A slow start by Continental led to a happy homecoming crowd at Kalida on Friday night. The Wildcats started the game out by scoring the first 10 points thanks to a pair of 3s and a pair of baskets. The Pirates would get on the board when Gavin Huff hit a basket to make it Wildcats 10-2. A three by the Wildcats was followed up by a Mitchell Coleman basket for a 13-3 Wildcat lead. The Wildcats would hit a basket and Rhenn Armey would hit a 3 for the Pirates to finish the first quarter with a 15-6 score Wildcats favor.
The second quarter would start just like the first with this time the Wildcats putting in the first 11 points to take a 20 point lead 26-6. The Pirates would get a pair of baskets from Colemen to make it 26-10. A basket by the Wildcats would finish off the half’s scoring. Wildcats 28, Pirates 10 at half.
The second half had the Pirates putting points on the board first as Huff made a basket to make it 28-12. A basket and a 3 by the Wildcats opened up the Wildcat lead to 21, 33-12. The Pirates would come back by putting together 6 straight points on a pair of baskets by Coleman and a basket by Reed Warnement. Wildcats 33 – 18. A basket by the Wildcats was followed by a Coleman 3 as the Pirates cut the Wildcat lead by another point Wildcats 35-21. The Wildcats would score 5 of the last 6 points of the quarter as Armey would hit a free throw. Wildcats 40, Pirates 22 after 3 quarters.
The final quarter would have the Pirates outscore the Wildcats 9-7 with the Pirates getting a pair of baskets from Coleman, a 3 from Andrew Hoeffel, and a basket from Trevor Brecht. Wildcats 47, Pirates 31 final.
Mitchell Coleman led the Pirates with 16 points while Gavin Huff and Rhenn Armey both put in 4. Andrew Hoeffel had 3, Reed Warnement and Trevor Brecht 2 each. The Pirates hit three 3’s with Coleman, Armey and Hoeffel each making 1. The Wildcats made six 3-pointers. Continental was 2-6 from the line while Kalida was 5-8.
Continental falls to 4-17 (1-5 PCL) and will travel to Pandora Gilboa (8-11, 2-4 PCL) on Tuesday. Kalida improves to 14-7 (4-3 PCL).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
