STRYKER – After yet another heartbreaking loss last night, this time in the River Rivalry, the Tinora Rams looked to pick themselves back up and bounce back at Stryker Saturday night.
Rams junior sharpshooter Luke Harris showed up at Stryker High School hotter than a firecracker. Harris was responsible for the Rams first seven points of the night, all in the first 90 seconds, as Tinora jumped out to a 7-5 lead. Harris ended the quarter with 10 points, three 3 pointers made for Luke Harris. Tinora led Stryker after the first quarter, 14-13.
Stryker head coach Tyler Woolace and the Panthers started the second quarter by putting the clamps on Tinora’s Luke Harris for the next 20 minutes, holding him scoreless until; the final minutes of the contest, more on that later.
The Panthers and Rams battled to a 20-17 halftime score. Tinora’s Harris with 10, and the Panthers Elijah Juillard had 6 first half points.
Tinora came out of the locker room looking to increase their lead, after a Gavin Eckert three, the Rams led 25-17midway through the third quarter. After a Panther timeout, the Panthers closed out the quarter on a 10-4 run, cutting the Tinora lead to 32-27 after three.
As the always entertaining final eight minutes began, Stryker continues their hot shooting cutting away at the Tinora lead, finally tying the game with a Juillard put back with just under six minutes remaining. The Rams Nolan Schafer hit a turnaround jumper in the lane, tying the game at 36 with 3:20 remaining.
This is where things could have gone south for the Rams. But, the team rallied themselves and said not again, not tonight.
The score remained was at 38 until the Rams Luke Harris finally got back in the scoring column with a left wing three, giving Tinora a 41-38 lead with 1:45 remaining.
Stryker cut the Rams lead to 42-40 with just 26 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Tinora’s Gavin Eckert took the inbounds pass from Nolan Schafer coast to coast for a layup, giving the Rams a 44-40 lead with 15 seconds left. Luke Harris finished the scoring at the foul line, capping off his great night, hitting two free throws, giving the Tinora Rams a 46-40 win over the Stryker Panthers.
Harris ended with 15 points for Tinora, Stryker was led by Elijah Juillard with 14 points.
With the win, Tinora improves to 4-10. Tinora will host Hicksville and Hilltop next Fri & Sat from Tinora.
Stryker falls to 5-9, they will be on the road at Montpelier and at Archbold next Fr & Saturday.
Thanks again to Stryker AD Kent Holsopple who added us tonight in bringing the game to all.
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game award went to Gavin Eckert – Eckert with another great offensive performance, as well as a great effort of the defensive side of the ball. Congratulations to Gavin.
The 105.7 The Bull Player of the Game went to Luke Harris. Great job Luke!
TINORA 14 6 12 14 – 46
STRYKER 13 4 10 13 – 40
Tinora scoring:
L Harris – 15
Schafer 13
Eckert 9
Bohn 6
Miles 2
Rinkel 1
Stryker scoring:
Juillard 14
T Harris 7
Barnum 9
Cioffi 6
Donovan 4
JV- Tinora 46-33
Rams – Rittenhouse 11, Askins 10, Ackerman 10
