CRESTLINE — Crestline’s boys basketball team welcomed the Temple Christian Crusaders to their home floor Monday in non-conference action. The Bulldogs held on for the victory, taking down the Crusaders 66-49. The Bulldogs are 2-0 on the season with the win and will open up Mid-Buckeye Conference play, at home Friday, against the Lucas Cubs.
After one quarter of play, the Crusaders showed the hosting Bulldogs that they would not go down easily. Crestline would hold a slim, three-point lead after the first eight minutes of play; 13-10.
During the brief intermission however, Crestline would regroup and come out in the second quarter to play inspired basketball. Throughout the next eight minutes leading into halftime, the home team would stretch their lead by outscoring the visitors 25-7 to take a lopsided advantage of 38-17 into the locker room.
The second half would see a lot of back and forth play but after three quarters of action, the ‘Dogs would maintain the lead heading into the final quarter, 54-32. In the fourth and final quarter, Temple Christian would go on to outscore the Crestline squad 17-12 but it would not be enough as the Bulldogs earned the victory by 17 points; 66-49. The Bulldogs lead the entire game and the score was tied by Temple Christian just once throughout the 32-minute contest.
For the contest, the home team would have three players finish in double figures, led by Ty Clark with 17 points. Clark would also grab nine rebounds, dish out one assist, block a shot and record three steals on the night. Max Anatra finished with 13 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals in the win. The final Crestline hoopster to record double-digits was Zach Gregory, with 10 points to go along with four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Abe Kurtz was the only player from Temple Christian to record double figures, scoring 18 points to go with four rebounds and four steals.
As a team, the hosting Bulldogs would shoot 26/61 (43%) from the field on the night, including 5/10 (50%) from three-point range. Temple Christian wrapped the evening at 17/50 (34%) in total field goals while going just 3/16 (19%) from the perimeter. From the charity stripe, the Crusaders went 12/21 (57%) while the Bulldogs finished 9/12 (75%) on their free-throw attempts.
Other Crusaders stats were: Team- 29 rebounds (8O, 21D), 3 assists, 1 block, 11 steals and 18 turnovers; Levi Simpson- 8 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists; Colton Knepshield- 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals; Logan Simpson- 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals; Nathan Washington- 5 points, 1 steal; Trevor Knepshield- 3 points, 1 steal and Hunter Hannan- 2 points.
Other Bulldogs stats were: Team- 46 rebounds (15O, 31D), 18 assists, 3 blocks, 11 steals and 24 turnovers; Kaden Ronk- 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal; Davon Triplett- 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist; Kevin Winkler- 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals; Logan Ronk- 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 block; Bailey Woolard- 2 points; Noah Snyder- 2 points, 2 rebounds; Jasper Christopherson- 2 rebounds; Gavin Balliett- 3 assists; Hunter Trent- 3 rebounds; Destin Chapman- 3 reounds, 1 assist and Caleb Hoskins- 2 rebounds, 1 steal.
Bulldogs’ junior varsity won 56-49 to improve to 2-0 on the year.
