Plenty of fight

LIMA - If Celina had blown a double-digit lead earlier in the season, the end result would have likely been a loss.

But that was then, and this is now.

The Bulldogs saw Napoleon trim a 10-point deficit into a 26-all halftime tie on Tuesday night. This time, Celina promptly built the lead back and sustained it in the second half for a 57-44 victory in the Division II boys basketball sectional semifinal at Lima Senior High School.

Celina (3-20), snapping a regular-season ending 10-game losing streak and winning for the first time since Jan. 17, returns to Lima on Friday night to face the top team in the state in undefeated Shawnee at 6:15 p.m. The Indians defeated the Bulldogs 83-45 on Dec. 13 in the league meeting between the teams.

"I'm just happy for these kids," said Celina coach Jay Imwalle. "I know it's been a frustrating season. I'm happy they can experience a tournament win."

The Bulldogs came out firing in the first quarter, shooting 5-of-9 from the floor while Napoleon was 4-of-13. Celina led 14-11 after the first quarter and scored the first seven points of the second quarter to go up 21-11. Napoleon (5-18) fought its way back with 3-point shooting from Zack Rosebrook, Landon Willeman and Jarrett Gerdeman to tie the game at 26-all with 22 seconds remaining in the half.

Ethan Wilson put the Bulldogs back in front to start the third quarter with free throws. A Josh Mack free toss got Napoleon back to within one, but a point was all the closer the Wildcats got the rest of the way as Celina held Napoleon to five point in the quarter. Max Thobe and Quinn Andrew hit big shots and Conner Altstaetter hit a trey with four minutes remaining to make the score 35-29. Thobe later added two big offensive stickbacks to give Celina a 41-31 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

"Rosebrook got a couple of open shots in the first half and we talked about it at halftime," said Imwalle. "I'm really happy how the kids played (in the second half). Switching up the defense and communication bothered Napoleon a little bit."

A quick run of points by Napoleon cut the margin to five early in the fourth quarter, but Celina began to make what became numerous trips to the foul line when Celina was firmly entrenched in the bonus and later double bonus. Wilson was a perfect 6-of-6 from the stripe in the final quarter and Thobe and Jack Duncan each contributed free throws to extend the lead well into double digits down the stretch.

"I think we ended up shooting 48% from the field and happy we shot 73% (19-of-26) from the foul line," said Imwalle. "We made them when we had to."

Thobe was 6-of-7 from the floor to finish with a game-high 17 points for Celina. Wilson finished 8-of-8 from the stripe to add 16 points and Andrew chipped in with 11.

"I thought our two seniors (Thobe and Wilson) played really well tonight," said Imwalle.

Rosebrook finished with 16 to lead Napoleon. Mack scored 10.

In the nightcap at Lima, Elida held off Kenton 47-42 to advance and play Wauseon at 8 p.m. on Friday. Elida led 16-3 at the half before Kenton came back to cut the margin to 25-21 after three quarters.