Defense carries SMCC to win over Old Fort

SANDUSKY — The saying is a great defense can overcome offensive struggles. On a night that saw St. Mary Central Catholic struggle on offense, a stout defensive effort made all the difference. After a first half that saw the Panthers go into the locker room up by one point, the SMCC defense became suffocating. SMCC limited Old Fort to six third quarter points and 16 in the second half en route to a 48-33 victory in a crucial early-season Sandusky Bay Conference River Division contest. "I thought that when shots were not falling, we hung our hat on our defense," SMCC coach Kyle Hammond said. "They did some things on the defensive end that disrupted our rhythm, but the guys did a good job picking up the tempo to get going." The game started with the Stockaders scoring the first five points behind a 3-pointer from Brock Hull and layup from Henry Beisner. SMCC (3-0, 3-0 SBC River) answered with an 8-0 run behind five points from Cayden Wikel. "I think we just did not handle their physicality well and that's a credit to them," Old Fort coach Eric Hoover said. "They did a great job staying in front of us all night and we did not adjust well enough." Old Fort led 13-11 with 4:30 to go in the first half. A 3 from Cullen Dillard gave SMCC a 14-13 lead and the Panthers did not relinquish the lead the rest of the game. "We locked in defensively and that jump-started us," Hammond said. In a game where shots were not falling, Trace Smith started the third quarter with two big 3s to extend the lead to 24-17. After those two shots. Old Fort did not get within seven the rest of the night. "Trace Smith came in that third quarter and made two crucial shots," Hammond said. "Being able to have him come off the bench made a huge difference in that third quarter." The fourth quarter turned into a foul fest as it featured the Panthers shooting 18 free throws, which included an intentional foul mixed in. Behind their defensive pressure, SMCC forced 26 Old Fort turnovers and outscored the Stockaders 19-8 off the bench. "We really could not make a basket tonight and when that happens, our full-court pressure is inefficient," Hoover said. "We had a great week of practice and it just did not translate tonight." Dillard and Wikel led the Panthers with nine points and Finneran added seven. SMCC now turns its focus to another River Division matchup versus Danbury, while Old Fort travels to Tiffin Calvert. "We will get back in the gym and have a good walkthrough, before Saturday's game," Hammond said. OLD FORT (1-2, 1-1) Trevor Gillmor 1 2-2 4, Isaac Gallagher 1 2-2 4, Brock Hull 1 0-0 3, Grant Havens 2 2-6 7, Dimitri Carter 1 0-2 3, Henry Beisner 4 0-0 8, Colten Hoerig 1 2-2 4. TOTALS 11 8-14 33 SMCC (3-0, 3-0) Bryan Gibson 0 6-8 6, Jack Davis 2 1-2 5, Cayden Wikel 4 0-0 9, Blake Finneran 2 3-6 7, Trace Smith 2 0-0 6, Cullen Dillard 3 2-4 9, Jackson Grimm 2 1-2 5, Gabe Burch 0 1-2 1. TOTALS 15 14-24 48 Old Fort 8 9 6 10 — 33 SMCC 11 7 14 16 — 48 Three-point goals: SMCC 4 (Smith 2, Dillard, Wikel), Old Fort 3 (Hull, Havens, Carter)