VERSAILLES – The Versailles Tigers defeated the East Clinton Astros 75-26 in first-round OHSAA DV tournament action in a game played at Bethel High School.
“Very happy, very pleased with our demeanor here tonight,” said Versailles coach Travis Swank. “That was the main thing coming into this game.”
The Tigers bolted out to a 27-5 first-quarter advantage led by 14 Jace Watren points, including four 3-pointers.
Versailles added 25 points to the second quarter, with eight Tigers denting the scoreboard while holding East Clinton to eight points. The teams went to the break with Versailles owning a 52-13 lead.
Due to an injury, the Tigers will be without sophomore starter Blake Monnin for the remainder of the season.
“Very composed, very mature type of game from our kids, and that’s what we wanted, especially not having Monnin here tonight,” Swank stated. “We were able to do what we wanted to do, set the tone early. It helps when we make shots from the outside and we were able to do that here early on.”
With a 39-point lead to open third-quarter action, a running clock was in play the entire second half. Coach Travis Swank emptied his entire bench with the Versailles taking period No. 3 by an 11-10 score and the fourth quarter 12-3 in earning the win and advancing on the tournament trail.
“We have guys that are unselfish,” said Coach Swank. “They were able to spread the ball, get multiple guys in the scoring column because we have guys that can hit guys in stride and are willing to make that extra pass.”
Watren led Versailles and all scorers with 24 points including four treys and 2-2 at the line. Elelven Tigers’ players logged points in the scoring column, including six players with four points.
“He has been shooting it really well this game and St. Henry,” Swank said of Jace Watren. “He went through a little lull there, but he’s continued to work to get better, and he is hitting his peak at the right time of the year.”
Versailles advances to take on the Milton-Union Bulldogs, 50-47 winners over the Arcanum Trojans, on Tuesday, February 25 at Bethel High School with a 6 p.m. start time.
BOXSCORE:
VERSAILLES 75, EAST CLINTON 26
VERSAILLES – J. Watren 24, K. Schwartz 9, D. Ahrens 9, E. Wilker 7, C. Bergman 4, C. Ahrens 4, D. Barga 4, R. Raterman 4, M. Stonebraker 4, J. Borchers 4, M. Wilker – TOTALS 26 5-8 6 75
EAST CLINTON – A. Warner 13, T. Huff 8, P. Lilly 3, K. Roth 2 – TOTALS 8 1-2 3 26
3-POINTERS
Versailles 6 (J. Watren 4, D. Ahrens 1, M. Stonebraker 1)
East Clinton 3 (T. Huff 2, A. Warner 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
27-25-11-12 75 Versailles
05-08-10-03 26 East Clinton
