Miami Trace ends Wilmington’s 50-game league win streak

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WILMINGTON — For the first time in nearly four years, Wilmington Hurryin’ Hurricane boys basketball team lost a league game.

Battling back from a 13-point halftime deficit, Miami Trace dealt WHS a stunning 57-52 defeat on its home floor at Fred Summers Court Friday night.

All told, it snapped a consecutive win streak of 50 league games, dating back to Dec. 15, 2012. On that night, the Ross Rams defeated Wilmington by a final score of 64-54, in Southwest Ohio Conference action.

For Miami Trace, the Panthers are now 3-0 while the Hurricane falls to 2-1 on the season.

This game was certainly a tale of two halves. Wilmington jumped out to a 15-6 first quarter lead and took a 34-21 advantage into the locker room at intermission.

However, when the teams took the floor to start the third quarter, Wilmington could not execute on offense, while the Panthers made a 20-10 run which sliced the deficit to just three points, 44-41, after three periods.

The momentum stayed with Miami Trace and the Panthers capitalized at the charity stripe with a 16-8 margin in the final period to salt away the victory.

For Panthers coach Rob Pittser, it was a situation where his players got on track and controlling the tempo of play helped them seize the momentum.

“We really wanted to play the style of game Wilmington plays, constantly trapping the ball and trying to force mistakes,” said Pittser. “I was disappointed that our kids seemed to have so much anxiety at the start and we were careless, committing too many turnovers (14 in the first half). Things started clicking for us in the second half and I felt we were able to force the tempo.

“That third quarter was the key. We got things turned around and battled hard to make it close. Once we got it tied and then took the lead, we really executed.”

For Wilmington head coach Mike Noszka it was simply a case of not putting the game away after building a big first half lead.

“We played very uncharacteristic basketball tonight. We had multiple chances to put it away and just did not do it. Just look at how many times we turned it over, especially in the second half,” he said.

Wilmington committed 15 turnovers in the game, including 10 in the second half.

“We have to do a better job taking care of the basketball,” said Noszka. “Tonight, we failed to do so. Right now we are continuing to find our identity after three games.

“We have to get better in some phases of the game and, like I said earlier, we need contributions from several people. Tonight Brady (Evans) gave us a lot of energy out there. Others, though, need to step up.”

Noszka felt the Panthers played with poise and control down the stretch.

“Give 20 (Blake Pittser) and 4 (Tyrae Pettiford) a lot of credit. They both were tough the last period and were poised out there tonight,” the WHS head coach said.

The Panthers converted at the free throw line, making 16 0f 23 total attempts. In the final period they were 9 of 15, which allowed Wilmington to stay within reach.

Pettiford led the Miami Trace scoring attack with 17 points while Pittser was next with 16. David Tyree was the third Panther in double digits with 12.

Wilmington was led by Jeffery Mansfield with 21 points, 14 coming in the first half.

Matt Smith followed with 10 and Chris Wolary was next with nine points for the Hurricane.

Miami Trace plays a non-conference game Saturday night at Dublin Jerome while Wilmington’s next action will be Tuesday at Fred Summers Court against East Clinton in SCOL

SUMMARY

December 9, 2016

@Fred Summers Court

Miami Trace 57 Wilmington 52

MT 06.15.20.16…..57

WL 15.19.10.08…..52

(52) WILMINGTON (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Evans 2-0-0-4, Gauche 2-0-0-4, Smith 5-0-0-10, Beaugard 1-0-2-4, Mansfield 7-0-7-21, Wolary 4-0-1-9. TOTALS 21-0-10-52.

(57) MIAMI TRACE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Carter 0-0-6-6, Tyrae Pettiford 5-0-7-17, Leach 2-0-2-4, Pittser 7-2-0-16, Tyree 5-1-1-12. TOTALS 19-3-16-57.

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Hurricane streak of consecutive league wins ends at 50

By Bill Liermann

WNJ Sports Writer

Bill Liermann covers high school sports for the News Journal. Follow him on Twitter @lierjet

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