Bulldogs edge out Blackbirds, 56-52

By NORRIS LEDYARD

Expositor Staff Writer

NAPOLEON - Coming out of the locker room down three possessions, the Pettisville Blackbirds faced a daunting task against a skilled and much taller opponent in Edgerton. It was time to score some points and stop the Bulldogs at the other end.

The Blackbirds mounted a 18-4 third quarter, featured with no turnovers and crashing the boards to get the ball. They forged a three possession lead of their own, 39-32, going into the fourth quarter.

As time clicked off the clock, the Bulldogs slowly closed the difference. Edgerton tied the score with 4:47 remaining at 41, then at 43 all at the 2:47 mark. The Bulldogs pulled away from the Blackbirds with a 56-52 win in the district semi-finals. Edgerton (11-11) advances to play Wayne Trace (12-10) at Napoleon Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m.

Edgerton developed an eight point lead during the first period by working the ball around the Blackbird zone defense. Brody Flegal and Nathan Stark nailed treys with Spencer Hastedt scoring inside.

Pettisville (13-10) drew first blood with Taylor Short's trey from the top of the key. The Blackbirds mixed their outside game with penetration by Zane Miller's big rebound and interior pass for a deuce to draw the difference to 11-8.

Back the Dogs came with their inside-out attack of Ethan Schroeder's deuce from close range and Nathan Stark's three ball to go 16-10. On top of that, Bronson Knecht's block of Miller's shot resulted in Knecht getting an inside shot at the other end to push the lead to 18-10.

The full court press by Edgerton disrupted the Blackbird response, with Lincoln Frey's buzzer beating shot going in and out for a first quarter score of Edgerton 18, Pettisville 10.

In second quarter action, Zach Pursel leaped up and stuffed Schroeder's attempt with the Blackbirds retaining possession, yet coming up empty on the fast break. Later, Short hit his Blackbird teammate, Pursel, with a crisp pass and a bucket, making the contest a two possession game.

Nathan Stark's two treys doubled the difference for the Dogs, making the score 24-12. Pettisville Head Coach Greg Nofziger had to call time and regroup his team.

The Blackbirds were less than successful coming out of the break as they suffered a costly traveling call. After a couple trips by both teams, Bruner hit a deuce to make it 24-14. Bulldogs' Head Coach Matt Ripke called his first time out with 4:06 left to get his squad back on track.

Edgerton managed four more points during the last minutes in the second quarter, with Caleb Stark breaking into the scoring column with an 8 foot turn around jumper and Knecht hitting a deuce at the one minute mark.

Pettisville's Bruner hit a silky smooth jump shot, followed later by a big trey by Short. Miller's coast to coast drive and lay up near the end set the half time score of 28-21.

For the Bulldogs of Edgerton, Knecht tallied 21 points with Flegal and Nathan Stark hitting for 11 each.

Short was the leading scorer for Pettisville with 14 points, followed by Bruner with 10 points. Pursel had 8 points, Greg Waidelich scored five points and four points each for Jacob Rupp and Miller.

Seniors Lincoln Frey, Michael Rufenacht, Miller and Waidelich played in their final contest after the Blackbird won league title each year they were in school.