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Hiland swarms, eliminates Catholic Central

Slow start dooms Crusaders in sectional final, 69-44

HEADING HOME — Vince Carapellotti and the Catholic Central boys basketball team fell to Hiland, 69-44, during a Division IV East district sectional final on Friday. -Joe Catullo

MILLERSBURG — The Catholic Central boys basketball team got off to another slow start during Friday’s Division IV East district sectional final at third-seeded Hiland similar to the sectional semifinal on Tuesday.

This time, however, unlike Tuesday’s one-point victory over Tuscarawas CC, the No. 12 Crusaders could not overcome it, falling 69-44 to put an end to their season.

“You can’t simulate that type of pressure in practice. We had a hard time acclimating to that,” Central head coach Don Ogden said. “I thought, though, that we were more aggressive and had more confidence in the second half. We just ended up on the short end. When you play a team like that, they don’t make the state tournament almost every year for no reason.

“But, I’m proud of our guys. They competed all year, and it was not for a lack of effort.”

Hiland, who are no strangers to sectional titles, advances to the district semifinal against fourth-seeded Strasburg-Franklin (48-44 winners over No. 5 Monroe Central on Friday).

Following an 11-4 advantage after the opening frame, the Hawks (12-7) began the second on an 8-0 scoring run that led to a 28-11 halftime advantage.

In the first half, Central (13-10) committed one more turnover than its total points. Leading scorer Charles Miller made just one field goal (16 points overall). Anthony Venditti led with five points but did not score in the second half.

“If i knew, it would be something we would work on,” Ogden said regarding getting off to slow starts in the tournament. “We emphasized taking our time and being patient. We had too many turnovers, though. Then, we emphasized to just start shooting the ball. I would rather have that and a turnover rather than not shoot it at all.”

Hiland then came out firing in the third quarter, hitting four of its six total 3-pointers and led, 48-27, heading to the fourth. The Hawks outscored the Crusaders, 41-33, in the second half.

Overall, Hiland grabbed eight more rebounds (28-20) and dished out 20 assists, compared to just six from Central.

Miller added three rebounds and two assists to go along with his team-high 16 points. Ryan Gorman tallied nine points and a pair of boards but was in foul trouble all night, collecting three by halftime and a fourth in the third.

Andrew Dorsey had six points and a game-high eight rebounds. Vince Carapellotti added five points, and Toby Lesnefsky four, five rebounds and two dimes.

For the Hawks, Isaac Slabaugh came off the bench to pour in a game-high 17 points — including a pair of slam dunks and alley-oops. Ryan Miller was a bully in the paint, finishing with 12 points before fouling out in the fourth. Grant Miller also dropped a dozen points, along with four assists. Will Schlabach had 11 points, four boards and a game-high six dimes.

Friday marked the end of the road for Central’s six seniors in Miller, Isaac Hough, Carapellotti, Gorman, Lesnefsky and Rueben Hilson, who did not play all year due to an injury sustained during football season.

“We talked after the game that this group of seniors would play anybody, and we did,” Ogden said. “When we had to jumble our schedule and had to get games, they didn’t look for anybody easy.

“The biggest thing about this group is they had the attitude of, ‘Show me you can beat me.’ I admire them for their courage and tenacity.”

Hiland 69, Catholic Central 44

Central 4 7 16 17 — 44

Hiland 11 17 20 21 — 69

CATHOLIC CENTRAL (13-10): Lesnefsky 1 2-3 4; Miller 5 4-5 16; Carapellotti 2 1-2 5; Hough 0 0-0 0; Gorman 4 0-2 9; Dorsey 1 4-5 6; Venditti 1 2-2 5; Harris 0 0-0 0; Bolster 0 0-0 0; Bradley 0 0-0 0; Petrella 0 0-0 0; Provost 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 14, 13-19: 44.

HILAND (12-7): R. Miller 5 2-2 12; Troyer 1 0-0 2; G. Miller 4 1-2 12; Schlabach 3 3-4 11; Yoder 1 1-2 3; Slabaugh 7 3-4 17; Weaver 1 1-1 3; J. Miller 0 0-0 0; C. Miller 1 2-2 4; Detweiler 1 0-0 3; Mullet 1 0-1 2. TOTALS: 25, 13-18: 69.

3-POINT GOALS: Catholic Central 3 (Miller, Gorman, Venditti); Hiland 6 (G. Miller 3, Schlabach 2, Detweiler). REBOUNDS: Catholic Central 20 (Dorsey 8); Hiland 28 (Yoder 6, C. Miller 6). ASSISTS: Catholic Central 6 (Lesnefsky 2, Miller 2); Hiland 20 (Schlabach 6). TURNOVERS: Catholic Central 18; Hiland 15.

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