Lancaster can’t overcome dismal shooting night in 33-30 loss to Central Crossing

On Jan 21, 2023

Lancaster sophomore guard Colton Bruny brings the ball up the court against Central Crossing during the Golden Gales' 33-33 Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division loss Friday night.

LANCASTER – Lancaster boys basketball coach Kent Riggs knew it wouldn’t be easy facing visiting Central Crossing the second time around.

In the two teams’ first meeting back in early December, it was a low-scoring affair. The Golden Gales trailed for most of the game before pulling out a 35-32 victory.

Things played out much the same way Friday night where points were hard to come by. After getting off to a slow start and falling behind 10-2 in the first three minutes of the game, Lancaster was able to fight its way back and eventually took a one-point halftime lead.

However, even Riggs was perplexed at what happened in the second half. Lancaster managed to make only two shots from the field in the final two quarters. The Gales were just 2 of 18 in the second half, and while they were struggling with their shooting, the Comets weren’t much better.

Central Crossing was able to make just enough plays, and a few more shots down the stretch, and at the end of the night, the Gales couldn’t overcome their dismal shooting in a 33-30 Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division loss at Jack Greathouse Court.

“The first time we played them, it was the same type of game,” Riggs said. “They do a good job of guarding you, but at some point, you have to make shots. They obviously made a few more than we did. Defensively, when you give up only 33 points in a varsity basketball game, you think you will win, but it wasn’t the case.”

The Gales went 6 of 18 from the field in the first half, and for the game, they shot 21 percent (8-for-38).

“Some of it is our shot selection wasn’t what it needed to be,” Riggs said. “We are rushing and trying to shoot too quickly, and we are a little impatient. When you miss, and then when you do get a good shot, you are thinking about the last one you missed, and you aren’t able to get that confidence going. With that being said, we had some good looks inside and we just didn’t make them. We missed some free throws down the stretch that didn’t help us, either.”

After falling behind 10-2 to start the game, the Gales were able to gather themselves and finished the first quarter on an 8-2 run, thanks to five points from sophomore guard Colton Bruny and a 3-pointer from J.D. Thomas.

Down 12-10 heading into the second quarter, Hayden Allen scored inside, and Cannon Ailes drained a 3-pointer to give Lancaster a 15-12 advantage late in the second quarter. Central Crossing tied on a three before Bruny split a pair of free throws to give the Gales a 16-15 halftime lead.

The Comets scored the first four points of the third quarter to regain the lead at 19-16. Tyler Carpenter answered with a three to tie it back up, but the Comets hit another 3-pointer to give them the lead. Allen’s two free throws cut the deficit to 22-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

Lancaster regained the lead early in the fourth quarter when Allen scored inside and a free throw from Bruny gave the Gales a 24-22 lead with 5:54 remaining. It would be the last time the Gales would have the lead the rest of the way.

Central Crossing scored the next six points to take a 29-24 lead, and sandwiched in between, the Gales missed the front end of two straight one-and-ones. Bruny broke the ice when he canned a pair of free throws to cut it to a one-possession lead at 29-26 with 1:16 left.

The Comets then made two free throws and scored on a turnover to push their lead to 33-26 with 22 seconds left. Allen made 1 of 2 free throws, and Bruny was able to corral the rebound and raced back to attempt a three. He was fouled and then calmly sank all three free throws to cut it to 33-30.

Lancaster had one last chance to tie when they forced a turnover with 3.4 seconds left, but a game-tying 3-pointer missed its mark.

Bruny led the Gales with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists, Allen finished with seven points and eight rebounds and Thomas added three points, four rebounds and four assists.

“There were times where we got caught up in the moment and didn’t execute very well and we were trying to do too much,” Riggs said. “We need to let our offense work, move the ball, and be more patient. Sometimes, the speed of the game gets to be too much for us, and we just need to slow down.”

Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at [email protected] for comments or story tips. Follow him on Twitter @twil2323.