WESTERVILLE — The Fredericktown Freddies, who appeared to be in control for most of Tuesday’s Division III district semifinal, were outplayed in the fourth quarter.
The Worthington Christian Warriors came on strong in the end and won, 46-33, at Westerville North High School.
The Freddies, who led by eight points at the half, saw their lead evaporate in the third. They were then held to just a pair of field goals as they were stopped cold in the final quarter. The disappointing loss ends the Freddies’ season that took them to a 17-6 record — just one win from playing for much bigger stakes at the Fairgrounds Coliseum.
Junior Ryan Logan knocked down five first-quarter points for the Freddies, leading them to an early 9-8 lead. In the second quarter, it was the Freddies’ defense that had the key stops and held the Warriors to only three points.
The Freddies grabbed a 12-11 lead on a Nash Cunningham 3-pointer midway through the second quarter. That score unleashed a 10-0 run that took the Freddies into the locker room with a 19-11 advantage.
“We were able to capitalize on the stops,” said Fredericktown head coach Mark DeLaney. “I thought that they did an outstanding job defensively, keeping (the Warriors) in front and moving the basketball.”
Still up 21-15 in the third, the Freddies left the back door open underneath the basket. Warriors post player Jacob Hayes stepped in, grabbing an Isaiah Keene pass and getting the easy layup to close the gap to 21-17. Logan (13 points) later landed a 3-pointer, putting the Freddies ahead, 26-19.
In the final 1 1/2 minutes of the third quarter, the Warriors came to life. Buckets by Kyle Wade (seven points) and Samuel Condon (16 points) left the Freddies clinging to a 26-25 lead.
