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Versailles
sophomore AJ Ahrens grabs a rebound during second quarter
action against Ft. Loramie
Tuesday. Ahrens finished with ten boards,
thee off the offensive glass. CNO Photos by George Starks
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Versailles gets
big win over Loramie
Tigers growl too much for Redskins
By George Starks
VERSAILLES- After falling in the championship game of the Versailles
Holiday Tournament a week ago, The Tigers bounced back in a huge way.
On the strength of a 30 point performance from sophomore Justin Ahrens
and 13 from senior Jared Niekamp, Versailles crushed Ft. Loramie
Tuesday, 70-46.
“This was a huge win for us tonight,” said Versailles coach Scott
McEldowney. “I thought we were sluggish at times, especially in the
first half. It was nice to get a game in before we start play in the
MAC Friday. Sometimes over the holidays, there’s too much time off, too
much food and too much laying around but it was nice to see us get that
out of our system early and I thought we played pretty well.”
Playing in the tough Shelby County League, the Redskins came in one
game under .500 (6-7), only to have the Tigers defense dismantle them
in the second and third quarters.
The Versailles pressure took control, forcing the Skins to turn the
ball over 12 times in the two frames, three in the third quarter.
“We did have a size advantage except at the five spot (center),” said
McEldowney. ) “I think we were able to control the boards and we were
able to contest a lot of shots. Our pressure early on really got to
them. That’s where our skill and athleticism really shows up.”
After the Redskins took the early 2-0 lead on an offensive rebound by
6-7 sophomore Tyler Siegel and a put back, Versailles went on a nice
7-0 run and with one quarter in the books, the Tigers were up 16-8.
The Tigers pressure proved too much for Loramie as Versailles led 35-15
at the half and 55-29 after three quarters of play were in the books.
At the intermission, Ahrens had netted 17 of his 30 points.
It was a game that was never in doubt for Versailles.
While Justin was doing the job on offense, it was his twin brother AJ
Ahrens that was leading the way in the rebounding department.
AJ finished the opening 16 minutes with seven rebounds, two on
the offensive end with on put back for his only score of the night.
“Between him and Austin Knapke, they play very physical and use their
bodies really well,” stated McEldowney. “When they use their bodies on
the glass the way they did, it creates those extra opportunities. They
kept the bigger kids like the 6-7 Siegel kid, off the offensive glass.
Those guys really do a great nice job for us.
“We also have the lengthy guys for us with the long arms,” McEldowney
continued. “Guys like Alex Wendel, Justin and Brett (McEldowney). Long
armed guys like them and the shorter guards like Keaton (McEldowney)
that can get in there and control the glass. We have good length
overall and we really need to rebound as a team like we didtonight. The
guards need to go in and crash the boards to and our guards do a nice
job of that.”
Now 9-2 on the year, the Tigers will get back into conference play
Friday at home with St. Henry.
See more photos on CNO's Facebook page: Empowering Darke County Youth
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Tiger
junior Alex Wendel crashed the boards with one of his four
rebounds on the night.
Overall, the Tigers outrebounded the Redskins,
27-13.
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