“Rival” – a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity.

A full house at Tinora High School saw two rivals take the count Friday night in the latest edition of the “River Rivalry.”

Last season saw the Rams come away with a buzzer beater to bring back a win across the river. This season sees the Rams standing atop the GMC standings to a 4-0 mark, 14-2 overall. This is the best start for a Rams basketball team since 2008. The young, inexperienced Pilots entered at just 4-12, 1-3 in the conference, but, as everyone knows, throw the records into the river when these tow teams meet.

Tinora wasted little time, busting out of the gates with a early 10-0 lead. The Rams Conner Welling got the Rams started with an early 2-0 lead. Josh Lieb followed with a put back bucket and a 4-0 lead. Owen Ferrell dialed up a deep three, giving Tinora a 8-0 lead which led to an Ayersville timeout midway through the opening quarter.

Out of the Pilot timeout, Tinora countered with a Welling putback for a 10-0 lead at the 4:01 mark. Ayersville finally got on the board with two free throws by freshman standout Dane Ewers. Ewers would score all four of the Pilots opening quarter points as the Rams grabbed a 13-4 lead at the end of the quarter on a three pointer by Adam Spychala.

The second quarter would see Tinora increase their lead to as many as 16 as Adam Spychala would continue his hot shooting, bucketing two more three pointers for nine first half points. Connor Welling threw in eight first half points for Tinora, while the Pilots were held to just two points in the seconds quarter, another Ewers basket. The Rams would take a 22-6 lead to the half.

The Rams defense held leading scorer Jeremiahhh Peake scoreless in the first 16 minutes of play.

The start of the third stanza would see the Pilots jet out of the lockerroom with a quick 11-0 run to cut the Tinora lead down to 22-17 with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Owen Lloyd started the Ayersville comeback with a deep two point basket, followed by a Jeremia Peak three ball, and a Ewers drive and score. Peake would follow with a drive and score for a 9-0 run, the Ayersville run was capped by another Ewers bucket, and after the Ewers bucket, Tinora’s Kris Lymanstall called for a Rams timeout to damn the run.

Sophomore Owen Ferrell would stop the Pilot avalanche with a key left corner three to push the Rams lead out to 25-17 with 3:40 in the quarter. Josh Lieb’s bucket put the Tinora cushion back to 10, 27-17 with 3:25 in the quarter.

Ayersville wouldn’t go quietly as Peake’s drive and score was capped by a free throw, completing the three point play, cutting the Tinora lead to 27-20 with 2:15 in the third stanza. Ewers steal and score cut the Tinora lead to 28-22 with 1:45, Tinora would respond with a key Dylan Schaufele right corner three pointer, pushing the Rams lead to 31-22. Tinora would take a 32-24 lead to the fourth quarter.

The final eight minutes saw Tinora keep the visiting Pilots at arm length away, but it wasn’t easy. Dane Ewers nailed another three pointer to close the gap to 32-27 to start the quarter.

The Rams Josh Lieb hammered in 10 fourth quarter points, including four free throws in the final 90 seconds to secure the Tinora 53-42 victory in the River Rivalry. Lieb’s three pointer from the right corner increased the Tinora lead to 38-27 with 5:15 remaining in the contest, and the Pilots would get no closer.

Ayerville’s Jeremiah Peake would bucket 14 second half points, teammate Dane Ewers would throw in a game high 18 points for the Pilots in defeat.

AYERSVILLE 4-2-18-18=42
TINORA 13-9-10-21 = 53

Ayersville scoring; Lloyd 2, Peake 14, Stambaugh 2, Dunn 6, Ewers 18, Clark 0

Tinora scoring: Schaufele 3, Ferrell 8, Welling 11, Homier 5, Lieb 16, Hancock 0, Spychala 10

Three-point goals: 
Ayersville 5-17 (Dunn 2-5, Peake 2-10, Ewers 1-2),
Tinora 8-19 (Spychala 3-9, Ferrell 2-2, Schaufele 1-1, Welling 1-2, Lieb 1-4).
 
Rebounds: Ayersville 15 (Ewers 4), Tinora 29 (Welling 12). 
Turnovers: Ayersville 5, Tinora 7

Freshman – Tinora
JV Tinora

Ayersville drops to 5-12, 1-4 in the GMC. The Pilots travel to Pettisville Saturday evening.

Tinora improves to 15-2, 5-0 in conference play. The Rams travel to Archbold to take on the ‘Streaks Saturday evening.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Josh Lieb, congratulations, Josh!!

DCTV interview with Connor Welling:

DCTV interview with coach Lymanstall

Watch the game back below: