Bulldogs Hold Off Patriots to Open NWOAL Season
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The Swanton Bulldogs and the Patrick Henry (PH) Patriots battled all night in a game where the outcome was in doubt until the final buzzer sounded. The home town Bulldogs had to wait until a final three-point attempt by the visiting Patriots missed the mark before they could celebrate a 42-39 victory to open the NWOAL season. It was a very physical game, especially under the boards on both ends of the court where PH sent the double team of 6’6” Mack Hieber and 6’4” Jaden Punches to clamp down on Swanton big man 6’10” Charlie Wood. The strategy worked well in the first half. Wood was held to just two points. However, Swanton was able to hit from long range with Evan Reinhard, Brady O’Shea and Logan Young combining for seven treys to maintain a small lead for most of the contest.
On the defensive end, the Patriots had very little success inside against Wood, being on the receiving end of nine blocks and about the same number of poor shots trying to shoot over him. The teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 30 points each but Swanton outscored PH 12-9 with Wood hitting two clutch free throws to ice the game. In somewhat of an oddity, only three Patriot players, all starters, made the score sheet and five Bulldog players, all starters, did the same. Neither team received any scoring from the bench.
The win improves Swanton’s record to 4-7 overall and 1-0 in the league. The Bulldogs travel to Ottawa Hills on Tuesday, 1/16, for their next game then return home for a league contest against Wauseon.
Patrick Henry Patriots: 7-7-16-9 = 39 Mack Hieber (15), Lincoln Creager (12), Thomas Smith (12)
Swanton Bulldogs: 12-6-12-12 = 42 Evan Reinhard (13), Charlie Wood (10), Brady O’Shea (9), Logan Young (6), Adam Lemon (4)
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Charlie Wood goes off glass for two of his 10 points
Fulton County Ohio Media 