TIPP CITY — Tippecanoe and Bellefontaine continued their streaks on Tuesday. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, their streak is one they don’t want to be part of.
Visiting Bellefontaine dropped its third straight game as the Red Devils hung on down the stretch for a 54-49 victory in a Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail division boys basketball game.
It was the fourth straight win for Tippecanoe, which improves to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the KT division.
Bellefontaine is now 4-6, 1-3.
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Bellefontaine’s Isaiah Miller drives to the basket against Tippecanoe’s Nathan Shirley during Tuesday’s game in Tipp City. (EXAMINER PHOTO | MATT HAMMOND)
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“I was fairly pleased with our defensive effort, but we have to execute better offensively,” said Bellefontaine head coach Henry Stolly. “We were loose with the ball at times. We had 13 turnovers and we had many of those at very critical moments of the game.”
It was a back-and-forth battle for much of the night, with Bellefontaine leading 29-28 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter.
The Red Devils went back in front to hold a 34-32 lead going into the fourth period.
A Hayden Nease bucket to begin the final quarter pulled Bellefontaine even at 34-34, but the hosts then ripped off six straight points to take control.
Bellefontaine closed to within three points on two different occasions, but clutch free-throw shooting by the Red Devils in the final minute put the game away.
“We got ourselves in a tough position there late in the game,” said Stolly. “They are a good free-throw shooting team and we had to foul them. They stepped up and hit their free throws.
“We went through a stretch early in the fourth quarter where we were a little careless with the basketball and they took advantage of that to get a little bit of a cushion. We have to be stronger with the ball in pressure situations.”
Jacob Rogan, who sat out the Lima Central Catholic game last week because of an illness, returned to action Tuesday and led the Chiefs with 18 points. Dawsin Tillman contributed nine points, Jack Clement had eight points and Spencer George and Isaiah Miller chipped in five apiece.
In the junior varsity game, Tippecanoe won 48-47. Javon Warner led the Chiefs with 15 points and Blake Kenner added 13 points.
Tippecanoe also prevailed in the freshman contest, winning 33-30. Aaron Malarkey led Bellefontaine with 12 points.
The Chiefs return to the court Friday at home against Tecumseh.
TIPPECANOE 54 BELLEFONTAINE 49
BELLEFONTAINE (4-6, 1-3)
Nease 2 0-0 4; Rogan 7 1-1 18; Clement 3 0-0 8; Miller 2 0-0 5; Tillman 4 0-0 9; George 2 1-2 5. Totals: 20 2-3 49.
TIPPECANOE (6-4, 2-2)
Prall 0 2-4 2; Wildermuth 4 6-6 15; Shirley 2 0-0 4; Bonifas 1 0-0 2; Hughes 2 0-0 6; Tesch 2 0-0 5; Grieshop 1 2-2 4; Kronour 1 1-2 3; Mann 6 1-1 13. Totals: 19 12-15 54.
Chiefs1251517 — 49
Red Devils10111320—54
Three pointers: Bellefontaine 7 (Rogan 3, Clement 2, Miller, Tillman); Tippecanoe 4 (Hughes 2, Tesch, Wildermuth). Rebounds: Bellefontaine 16. Assists: Bellefontaine 7. Steals: Bellefontaine 4. Turnovers: Bellefontaine 13. Team fouls: Bellefontaine 12; Tippecanoe 8.
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