Margaretta, Willard to clash for SBC Bay title

You could see it coming. Margaretta and Willard have stood head and shoulders above the rest of the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division this season. So when the Polar Bears topped Willard back on Jan. 9, the sense of the second meeting have huge title implications seemed likely. Both teams have taken care of business since and Friday, will face off at Bob Haas Gymnasium in the biggest of stakes. Div. V No. 5 Margaretta (17-3, 9-0 SBC Bay) travels to Willard to take on the Div. V No. 12 Crimson Flashes (17-2, 8-1). The Polar Bears have clinched a share of the league title and can win it outright with a win. Willard needs a victory to share the league title with Margaretta. Willard won the league championship three years ago while the two teams split the league title two years ago with each winning on the other's home floor. Last year, the Polar Bears won the title with an undefeated record. "I think we've prepared by what we've done this year with our schedule," Polar Bears coach Steve Keller said. "Going to Willard is going to be similar to going to Colonel Crawford. We have to understand that in that environment, we live by a saying that we have to be so many points better because we're on the road. We have to be able to weather their storms because they're really skilled." The first meeting five weeks ago was standing-room only at The Iceberg in Castalia. Margaretta raced out to leads of 13-2 and 18-4 before Willard got back in the game. The Flashes got within 33-25 by halftime and as close as 52-50 in the second half. Margaretta finished the game strong, getting a key 3-pointer from Keiygan Morris and buckets from Julian Washington and Tyson Bailey to win 67-55. "I'm excited for our team to play in a meaningful game in February," Willard coach Joe Bedingfield said. "Not every kid gets a chance to play for a piece of a league championship against one of the best teams in the state of Ohio. "Our kids have worked really hard to put themselves in this position and I'm very proud of them. They deserve all the credit for their hard work and dedication." Margaretta's three losses have come against some of the top teams in their divisions. The Polar Bears lost to Div. VI No. 11 Colonel Crawford (51-45), Div. IV No. 6 Dayton Northridge (58-55) at Flyin' To The Hoop and Div. III No. 1 Toledo Central Catholic (54-50) at the Tourney Tune-Up. "If you're an athlete, you want to play in big games," Keller said. "Hopefully we're still hungry to go win the thing outright instead of sharing it. Willard will be ready to go, there's no question about it. We're very, very excited, but we have to keep an emotional and mental equilibrium about us as we go into that game. I think we will. "We have an experienced group. We've played in a lot of big games before." Margaretta's offense starts and ends with Washington, a 6-foot-5 senior. The Div. I University of Dayton signee scores 25.3 points per game while knocking down a team-high 31 3-pointers. Washington adds 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3 steals per game. Washington had a team-high 26 points in the first meeting against Willard. Senior Judah Keller adds 13.1 points, 5 rebounds and 4.2 assists a night from his point guard position while junior Kale Bailey registers 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest for the Polar Bears. Margaretta is scoring 70.6 points per game while allowing 49.1 points a night. "Margaretta does such a great job in transition and usually it is because of their ability to turn you over with live ball turnovers that transition into easy layups," Bedingfield said. "We will have to handle their press and value each possession on the offensive end. We have to limit their second-chance opportunities which can be a problem because they can rebound at all five positions which makes it challenging. "They are a very unselfish team and do a good job of getting efficient shots, so we will do our best to make them work on the offensive end." Sophomore Jaxson Hall paces the Flashes with 21.8 points per game while Mason Dawson registers 12 points a night. Willard has a third double-digit scorer in freshman JJ Bedingfield, who averages 11.7 points per contest. Willard averages 60.3 points per contest while giving up 51.1 points a game. "They have some young men that can flat out shoot the basketball and handle the rock," coach Keller said. "It's all about competing for 32 minutes. They're going to make runs. We're going to make runs. They're very good. Let's go make the last run and finish off the ballgame on the road." Big games in Lake abound Sandusky and Div. IV No. 10 Perkins are each 7-1 in SBC Lake Division play with each winning on their home floor. The two squads won't meet again, but both have stern tests Friday. The Blue Streaks (11-7 overall) travel to Clyde (9-10, 2-6) while