Dieterich On A Roll, Downs N. Clay To Win Regional Crown

Dieterich won the championship of the Class 1A South Central Regional.

FARINA -- Revenge is a dish best served cold. That's a saying that's been around for a while and Dieterich put it into action Friday evening in the Class 1A South Central Boys Basketball Regional.

Dieterich and North Clay had squared off during the regular season with the Cardinals coming out a 53-46 winner on February 7 in National Trail Conference action.

This time it was the Movin' Maroons who took the prize, this one a regional championship by a 20-point margin, 69-49.

But it wasn't the Maroons who took the opening quarter lead. North Clay stepped out on a 16-10 run as Cody Zimdars scored six points, Mason Byers five and Lane Wolfe put in a three-pointer.

Dieterich then came back in a decisive way both offensively and defensively.

The Maroons went on an offensive run as Landen Keck scored eight points, Lucas Westendorf had seven and Brock Niemerg put in five for a 40-33 lead at halftime. Meanwhile, North Clay could muster only one basket by Byers and  hit the other four points from the free throw line.

Dieterich kept the momentum going with a 25-18 third quarter. Keck went on a run from beyond the arc, connecting on three. Meanwhile, Bryce Bohnhoff, who hadn't scored in the first half, tallied six points.

Then it was a parade to the free throw line in the final period. Dieterich put in seven of 13 with Keck hitting two baskets and two free throws. Westendorf also added on another three to his repertoire of points.

The Cardinals couldn't get going. The lone basket was a three by Carder Walden. Gavin Hosselton added four of four at the line and Walden put in two.

Keck led three players in double figures for the Maroons. He hit 10 field goals, half of those from three-point range, and was three of five at the line for 28. Westendorf finished with 17 on seven field goals, three of those from trifecta land. B. Niemerg finished with 12. Dieterich hit nine three-pointers led by Keck with five and Westendorf with three.

The Cardinals saw a 10-game winning streak come to a close and finished the season with a 24-10 record.

They were led by one player in double figures. Zimdars hit five field goals and four free throws for 14. Byers, Hosselton and Walden all had nine each.

Dieterich is now 26-7 and will meet Tuscola in the Red Hill (Bridgeport) Sectional Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tuscola won the Chrisman Regional with a 57-54 victory over Casey-Westfield. In Wednesday play, St. Anthony faces Webber Township (Bluford) at 7 p.m. 

The winners will advance to the championship game at 7 p.m. Friday with a berth in the Charleston Super-Sectional on the line.

Class 1A South Central Regional

Championship

DIETERICH (69)

Will 0-1 -- 1, Keck 10-3 -- 28, Cook 0-0 -- 0, Funneman 2-0 -- 4, B. Niemerg 3-5 -- 12, Bohnhoff 3-1 -- 7, Meinhart 0-0 -- 0, Westendorf 7-0 -- 17, T. Niemerg 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 25 FG, 10 FT.

NORTH CLAY (49)

Atwood 1-0 -- 3, Zimdars 5-4 -- 14, Wolfe 1-0 -- 3, Griffey 0-2 -- 2, Byers 3-2 -- 9, Hosselton 2-5 -- 9, Walden 3-2 -- 9. TOTALS 15 FG, 15 FT.

Dieterich                 10    20    25    14    --    69

North Clay               16     6    18      9    --    49

3-point FG -- Dieterich 9 (Keck 5, Westendorf 3, B. Niemerg 1), North Clay 4 (Atwood 1, Wolfe 1, Byers 1, Walden 1).