Port Clinton falls to Willard, 72-55

BY YANEEK SMITH, BEACON CONTRIBUTOR

WILLARD — Port Clinton was able to compete with Willard, but ultimately the Crimson Flashes pulled away to a 72-55 victory over the Redskins.

Willard (10-3, 5-2 SBC Bay) led 18-16 after one quarter and 36-27 at halftime. The Flashes put the game away by winning the third quarter, 18-10, to take a 54-37 lead.

“We were down nine points at the half. We hung with them for a while. We were embarrassed at their place. They lead the SBC in scoring. They have some good basketball players,” said Port Clinton coach Von Graffin. “Connor Parrott is one of the three best players in the league. (Davon) Triplett is a good player, too.

“I play five guys for three minutes. And played another five guys for three minutes. It’s a platoon system. We did some nice things, but at the end of 32 minutes, it is what it is. They’re engaged. Sitting at 1-11, you’ve got to do something. I tried it this week and we’ll see how it goes moving forward.”

Cooper Parrott led Willard with 21 points and Davon Triplett had 16.

For Port Clinton, Lucas Kyle led the way with 14 points and Sam Diaz chipped in with 12.

“Lucas Kyle is very capable, he plays a lot of AAU,” said Graffin. “I like his basketball I.Q. When he gets tough, he’ll be a player.”

Vermilion 80, Port Clinton 39

Vermilion led by five points after the first quarter before going on a tear and defeating Port Clinton, 80-39. The Sailors (12-2, 8-0 SBC Bay) led 14-9 after the first quarter before winning the second, 20-2, to take a 34-11 lead at halftime.

“They’ve got 10 seniors and they’re good. Mason Montgomery is like Jac Alexander and Cooper Parrott,” said Port Clinton coach Von Graffin. “They continue to play well as the game goes on Vermilion scores in the high 60s each game. It’s a nice team.”

Mason Montgomery finished with 22 points to lead all scorers and Jonah Pfeil scored 13 points. For the Redskins, Dylan Simpson had 14 points to lead the way.

Port Clinton girls lose to Tiffin Columbian

A big second quarter gave Tiffin Columbian a big lead and the Tornadoes never looked back in their 87-27 victory over Port Clinton. Columbian led 19-10 after the first quarter and 46-14 at halftime.

Hailey Cooper led all scorers with 29 points, including nine 3-pointers, Kaia Woods scored 21 points and Abby Dryfuse chipped in with 19. Olivia Jackson had eight points to lead the Redskins.