“Just like football” chants rang out inside of the gym at Athens High School as the final seconds ticked down in a decisive 46-37 victory against Vinton County Friday night.
Though the Bulldogs could not match the 40-point blowout the football team handed the Vikings in early October, they controlled the pace of the game and protect home court in front of a raucous crowd.
Athens stayed efficient on offense by slowing the ball down and feeding it inside. The team shot a season-high 54 percent from the field and shot a season-low four 3-pointers. That was a change in game plan from the last game against Vinton County, when the Bulldogs attempted 25 shots from behind the arc.
“Last game, we didn’t have a possession over 10 seconds,” senior Josh Skinner said. “This game, we really slowed it down, picked apart the defense, worked it inside and out and got good shots.”
Athens had a balanced scoring attack led by Skinner and fellow senior Nick Stanley, who each scored 11 points in the win. Junior Jarrod Elmore and senior Josh Maxson added seven points each, while freshman Joey Burrow scored six.
Elmore provided a spark on both sides of the floor, contributing four points, two blocks and an assist on a 7-2 second-quarter run that gave Athens a lead that it never gave up.
Even with their offensive efficiency, the Bulldogs’ defense proved to be the real key to victory in the game.
After surrendering 78 points to the Vikings earlier in the season, Athens clamped down. The Bulldogs forced their opposition to the perimeter, not allowing the Vikings to work the ball inside. The lack of an inside presence led the Vikings to only connect on 34 percent of their shots en route to a season-low 37 points.
“Defensively, we did a great job communicating and identifying their shooters,” coach Jeff Skinner said. “They had to shoot their shots under duress.”
One of the keys for Athens was to contain Ryan Chesser, who only scored eight points on Friday night. Chesser took control of the game in their previous matchup with 24 points.
“Ryan’s one of the best offensive players in this league,” Jeff Skinner said. “After one dribble, we worked hard on our retreat angles and help, making him pass or pull up.”
Bryce Owings lead the Vikings with a game-high 16 points, but his teammates could not follow suit, as only three other players recorded a point.
The win pulls Athens into a second-place tie with Nelsonville-York in the Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division, trailing Vinton County by only one game.
The Bulldogs’ next test is on the road against Alexander on Friday. Athens defeated Alexander 52-38 last Tuesday.
ch203310@ohiou.edu
