Balanced Polar Bears win 70-49 at Calvert

TIFFIN — Margaretta is ranked No. 5 in Division V for a reason. Tiffin Calvert wanted the challenge and they certainly got one. Margaretta went on the road and topped the Senecas 70-49 in Sandusky Bay Conference crossover play Saturday. "I'm just very pleased with how we kept bringing it," Polar Bears coach Steve Keller said. "On the road, we always talk about how we have to be plus-10. When you start in the negative, you have to win by 11 in our minds and we did that very well." It was the third straight road game for the Polar Bears (10-1). After losing at Colonel Crawford on Monday, Margaretta responded with wins over Vermilion and now Calvert. The Senecas (3-3) were able to keep Julian Washington relatively in check. He had seven points in the first half and 18 for the game. "As long as we kept Julian in the front and played solid defense, that is how we contained Washington," Calvert coach Jon Otterbacher said. "As long as he couldn't make jump shots and we kept him contained in the middle, then we stopped him from being able to get to those 20 points. A lot of his shots are known to be in transitions and not in half court, but full court." The third quarter is where the Polar Bears pushed the envelope to get points, limiting Calvert to only six. Keiygan Morris opened the quarter by canning a triple, but Grady Otterbacher responded with a bucket, making it 36-30. Tyson Bailey answered back with one of his own buckets for Margaretta. Washington then heated up. He turned a basket into a three-point play. Washington then capitalized on the two Calvert turnovers in the quarter. Both led to slam dunks and thunderous applause. With 4:25 left on the clock, the Senecas needed to respond. That response came from Logan Ritzler as he splashed in a basket. Margaretta then went on a 6-2 run as Judah Keller, Kale Bailey and Tyson Bailey all scored. It was 53-34 at the end of the third quarter. "They were able to capitalize on our turnovers and foul trouble," coach Otterbacher said. "They turned them into quick buckets and two possessions, easy layups and that's how a game gets away from you really quickly." In the fourth quarter, it was mostly Margaretta. With 6:31 remaining in the game, Keller tallied a three-point play. Washington then scored before Keller scored on a putback at the halfway point of the quarter. Kale Bailey added a bucket to put the finishing touches on a solid night for Margaretta. The leading scorer for Margaretta was Washington with 18 points. Morris and Keller each scored 13 points while Kale Bailey and Tyson Bailey each chipped in 10 points. When it came to Washington's seven points in the first half, it wasn't an unusual move for him to be more of a passer. "Julian is a really good passer," coach Keller said. "He got the other guys that ball and finished with seven assists. He will take what the defense gives him so if that means him giving the ball to his teammates to score and help them get better and not score as much, then he will do that. "We had five guys in doubles, and for us to have that balance is really critical. Just really pleased with our best scorer and best player making plays for others." MARGARETTA (10-1) Kale Bailey 5 0-0 10, Jake Bouy 3 0-0 6, Kelygan Morris 6 0-0 13, Julian Washington 8 2-3 18, Judah Keller 6 1-1 13, Tyson Bailey 5 0-0 10. TOTALS 33 3-4 70 CALVERT (3-3) Grady Otterbacher 1 2-2 4, Logan Ritzler 7 0-0 19, Max Herbert 1 0-0 3, Tucker Coleman 1 1-2 3, Logan DeMoss 4 0-1 9, Jacob Rishty 0 2-2 2, Gabe Badik 1 0-0 2, Vincenzo Lyons 3 1-1 7. TOTALS 13 6-8 49 Margaretta 16 17 20 17 — 70 Calvert 7 21 6 15 — 49 Three-point goals: Margaretta 1 (Morris); Calvert 7 (Ritzler 5, Herbert, DeMoss)