GALION — The Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Red Division had an unlikely champion this season. Conference champ Marion Harding was in Galion on Saturday night to meet up with the Tigers in the final MOAC Red game of the year for both teams. Harding continued to prove why they finished at the top, defeating Galion 72-48.

The Tigers dropped to 3-18 on the season with the loss and finish the conference season at 1-11. Harding wrapped its regular season at 13-9 overall, 10-2 within the conference.

Harding started the game on fire and could not seem to be put out. The first quarter ended with the Presidents in control, 19-9. The story remained the same in the second, as Galion couldn’t appear to get the offense in sync and headed into the locker room at halftime facing a 38-21 deficit. Marion Harding had their lowest scoring quarter in the third, but managed to outscore the Tigers 15-12 to widen the gap to 53-33. Galion would manage 15 points in the fourth but the Presidents would pour in an additional 19 en route to the 72-48 victory.

Chase Cooke was the top scorer for Galion, scoring 14 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Gage Lackey, Jack McElligott and Zhamir Anderson all chipped in eight points apiece for the Tigers. Tristan Williams hit a three pointer and two free throws to finish with five points. Isaiah Alsip was held to just a single three point bucket in the first quarter. Fan favorite Nic Sorrenson rounded out the Tigers’ scoring with two points.

Galion team stats: 20 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, two blocks and 12 turnovers.

The Presidents were led by Ryan Sayre with 18 points. Jason Ellis, second leading scorer in the MOAC behind Hayden Wallace from River Valley, scored 17 points. Elisha Browley contributed 12 points and DeShaun McKinney had 10.

Just one game remains in the regular season for head coach Matt Valentine and the Galion squad. On Friday Feb. 24, the Crestline Bulldogs will make the short trip to Galion to lock up in a non-conference matchup.