Beat the clock

CELINA - It was one of those nights where Celina coach Adam Johns had to ponder what else his team could have done to come out of the Fieldhouse with the victory. His Bulldogs played a stellar defensive contest against Wapakoneta that would have resulted in a win nine times out of 10.

But Braeden Goulet's driving layup just before the final buzzer gave the Redskins a 32-30 victory on Friday.

The Bulldogs drop to 6-13 and 2-6 in Western Buckeye League play while Wapakoneta moves to 14-5 and 5-3 in the league.

"Everybody gravitates to the end of the game," said Johns. "Oftentimes, I look at what could have happened differently in the first, second or third quarter, a loose ball here or a defensive rebound there."

Both teams took away the other's strength: Celina's inside presence via Josh Rasawehr and Wapak's outside game.

"They wanted to take away our inside stuff and we wanted to take away their outside stuff," said Johns. "Each team took advantage of what the other team was giving them for a little bit, but would have loved to see a little more aggressiveness attacking the basket."

Celina countered the packing of the paint with 3-point shooting as Quinn Andrew hit two big treys early and Braylon Gabes added another to put the Bulldogs in front 9-2 with 3 1/2 minutes gone off the clock. Wapakoneta countered with drives as Kaden Siefring and Zach Rogers had driving buckets to trim Celina's margin to 9-6 after the first quarter.

The Bulldogs went 10 1/2 minutes without scoring a point after that last trey by Andrew, but maintained their lead. Dylan Feister ended the cold spell with two free throws with 2:01 remaining in the half and Rasawehr got his first bucket a minute later to keep the Bulldogs in front 13-10 at halftime.

The teams combined to shoot 24.3% (9-of-37) from the floor in the first half.

"We did that same thing on Monday night. We kept battling," said Johns, referring to the 44-36 loss at Defiance. "We kept battling and eventually the shots would go and get momentum. We didn't have enough."

Celina attempted to pull away, getting up 21-14 with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter, but Wapakoneta worked its way back into being a possession or two behind as the Bulldogs maintained its three-point margin at 25-22 heading to the fourth quarter.

Andrew started out the final quarter with a trey to make it 28-22 Celina, but Jackson Courter hit the first Redskin 3-pointer of the game - after they started out 0-for-12 - seconds later to get the Redskins back to within three. Grant Bauer trimmed the margin down to 28-26 with just over four minutes to play, only to have Connor Altstaetter hit a pair of free throws 30 seconds later to make it 30-26. Siefring drove the lane to cut it to two again and after a Celina turnover, Bauer tied the game with a jumper in the lane with just under three minutes remaining in regulation.

Celina lost the ball on its ensuing possession, but Wapak missed a shot and Andrew rebounded. The Bulldogs looked inside, but Rasawehr was double-teamed. Braylon Gabes had a quality look at the go-ahead, but was just off the mark, Goulet rebounded and Wapak went for the final basket of regulation. With Siefring guarded, Goulet found a lane and put the ball in the basket just before the final buzzer to end the game.

"Braylon had a great look at the end but couldn't get it. That changed the way the game ended," said Johns.

Andrew led Celina with 12 points on 4-of-7 3-point shooting. Braylon Gabes added seven.

Siefring led all players with 14 points, eight coming in the third quarter.

Celina wraps up the home schedule tonight as Lima Central Catholic travels to the Fieldhouse.