Margaretta clinches SBC title against rival Huron

HURON — Margaretta needed an answer. Huron senior Jackson McNulty was almost single-handedly bringing the Tigers within striking distance in the second half. Enter Nolan Wiley. Scoreless with less than a minute to go in the third quarter, Wiley knocked down four huge 3-pointers to steady the Polar Bears. Division V No. 8 Margaretta finished off the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division title from there, topping the Tigers 63-47 Friday to claim the outright championship. "We moved the ball really well and the looks started coming to me in the corner and they were leaving me open," Wiley said. "Once one falls down, the rim kind of expands for me. I see one go in and I can picture many more going in." It was a big response victory for the Polar Bears (19-1, 9-0 SBC Bay), who were crushed by Division V No. 6 Canton Central Catholic last weekend at Battle at the Berkey, 73-44. "I think we learned a very valuable lesson and I think it's going to improve us in the long run," Margaretta coach Steve Keller said. "What I mean by that is we just weren't as focused before that game. We had the game get away from us when we got into foul trouble. We learned and I think tonight we were able to finish the deal when they were making a run at us." Wiley made his first 3-pointer late in the third quarter as Margaretta led 42-27 after three quarters. McNulty tallied consecutive three-point plays to open the fourth quarter and suddenly bring Huron (13-6, 7-2) within 42-33 with 7:36 to play. Landon Hohler then scored off of an offensive rebound and the Tigers were within seven. But, Wiley answered with a triple on the other end and kept pace with a bucket after McNulty scored. Wiley then drilled a 3-pointer to make it 50-37 with 4:47 to play and added a fourth 3 with 2:03 remaining. That kept Margaretta ahead 55-41. "I think some of that is fatigue," Huron coach Toby Miller said. "We're fighting so hard to get it to that seven- or eight-point mark, but then Nolan Wiley hits some big shots for them. He's a great player and he stepped up for them. You have to give them some of that. "You can't take all of their weapons away." McNulty finished with a season-high 32 points while adding nine rebounds and six blocks for Huron. "We talked about it being a legacy-type game and Jackson really took that to heart," Miller said. "He wanted to be there for his teammates and be there for us coaches tonight. He really did that. He stepped up. I'm hoping this can springboard him because I think he can be that dominant every single night." The Polar Bears used a run at the end of the second quarter to really put separation between the two teams. Huron trailed by as many as six points before getting within 19-16 on two free throws by McNulty. Tate Bailey scored for the Polar Bears and after another Huron turnover, Julian Washington's bucket gave Margaretta a 23-16 lead. Tommie McDonald split two free throws for the Tigers' only point in the final 3:18 of the half, but Kale Bailey made a 3-pointer before Washington's logo 3 near the buzzer pushed the Polar Bears ahead 29-17 at the break. "At the end of the day, it's a make or miss game," Miller said. "We had a couple of open shots at the end of the half that we didn't make and then Julian hits a big shot. That 12-point margin was just like the first time. It was about that the whole time." McDonald added eight points for Huron while Hohler grabbed eight rebounds. The Tigers are back in action Tuesday at Perkins (13-7). "I am so proud of the way we fought and competed because that's one of the best teams in the state," Miller said. "They have one of the best players in the state. I thought our kids battled until the bitter end. I have nothing but good things to say about our guys." Margaretta used balanced offense to really attack from different angles. Washington, Wiley and Judah Keller each scored 14 points for the Polar Bears while Kale Bailey added 11 points. "When we can get in transition, we can be pretty good," Keller said. "We talk all the time about winning with different styles and win in different levels. We can win with full-court pressure and sometimes you have to sit down and guard. Tonight I thought we did enough on the defensive end." Margaretta committed just eight turnovers. The Polar Bears also return to the court Tuesday at home against Sandusky St. Mary (6-12). "These guys are such a blessing to come in and work with every day," Keller said. "We knew we were coming into a very difficult environment. Huron is a tough place to place. We played really well. We were able to finish it and get it done." MARGARETTA (19-1, 9-0)Kale Bailey 5 0-0 11, Tate Bailey 4 0-0 8, Julian Washington 3 6-6 14, Nolan Wiley 5 0-0 14, Judah Keller 5 2-2 14, Tyson Bailey 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 23 8-8 63 HURON (13-6, 7-2)Joe Wood 2 0-0 5, Tommie McDonald 3 2-4 8, Landon Hohler 1 0-0 2, Jackson McNulty 12 8-11 32. TOTALS 18 10-15 47 Margaretta 14 15 13 21 — 63Huron 8 9 10 20 — 47 Three-point goals: Margaretta 9 (Wiley 4, Keller 2, Washington 2, K. Bailey); Huron 1 (Wood)