Perkins will work late in Sweet 16

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins boys basketball fans might need an afternoon nap to make it through the Pirates' game Wednesday. The Pirates play Lima Bath at 8:30 p.m. in a Division IV regional semifinal at the Stroh Center on the Bowling Green State University campus. Senior big man Kellen Glass has outlined his strategy. "I need my sleep throughout the day," he said. "I'll probably take a nap at around 2 o'clock." The Pirates will be wide awake when they meet Bath in a Sweet 16 matchup. Perkins is 23-2 and ranked No. 11 in the state by MaxPreps. No. 17 Bath is 17-8 and finished in third place in the rugged Western Buckeye League. "They're a really solid team, well coached," said Perkins coach Andy Hoying about his opponent. "They play some really tough competition down there in the WBL. They're solid on both ends. The Markley kid probably leads them, but they can spread you out. They have five, six guys who can make plays." Logan Markley, a three-sport standout, is Bath's leading scorer. The 6-foot-4 senior scored 26 points in a game against Bryan in late February to surpass 1,000 career points. "Defensively, you have to find ways to get stops," Hoying said. "They're gonna have a good scouting report on us, we've got a good scouting report on them. Try to limit their strengths and have great defensive possessions with five guys locked in." Glass, who leads Perkins in scoring with 13.5 points per game, is one of seven Pirates averaging 5 points or more per game. He is tied with Sam Schweinfurth for the team lead in rebounding at 6.1 per game. Glass was at the Stroh Center in 2013 when Perkins made its last regional appearance. "It was a real cool environment there, real fun," Glass said. "We feel real confident. We deserve to be here and we need to prove why we're here." Glass is one of four seniors on the team, joining Levi Groot, Kash Koch and Schweinfurth. "Our seniors have been great all year," said Hoying, who is in his first season as a head coach. "I don't think they're scared of the moment. They love big games. Always steady, always ready to go." Groot, who averages 10.7 points, was the first Pirate in the gym for practice Tuesday. "I just enjoy every second of it because you never know when your last practice could be," he said. "I just love being in the gym and getting after it day in and day out. "Me, Kellen, Sam and Kash have been waiting for this opportunity for four years. We feel like we've always had it in us. Now we've got our shot." The Pirates, who have trailed after the first quarter only three times this season, get a boost off the bench when juniors Grant Kuhnle and Kaden Legando check in midway through the opening period. Kuhnle has scored 39 points in the last two games with 11 3-pointers. "We pride ourselves in giving the team a spark," Kuhnle said. "We come in and it's a close game a lot of times and we try to blow it open. We look to see how they're guarding. Kaden's good at driving and I'm good at shooting. We try to stretch the defense out. My shot is feeling really good right now." Kuhnle, who transferred to Perkins from St. Paul last November with an eye on winning the quarterback job in football, has proven to be a standout in basketball. He also plans on playing baseball this spring. "It was a better opportunity for me and my family," he said about the move. Kuhnle, whose dad works in Sandusky, wasn't the only new face this season. Hoying, 32, took the coaching job last spring. It's his first head coaching job and it's working out just fine. "It's a great way to start, but it starts with the kids," Hoying said. "We have a great bunch of kids, top to bottom. Our JV team was 22-0 and really push us in practice, going at the varsity guys every day." Hoying has bonded with his team and the Pirates' rowdy student section, which starts each game with a "start the buses" cheer directed at the opposing team. "They're a fun group; I'm glad they come out to support us," Hoying said. "They get the guys juiced up. Hopefully both sides bring a great crowd. Our guys like it when it's a packed house and they love to be playing at BG. It's a great arena, great spotlight on the guys." No. 8 Van Wert, another WBL team, faces No. 9 Jonathan Alder in the 6 p.m. regional semifinal. The championship game is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at BGSU. Bath won its two district games by a combined 10 points while Perkins won twice by a total of 60, including a 61-40 win over Shelby in a district final. The Pirates have won three tournament games by 29, 39 and 21 points. Bath, located just northeast of Lima, figures to provide a tougher challenge. "This has been one of goals all year," Hoying said. "Glad we made it. Our seniors really wanted it."