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Waterford holds on to defeat Belpre

Belpre suffers close loss, 57-53

Photo by Ron Johnston Waterford’s Peyten Stephens, right, handles the ball as Belpre’s Collin Alloway defends during a high school boys basketball game Friday night.

BELPRE — Peyten Stephen and Russell Young each stepped up at crunchtime.

The Waterford High duo combined for 13 points in the fourth quarter as the visiting Wildcats downed Belpre High, 57-53, Friday night in Tri-Valley Conference-Hocking Division boys’ basketball action.

“They’re seniors, and that’s what you expect, their leadership,” said WHS head coach Tom Simms. “They’re the two that have the varsity experience.”

The 6-foot-3 Stephens, an All-Ohio football honoree, finished with a game-high 16 points, while the 6-3 Young had 15.

Holden Dailey, a 5-11 freshman, added eight markers, and Zane Heiss and Nick Fouss netted seven apiece.

Waterford improved its record to 2-0.

“The kids are working hard, and we getting chemistry built,” Simms said. “And that’s all we’re working on.

“Next week, we have three tough games, so it’s got to keep growing.”

Belpre was paced by 5-8 junior Logan Adams’15 points, 12 in the second half. Jerimiah Stitt, a 6-7 senior, chipped in with 10 markers, while 6-3 sophomore Connor Baker had nine.

“This was a tough game to lose,” said BHS boss Tyler Leasure. “I told the guys in the lockerroom that whenever I see them hurting like that, it hurts me, too. It’s hard to put into words what the feeling is right now. But we’re going to take it, and we’re going to get better. I know a lot of people were here tonight and supported us — and I appreciate that. I just want everyone to know that we’re going to get a lot better by the end of the year.”

Belpre fell to 0-3 on the season.

“I’m telling you, Coach (Tyler) Leasure’s doing a great job,” Simms said. “He’s got this thing going in the right direction.”

Sparked by Stephens’ eight first-quarter points, Waterford staked itself to a 16-12 advantage. The Wildcats, who never trailed in the first half, maintained the lead in the second period, and led 33-25 at the intermission.

Early in the third stanza, Heiss drained a triple to give the Cats’ a double-digit advantage (36-25). But then the Golden Eagles went on a tear, and outpointed the green and white cagers, 18-6, and led by one, 43-42, at the end of the period. Leading the charge, Adams scored eight points, and Stitt had six.

“For our guys to come fighting back like that, it shows a lot of character,” Leasure said.

Said Simms, “We weathered the storm. That’s what I told them when they came to the bench at the end of the third. We were down, and now we had to play and work through it.”

In the fourth quarter, there were three lead changes and four ties. At the outset, Stephens knocked down a three as Waterford regained the lead. But Stitt tied it at 45-all with a bank shot. Back and forth it went the rest of the stanza until Young’s late drive and score in the paint snapped a 53-53 tie.

With time winding down, Stitt missed a shot in the paint, but Adams was able to get the ball and launched a three attempt from the right corner that went in and out.

“I really don’t know how that ball didn’t go down,” Leasure said. “I’m going to look at the rims and see what’s going on with it. They must be a little bit oblong.”

In the final seconds, Young and Stephens each converted one of two from the foul line to help seal the victory.

“I tell the kids every day that games are won and lost at the foul line,” Simms said.

Waterford 57, Belpre 53

Waterford 16 17 9 15 — 57

Belpre 12 13 18 10 — 53

WATERFORD (2-0)

Stephens 7 1-2 16, Young 6 3-6 15, Dailey 4 0-2 8, Teters 0 0-0 0, Fouss 3 0-0 7, Heiss 3 0-0 7, McCutcheon 2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 25 4-10 57. 3pt goals: Fouss 1, Heiss 1, Stephens 1.

BELPRE (0-3)

Wells 2 0-0 5, Dotson 1 1-2 4, Adams 5 2-3 15, Baker 4 0-2 9, Stitt 5 0-4 10, Godfrey 2 0-1 4, Alloway 3 0-0 6. TOTALS: 22 3-11. 3pt goals: Adams 3, Baker 1, Wells 1, Dotson 1.

Shooting: W25-52 (48 percent), B 22-54 (40 percent); Rebounds: W30, B27 (Stitt 7, Baker 7, Godfrey 6); Assists: W9, B6 (Baker 2); Steals: W1, B5 (Wells 2); Turnovers: W16, B17

JV game: Belpre 35, Waterford 32

JV scoring: W: JaHuffman 6, JuHuffman 6, Strahler 7, Smith 3, Zimmer 6, Schwendeman 4 B: Church 13, Feick 2, Daugherty 2, Harrington 8, Lambert 1, Breedlove 1, Cox 4, Shriver 6.

Next game: Waterford at Wahama at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; Belpre at St. Joe (Ironton) at 4 p.m. Saturday

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