Perkins (17-2) hosts Bellevue (12-7, 5-3). After graduating one of the best senior classes in school history that helped Sandusky get to a state semifinal, not many expected Sandusky to be in the position it is. "It means a lot coming from where we came from at the start of the season," Streaks coach DeMar Moore said. "Being such a young and inexperienced team and to have an opportunity to win a conference championship just shows our growth. It shows how hard the kids worked throughout the season. It's kind of like a reward for their hard work. It makes me feel good as a coach." Dale Johnson leads Sandusky with 15.1 points per game while Cam Jones (12.8) and Kymirr Hunter (10.8) are each averaging double-digit points. Clyde is paced by freshman JeCori Roberts' 16.8 points a night while Oscar Webb chips in 14 points per contest. "Clyde has been playing well," Moore said. "I think we need to limit their open looks and rebound. I think it'll be a fast-paced game so taking care of the ball is always important." The Streaks won the first meeting, 60-51, on Jan. 8. Playing in big-time games late in the season can be a tremendous help with the postseason just around the corner. "We have a very good league," Moore said. "It helps our guys understand the magnitude of certain games and that's big because the tournament is one loss and your season is over." Perkins will have its hands full against Bellevue, a team it needed double overtime to beat 64-61 on Jan. 8. "You have to love playing in meaningful games down the stretch," Pirates coach Andy Hoying said. "It was a great game the first time around at their place and is going to be another good matchup." Kellen Glass paces Perkins with 13.3 points per game while Sam Schweinfurth is scoring 11 points a night. Levi Groot adds 10.9 points per contest for the Pirates. Bellevue counters with Sam Bollinger (13.5 PPG) and Ike Brown (13.2 PPG). "The first time we played, I thought we had some careless, non-attacking turnovers," Hoying said. "So, I think it starts there. We really need to cherish each possession in a game like this and make each possession count." The Pirates have not won a league title since the 2016-2017 season when they split the championship with Huron and Vermilion. "This is a great matchup to get us prepped for the tournament and we should have a great crowd," Hoying said. "You want as many big moments under your belt as you can get going into the tournament. You really want to be peaking around this time of year and this is a great setting to show where you are at." SMCC chasing River title After starting the season with a record of 9-0, St. Mary Central Catholic had a two-week stretch where it went 3-3. That included road conference losses to Woodmore and Hopewell-Loudon. Yet, with three league games to go, the Panthers control their destiny in terms of winning the SBC River Division title. After Thursday's win over Northwood, Div. VII No. 16 SMCC sits 16-3 overall and 10-2 in league play. Gibsonburg (17-2, 11-1) leads the pack while Old Fort (13-7, 10-3) is a game back of the Panthers in the loss column. SMCC's next challenge is Saturday on the road at Tiffin Calvert (11-7, 7-4), who topped New Riegel on Thursday. "It is great for our team to be playing in these tough environments and games down the stretch," SMCC coach Kyle Hammond said. "Going on the road to play a team like Calvert is always a challenge, but with the opportunity to still be playing for something means that much more. "We are excited for the challenge and I think it will benefit us that we are playing these games heading into the tournament." SMCC has just one player averaging double-digits and that is Cayden Wikel. He is scoring 12.7 points a game. The second leading scorer for the Panthers is Leo Will at 8.9 points per contest. Calvert counters with Logan Ritzler's 17.9 points per game and Vincenzo Lyons, who tallies 12 points a night. "Calvert is a very disciplined and well-coached team," Hammond said. "Whenever you play them, you have to limit your mistakes because they won't make many. We will have to value each possession offensively. It's a rivalry so we know it will be a physical game. We have to match that intensity and come out ready to go." After Saturday's game in Tiffin, the Panthers host Gibsonburg on Tuesday. SMCC was the last team to defeat the Golden Bears, a 71-65 win by the Panthers on Dec. 12 in Gibsonburg. Since then, the Golden Bears have won 16 straight games. Then, SMCC will host Woodmore next Friday. Woodmore was the first team to defeat the Panthers this season, a 46-44 contest Jan. 16. "Tournament basketball has a different level of pressure," Hammond said. "It's hard to simulate that kind of game, but these last three games will have that feel. It should be fun and we're excited for the challenge. It's the best part of high school sports to play in meaningful games like this."