Gallipolis surprises Warren Local, 65-51

[jottings]

Host Gallipolis played its best game of the 2008-09 campaign on the Blue Devils hardwood Friday night to knock off Warren Local by a surprising 65-51 count in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League contest.

Gallipolis improved to 4-7 on the year, and captured its first SEOAL win of the year. The Blue Devils are 1-5 in South Division conference play. Warren dropped to 5-4 on the year and 1-3 in the SEOAL North Division.

Warren led 13-12 after one break, but GAHS outscored the Warriors 19-6 in the second quarter for a 31-19 halftime lead. The Blue Devils outscored WLHS 19-9 in the third period to take a 50-28 lead into the final quarter.

GAHS Coach Jim Osborne started clearing his bench midway in the final period as the visitors outscored GAHS 23-15 to make the final score read 65-51.

GAHS placed three players in double figures with Chris Armstrong’s 16 leading the way. Nick Mitchell added 13 and Kyle Mitchell 12 for the winners.

Jon Hebb paced Warren with 18 points. Venham added 14.

Gallipolis sank 24 of 45 field goal attempts for 53.3 percent. At the line, GAHS canned 14 of 20 free throws for 70 percent. GAHS had 16 personals, 24 rebounds, eight by Chris Armstrong and five by Nick Mitchell, and committed 12 turnovers.

Warren was 21 of 54 field goal attempts for 38.8 percent. The Warriors were one of nine behind the arc, and sank eight of 14 from the line for 51.7 percent. Warren had 16 personal fouls, 35 rebounds, 10 by Grant Venham, eight steals and five assists. WLHS had 19 costly turnovers.

Gallipolis will be idle until Wednesday when the Blue Devils battle River Valley at the University of Rio Grande in a triple header with the freshman game starting at 5 p.m. Warren Local will host Zanesville on Jan. 20.

In the opener Friday, Warren Local’s talented freshman team improved its season record to 11-1 with a hard-fought 50-44 win over the GAHS yearlings.

Warren led 11-9, 27-16 and 40-30 at the quartermarks.

Gallipolis dropped to 4-8 on the year.

Nick Saunders led Gallipolis with 15 points. Steve Atkins added nine and Bryce Amos seven. Josh Winpland led Warren Local with 17.Cory Anderson added 16.

In the preliminary contest, GAHS posted a 44-40 victory over the Little Warriors.

Gallipolis trailed 8-7 after one period. The Blue Imps grabbed a 25-23 halftime lead, and was on top 35-29 going into the final quarter.

Gallipolis improved to 8-3 overall and 3-3 in SEOAL play. Warren dropped to 3-6 overall and 0-4 in league action.

Freshman Jace Knost led Warren with 27 points, including 19 of 23 points in the first half. Matt Carroll added four. Chuck Calvart led GAHS with11 points. Nate Allison and Austin Wilson added eight each and Cody Billings and Jordan Cornwell had six apiece.

Varsity box score:

WARREN LOCAL (51) – Harris, 0-0-0-0; Lang, 2-0-0-4; Anderson, 0-(1)-0-0-3; Ellenwood, 0-0-0-0; Herb, 6-6-10-18; Hilverding, 0-0-0-0; Fivecoat, 2-0-0-4;Venham, 7-0-2-14; Cunningham, 0-0-0-0; Knost, 1-0-0-2; Hoon, 2-2-2-6. Totals 20 (1)-8-14-51.
GALLIPOLIS (65) – Eberhard, 0-0-0-0; Cornwell, 0-2-2-2; Nibert, 1-(1)-2-5-7; Moore, 3-2-2-8; N. Mitchell, 4-(1)-2-4-13; Armstrong, 7-2-2-16; Wood, 0-0-0-0; K. Mitchell, 4-(1)-1-1-12; Golden, 0-0-0-0; Calvart, 0-1-2-1; Whaley, 1-2-2-4; Maher, 0-0-0-0; Troester, 1-0-0-2. Totals 21-(3)-14-20-65.

Score by quarters:
Warren Local…..13 6 9 23 -- 51
Gallipolis………12 19 19 15 -- 65
Reserve score—Gallipolis 44 Warren Local 40
Freshman score—Warren Local 50 Gallipolis 44.

[tribetime]

Did cunnningham or ellenwood appear in this game? both are in the boxscore but neither scored. Also who is affected by the previously mentioned casualties due to grades....? hopefully this is the last low point for the warriors this season....this team was never deep enough to sustain too many injuries or grade troubles though....
go blue.

[WHSwarrior]

Ellenwood is unable to play indefinitely because of ankle problems.
Cunningham had a hole in his head and tweaked his ankle at Marietta on Tuesday, if he didnt score, either Gallia played fantastic defense or he didn't play. (I'd guess the second one).

No varsity starters or regulars were affected by report cards, and it appears that two JV players are ineligible.

Zanesville on Tuesday, they beat Ironton and beat them well...you're right, TT, this had better be the last low point.

[trojandave]

Gahs4ever: Hope you are feeling better and congratulations to Coach Osborne and the Blue Devils on the win.

[BBallin fool]

maybe its me!!! but i don't under stand the game plan with Nick Mitchell. he's a starter in my book.

[Fun in the Sun]

If my memory is right, I remember a young man coming off the bench back in the 90's that became the team's MVP with GAHS.

Last night was the 2nd game that I went to this year , and was impressed how OZ used his bench.

The young man (N. Mitchell) seems to have as many minutes as anyone else, and played very well at that. If this team plays like they did last night, they might give some teams some trouble along the way through the post season....

How many wins is that for the coach ?

[BBallin fool]

I no the young man is a spark!!! Just had to ask, I don't see a 6th man there/ He can make things happen.How many minutes does he avg, a game???

[Hitchbone64]

Gahs4ever: Hope you are feeling better and congratulations to Coach Osborne and the Blue Devils on the win.

gahs4ever,

I second that. Hope you are well rested today and back at it on Tuesday. I think I got a bit of what you got today. Forced me to miss the Cavs game tonight.

In any event, I am glad to see Gallia play this well. I think Coach Osborne has some talent on this team. As they continue to learn how to win, they will get better. I am not sure the two games the Cavs played against GA are indicative of the Gallia squad. Sometimes certain matchups are just not that good.

GO CAVS!!!

[oldschoolblue]

That was an excellent team win on Friday amd if anyone thinks coach Oz doesnt coach anymore than they have not been watching. This team was down and has not played well and could have come out and layed an egg but they chose to play hard. Great Win. GO BLUE