BY CHAD KEAN, Examiner Contributor
SIDNEY — The Benjamin Logan Raiders knew Northwestern would be a tough postseason test when the teams played Monday, Feb. 23 at Sidney High School.
After splitting their regular-season Central Buckeye Conference basketball matchups, the teams expected a fast, physical game decided in the closing minutes.
Northwestern delivered the decisive plays down the stretch, pulling away late for a 68–63 victory over the Raiders.
Both teams wasted no time pushing the tempo. The opening quarter was played at a brisk pace, with buckets traded on both ends of the floor. The Raiders kept it tight early but trailed 23–20 at the end of the first.
Northwestern found another gear in the second quarter behind a scorching performance from junior point guard Mason McDermott. He poured in 27 first-half points, attacking the rim and knocking down shots from deep. The Warriors’ defensive pressure created turnovers that quickly turned into points, allowing them to stretch the lead to 42–29 at halftime.
But the Raiders weren’t done.
Coming out of the locker room, they flipped the momentum completely. Defensive intensity picked up, possessions were more controlled, and shots began to fall. The Raiders outscored the Warriors 20–9 in the third quarter, clawing their way back into the game and trimming the deficit to just two points, 51–49, heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter unfolded as a tightly contested battle, with every possession proving critical. The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch as the clock dipped under a minute.
Forced to foul to extend the game, the Raiders sent the Warriors to the free-throw line in hopes of getting one last opportunity. Northwestern capitalized, converting at the stripe and stretching the lead to five in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory and bring the Raiders’ season to a close.
The Raiders conclude their season with a 6–17 record, doubling their win total from last season.
Although it may not be apparent from a win-loss perspective, Ben Logan coach Scott Vermillion said, with a couple execptions, his team has played competively and hung in against opponets all season long.
“This game highlights what I’ve noticed all year. We have a group of guys who never quit, they always put in a complete effort,” coach Vermillion said.
Vermillion commended his players’ mental toughness and no-quit attitude in the loss and on the season, saying, “Every time we’re gotten down we’ve come back, and that is a very difficult mental huddle to overcome.”
The Raiders were led by a strong senior effort from Peyton Vermillion (15 points), Roman Maxwell (13 points) and Christian Rogan (12 points), while sophomore Maddox Vermillion added 13 points.
Northwestern advances to face top-seeded Northridge in the Division IV Southwest Regional quarterfinal.
*Dylan Stewart contributed to this article.
