sports

The YSHS boys basketball team beat Middletown Christian 95–64 at home on Friday, Dec. 11, with senior Will Ripley pulling out a slam dunk and sophomore AJ Wagner (shown above) scoring inside buckets.

Bulldogs Sports Round-up

Boys basketball improves to 3–0

The YSHS boys basketball team shocked Dayton Stivers in non-conference play with an 81–72 win on Saturday, Dec 12. The Bulldogs handily beat Metro Buckeye conference foe Middletown Christian 94–59 on Friday, Dec. 11, and moved their season record to 3–0.

From the start against Stivers, Yellow Springs showed toughness. The ’Dogs flew out of the gate, scoring 23 points in the first quarter against the Tigers pressure defense. The first quarter ended with newcomer Kody McDonald hitting a 50-foot shot at the buzzer to send the dogs ahead 23–14.

“It was a measuring stick game for the team and the kids and I are sick and tired of the lack of respect from city teams...we earned some respect tonight, and I’m so proud of the kids!” Coach Brad Newsome said this week.

McDonald was the team’s leading scorer with a career high 22 points. He also dished out three assists and two steals. In the second quarter senior guard Ryan Newsome got hot from the outside to score seven straight and end the game with 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Bulldogs went in to the second half up 40–30 and expanded the lead by outscoring Stivers 15–12 in the third quarter. Ryan Phillips took his turn as he scored six of his eight points in the third quarter. He finished solid play with eight points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

After three quarters, the Bulldogs were up 55–42, and the fourth quarter proved what kind of team they are this year. Stivers turned up the intensity and physical play and, with four minutes left, cut the Bulldog lead to 58–55, led by Regis Motley (23 points), Brooklyn Bradley (18 points) and Brett Strange. But Yellow Springs guard Davone Freeman shot the Tigers down with two huge three-pointers, and Freeman ended the game with 15 points and four for four from the free throw line.

The defensive pressure created by Ian Wimberly and AJ Wagner was immeasurable.

“Ian and AJ take pride in doing the little things that turn into big things for the team,” Newsome said. Wimberly finished with six points, five assists and four for four from the free throw line, while Wagner added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Will Ripley had five rebounds, and Chris Johnson came back from an injury to add a big three-point shot in the third. Greg Felder dished out an assist and a blocked shot. Yellow Springs sealed the victory making 24 of 34 free throws.

Against Middletown, Newsome was leading scorer with 19 points, followed by Ripley’s 14 points, Greg Felder with 13 and Kody McDonald with 12 points.

Girls basketball record 1–2

The Lady Bulldogs redeemed themselves by handing Middletown Christian a 46–19 loss on Monday, Dec. 7. The YSHS girls basketball team then took its second loss of the season 41–30 against Troy Christian on Thursday, Dec. 10.

Against Middletown, sophomore Amber Dudgeon led the way with 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three steals. Alex Beer added 11 points and five assists.

At the end of the first quarter, Yellow Springs led 14–8. In the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs shut out the Eagles to take a halftime lead of 21–8. Yellow Springs continued to apply more man-to-man defense in the second half to outscore the Eagles, 25 to 11.

Other players to contribute to the win were Maryah Martin, eight points, eight rebounds and three steals. Angela Allen also had a outstanding game with six points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists. 

It was a cold night for the Bulldogs against Troy, whose shooting and man defense crippled the Lady Bulldogs. But the young Lady Bulldogs did not go down without a fight. Troy led 20–2 at the end of the first quarter and held it through the third, which ended Troy 29–20. Freshman guard Maryah Martin led the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 points, followed by Amber Dudgeon, nine points.

McKinney basketball 

In their season opener Saturday, Dec. 12, the McKinney boys basketball teams split wins with host Xenia Christian.

 The seventh grade team won 42–12, powered by Ahmad Wagner’s 14 points and 16 rebounds. Jared Scarfpin added 13 points, and Liam Weigand scored eight.

 The eighth grade team came up short in a furious late rally, falling 19–16. Wagner again led all scorers with 12 points. Eric Lawhorn had a game-high 10 rebounds.