AYERSVILLE – In the second night of the River Rivalry, a jammed packed Hanger in Ayersville was treaded to the boys’ edition of the Rivalry.
After the Lady Rams captured a thrilling victory on Thursday night at Tinora High School over the Lady Pilots, 55-51, the crowd on hand was treated to another thriller.
The Pilots of Ayersville came in with the water running on hot, a 9-2 record, winning seven straight, and a 2-0 GMC mark.
The Rams of Tinora came in with a 3-9 record, 0-2 in conference play.
Tinora entered the contest knowing they were going to be undersized, the Pilots had 6′ 6″ junior Tyson Schlachter to man the middle.
The Rams and Pilots battled through the initial quarter, with the Pilots Schlachter showing his presence. The Rams held a 9-7 lead at the end of the first quarter before the Pilots Jacob Trevino tied the game at 9-9 after one quarter of play.
Over the next eight minutes, the Pilots outscored the Rams, 21-3 to grab a 28-12 halftime lead. The towing Schachter led the way with 15 first half points. Trevino pitched in seven for Ayersville as well. Tinora was led by two, individuals each with five in Luke Harris and Gavin Eckert. The Rams leading scorer Nolan Schafer was held scoreless by a tight Pilots defense.
Ayersville started the third like they ended the half, pedal to the metal, grabbing an 18 point lead over Tinora, 30-12 on a bucket by Ike Eiden. It was make or break time for the Tinora Rams.
Collectively, the Rams players and staff decided it was make or break time, and boy, they made a heck of a game of it.
The Rams slowly chipped away, courtesy of Luke Harris, Lance Rinkel and Gavin Eckert. Midway through the third, the Pilots led 39-27. Harris made it 41-33 on a three pointer, his tenth point of the quarter. The Rams closed the gap to 41-35 after Nolan Schafer’s first bucket of the game at the buzzer to end the third quarter.
A Gavin Eckert three to start the fourth cut the lead to just three, 41-38. Tinora grabbed their first lead of the contest with 3:50 remaining on a Lance Rinkel three point shot, Tinora after trailing by 18 now lead 46-45. Luke Harris hit one of two free throws to knot the game at 48 each with 2 minutes left in the fourth.
The presence of Tyson Schlachter again paid dividends with a put back with 60 seconds remaining, giving the Pilots a 49-47 lead. The bucket gave Schlachter 21 points for the game.
Tinora’s Luke Harris remained hot, drilling a three pointer from the right corner, giving the Rams a 50-49 lead with 39 seconds remaining.
Jacob Trevino put back a Schlacter miss with 25 seconds remaining, giving the Pilots a 51-50 lead. Tinora had a chance for the win, but lost the ball out of bounds with 1.5 seconds remaining, turning the ball over to the Pilots. Tinora stole the inbounds pass in the back court, but a 3/4 court heave was off the giving the Pilots of Ayersville a thrilling 51-50 win.
Again, the Tinora Rams prove they can play with almost any team in the area, just coming up short.
The Pilot D held Tinora leading scorer Nolan Schafer to just four points.
The Rams shot 47% from the field while the Pilots shot 46%
Tinora made 8 of 14 three points attempts.
On the boards, the Pilots dominated the Rams, Ayersville 31 Tinora 10. The Pilots grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.
Tinora falls to 3-10, 0-3 in the GMC. The Rams travel to Stryker on Saturday night.
Ayersville improves to 10-2, 3-0 in conference play.
JV – Ayersville 26-14
Rams 9 12 35 50
Pilots 9 28 41 51
Tinora scoring:
Harris 20
Eckert 11
Rinkel 9
Anders 6
Schafer 4
Ayersville Scoring
Schlachter 21 – 12 rebounds
Trevino 16
Michel 8
Eiden 4
Miller 2
