A packed house at Tinora High School on Friday evening saw a good old-fashioned, hard-nosed, feisty basketball game between two 2-0 teams in the GMC. The winner would remain perfect, and take the upper hand at the top on the GMC standings with Wayne Trace.

The usual high-powered, fluid Tinora offense was slowed down in the first eight minutes by the Apache defense. The Rams Adam Spychala hit two quick left-wing three-pointers to give Tinora a 6-2 lead, forcing a Fairview timeout with 4:55 on the opening frame.

Tinora’s defense held Fairview’s leading score, Levi Panico, without a shot in the quarter as the Rams took ana 8-4 lead.

The second quarter again saw the Apaches defense limit the Rams offense, Tinora was held scoreless through the first five minutes of the half. Not to be outdone, the Tinora defense was no slouch either, also holding the Apaches scoreless until Kale Salyers three-pointer would put Fairview on top 9-8 with just under three minutes in the opening half.

Tinora would grab a 12-11 lead on another Spychala three-pointer with 1:55 remaining in the quarter. Josh Lieb’s bucket in the paint extended the Tinora lead to 13-9 with 59 seconds in the half. Levi Panico would get his first points of the game with 51 seconds in the half. Tinora would take a 13-12 lead to the locker room.

Quarter three was the third straight defensive standoff between the two rival squads. The Apaches would finally get leading scorer Levi Panico going as his bucket would give the Apaches a 14-13 lead. A lead that would grow to as many as six at 19-13 with a Logan Mosier follow-up tip-in with 2:30 on the third-quarter scoreboard.

Tinora would outscore the Apaches 7-2 in the last two minutes of the third quarter, tying the game at 19-19. Connor Welling’s steal and score would ignite the home crowd with 1:05 on the third quarter clock. The host Rams would tie the game at 21-21 on an Alex Homier basket right before the third quarter ended.

The final eight minutes were the opposite of the first three quarters as the offenses for both teams came alive. Connor Welling would finally get the lead back, 23-22 for Tinora on a floater in the lane. The Rams lead would grow to 25-22 on another basket by Welling, this on a steal and score with 5:35 remaining.

When Tinora looked to pull away, Panico’s left-wing three-pointer tied the game at 25-25 with 4:45 in the contest. Homier would answer with his own three, putting Tinora back up 28-25. Homier would feed Welling down low, resulting in a Welling score and a 30-27 with 3:15 in the quarter.

Tinora increased their lead to 34-27 with 59 seconds, as Tinora would hit multiple key free throws down the stretch. The Apaches would not go away, however, as Noah Shinninger would drain a deep left side three, cutting the Rams lead to 34-30 with 47 seconds on the fourth quarter clock.

Josh Lieb’s two free throws increased the Tinora lead to 36-30, and Tinora closed out the final 30 seconds with free throws from Welling and Spychala for a 40-33 victory.

Welling’s 11 fourth-quarter points were huge for the Tinora offense.

The Rams basketball program welcomed the Future Rams program at the half of both JV and Varsity; the kids were able to take the court for two separate 6-minute sessions.

FAIRVIEW 4-8-9-12=33
TINORA 8-5-8-19=40

Fairview scoring: Salyers 3, Zedyke 2, Panico 15, J Shinninger 2, Meade 0, Brady 3, N Shinninger 6, Mosier 2

Tinora scoring: Schaufele 2, Ferrell 0, Welling 15, Homier 7, Lieb 4, Hancock 0, Spychala 12

Fairview falls to 6-7, 2-1 in the GMC. The Apaches will travel to take on Defiance Saturday.

Tinora improves to 11-2, 3-0 in conference play. The Rams will host Stryker Saturday.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Connor Welling. Congratulations, Connor.


Freshman Tinora 28-20
JV Tinora 26-25 on a Jared Neff basket.

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