RUSHVILLE — In a busy final week of the regular season, the Lions dropped two close road games.

At Centerville, the Lions battled back to fall one point shy of the Bulldogs 52-51.

The Bulldogs grabbed a 13-10 lead after the first quarter behind a trio of 3-pointers. With

the lead at five early in the second quarter, Rushville’s Monte Sitton found Cameron Cox for

the bucket. Cox then fed Hunter Orme as the Lions cut the deficit to one. Following a

basket by Centerville’s Dallas Stiller, Cox hit another bucket and Matt Niehoff drained a 3-

pointer to put the Lions on top 19-17.

Two more Cox buckets were sandwiched around a free throw by Centerville’s Braden King

as the Lions led 23-18 at the half.

Early in the third, the Lions opened a 9-point lead on two Niehoff free throws. The Bulldogs

then went on an 11-0 run as an Eli Callahan 3-pointer and two free throws by Suttle put

the Bulldogs on top 31-29. Cox scored the next four points before a Suttle score had the

teams even at 33-33 heading to the fourth quarter.

Stiller scored the first four points of the final quarter to give Centerville a 37-33 lead. Cox

scored to briefly stop the Bulldog momentum, but back-to-back 3-pointers by King and

Callahan extended the Bulldog lead to 43-35. Cox’s 18th point stopped the run by the

Bulldogs. Two Niehoff free throws and a rebound bucket by Cox cut the deficit to four at 45-

41.

The Bulldogs were able to stretch the lead out to seven before Sitton hit from downtown.

After two free throws by King, Niehoff completed the traditional three-point play and the

Lions were within three. A desperation 3-pointer at the end was no good and Niehoff’s

rebound put back just before the horn made the final margin 52-51.

Cox led all scorers with 20 points. Niehoff finished with 16 followed by Sitton seven, Orme

six and Plough two.

On Tuesday, the Lions finished the conference schedule on the road at Yorktown. The

Tigers built a 15-point fourth-quarter lead and held off the Lions’ rally to win 69-64.

The Lions grabbed the 13-11 lead after the first quarter. Will Sickbert, Orme, Sitton, Cox

and Niehoff all scored in the quarter for the Lions.

The second quarter was the difference in the ball game. The Tigers went on two big runs –

an 8-0 run to open the quarter and later a 10-0 run. Hogan Crenshaw opened the second

with a 3-pointer and Zach Smith’s 3-pointer capped the 8-0 start for the Tigers. Brandon

Plough’s 3-pointer got the Lions going in the quarter. Sitton followed with a bucket to cut

the deficit to one.

The Tigers then went on a 10-0 spurt. Tyler Brumley started the run and Crenshaw capped

it as the Tigers led 29-18. Niehoff’s triple stopped the run by the Tigers. After a bucket by

Joe Todd for the Tigers, Orme and Cox combined to score the final four points of the half

as the Lions trailed 33-23 at the break.

The Lions put 15 points on the board in the third quarter, but were unable to make up any

ground as the Tigers scored 17. Plough’s bucket at the buzzer cut the deficit to 50-38

heading to the fourth quarter.

The Tigers pushed the lead to 15 points on a Todd bucket. Rushville then started to battle

back. Back-to-back-to-back buckets by Orme, Cox and Niehoff cut the deficit to 59-50.

Plough then dialed long distance, connected and drew the foul. He completed the four-point

play with the free throw and the Lions were within five at 59-54 with less than two minutes

to play.

After a Crenshaw bucket, Orme finished the traditional three-point play to get the Lions

within four. Four points from Cook and two from Phillips quickly pushed the Tiger lead back

to double digits and that margin was too much to overcome. A 3-pointer by Sitton ended

the game as the Lions fell to the Tigers 69-64.

Orme led the Lions with 18 points. Sitton had 16 and Plough finished with 14. Cook led the

Tigers with 21.

The Lions (5-14) finish the regular season at Knightstown (1-18) Friday.

 - Rushville Republican