami East was 5-2 with losses coming from teams that have a combined 12-2 record. The Vikings came out in the first and took an early lead behind threes from Connor Apple, Mitchel Kemp, and Jacob Roeth (2) along with a pair of free throws from Roeth put them up 14-9. The Tigers would close out the quarter by hitting a 3 and a basket in the last 30 second to make it 14 all.
The second quarter had the two teams exchanging baskets to make it 16 all with Wes Enis scoring for the Vikings. The Vikings would take a 2 point lead when Enis put in another basket. Vikings 18-16. A 3 by the Tigers was followed by a Apple basket to make 20-19 Vikings. A pair of 3s by the Tigers put them up by 5, 25-20. A 3 by Apple was followed by a Tiger basket. Tigers 27-23. Roeth would score the next 4 points on a basket and a pair of free throws to tie the game at 27. The Tigers would take the lead for good when they would score the last 6 points of the half. Versailles 33-27.
The third quarter saw a pair of Vikings get into foul trouble and left them vulnerable underneath. The Vikings would open up the second half scoring with a foul shot by Roeth. The Tigers would match that made free throw. Kemp would put in a basket to make it a 4 point game 34-30. A Tiger 3 was followed by a Roeth basket. Tigers 37-32. The Vikings would then pound the ball inside and score 8 points in a row to take a 45-32 lead. A 3 by Roeth stopped the run but the Tigers put in another basket. 47-35 Tigers. The Vikings would get a pair of free throws and a basket by Roeth to make it 47-39 after 3.
Enis would start the final quarter scoring with a basket to make it a 6 point game 47-41. The Tigers would put the game away with a 7 point run Tigers 54-41. The Vikings would never get the deficit below 9 as the Tigers went out a 69-60 victor.
Jacob Roeth led the Vikings with 25 points while Connor Apple put in 18 (10 in the 4th quarter). Mitchel Kemp put in 8 while Wed Enis scored 8. The Vikings made nine 3 pointers while the Tigers put in 5.
Miami East falls 5-3 and will travel to Bethel on January 7th for a Three Rivers Conference game. Versailles improves to 7-0.
Continentalenews will cover Miami East basketball games as their schedule permits. Continentalenews is based out of North Creek Ohio and covers items of interest in the Continental area. Jacob Roeth is the grandson of Continental Alum Roxy and David Chivington.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
