PORTSMOUTH — The Washington Blue Lion boys basketball ran its winning streak to seven in a row with a 75-52 victory over Wheelersburg in a game played at Portsmouth High School Saturday, Dec. 26.
Blue Lion senior Max Knisley poured in 36 points to lead all scorers. Knisley hit five three-point field goals.
“Our on-ball defense improved from our last outing against Clinton-Massie,” Washington head coach Shannon Bartruff said. “Wheelersburg has a couple of nice players that we keyed on and our kids did a nice job executing on defense which allowed us to get out and run.
“Our guys did a great job screening for Max and he finished plays,” Bartruff said.
Washington took a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
By the half, Washington was on top, 36-28.
The Blue Lions won the third quarter, 20-14 and followed with a 19-10 fourth quarter for the win.
Blue Lion senior Cameron Eckles had 12 points and unofficially 15 rebounds.
“Cam was very active on defense and his effort in the post on defense and boxing out allowed us to get out and run in transition,” Bartruff said.
Junior Jarett Patton scored nine for Washington and junior Griffin Shaw had eight points.
“Griffin did a great job on defense, boxing out and rebounding,” Bartruff said.
Senior C.J. Taylor scored four points and, according to Bartruff, “did a great job on one of their best players.”
Washington freshman Dillon Steward chipped in four points.
“Everyone played,” Bartruff said. “It was a good team win for us against a big, athletic team.”
In the first half, Washington made 12 of 24 shots from two-point range and 3 of 10 from behind the arc.
In the second half, the Blue Lions converted 14 of 22 field goal attempts inside the arc and made 2 of 2 from behind the three-point line for a total field goal percentage of 53 percent (31 of 58).
Washington went 8 of 12 from the foul line for 67 percent and committed eight turnovers.
Wheelersburg went 22 of 50 from the floor for 44 percent. The Pirates were 5 of 9 from the charity stripe (56 percent) with 15 turnovers.
Kaden Coleman led Wheelersburg with 15 points.
Tanner Holden and Kyle Davis both scored seven; Austin Lotspeich scored six, Daylor Lewis put in five and a trio of players, Tanner Bivens, Mack Dyer and Keaton Newsome, each scored four points.
Washington (8-2 overall) is at Circleville tonight for the final game of 2015. The j-v game starts at 6 p.m.
The Blue Lions return to SCOL play in 2016 when they host Miami Trace Friday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
WCH 15 21 20 19 — 75
W’burg 12 16 14 10 — 52
