Fourth-quarter comeback

CELINA - Celina survived a hot start in the first quarter by Kenton.

It nearly didn't survive a third-quarter cold spell that left them trailing by 13 going to the fourth quarter.

But the Bulldogs persevered, going ahead with 40 seconds remaining in regulation and hanging on for dear life for their first win of the boys basketball season with a 41-39 victory over the Wildcats in Western Buckeye League action on Friday night at the Fieldhouse, snapping a nine-game losing streak.

"One thing about these guys this season (is) it hasn't been easy playing Marion Local and teams with some size," said Celina coach Adam Johns. "We built a little resiliency and kept battling. We made just enough plays (tonight) to come out with the win."

Celina overcame Kenton's Tyson Lawrence scoring 11 points in the first quarter and 16 points in the first half to take a 21-20 lead into the half, but Colby Quay knocked down a 3-pointer a minute into the third to put Kenton in front 23-21. The Bulldogs struggled, missing five straight shots and turning the ball over three times as they patiently tried to find an open shot, and Kenton started to pull away as Parker Rarey had five points in the quarter and Ethan Yoder added four.

Celina finally snapped a cold spell lasting 7:02 on Isaac Rasawehr's layup, then Kaiden Werntz scored just before the horn to cut Kenton's lead to 34-25 after three.

While the buzzer ended the quarter, it didn't dampen the Bulldogs' momentum. Rasawehr got another back-door pass underneath to start the third quarter and after a pair of Yoder free throws, Rasawehr scored again. Werntz followed with a bucket with 5 1/2 minutes to play, then 90 seconds later Braylon Gabes scored to make it 36-33. After another Kenton turnover, Braylon Gabes got Celina within a point with 3:44 to play in regulation.

"We could have had a better start to the third (quarter)," said Johns. "I think the key was hitting a couple of shots to give us some life going into the fourth. We attacked their pressure and zone a little bit more. We have to manufacture some shots around the rim in the fourth, which we did."

Quay hit a trey with 2:15 to play to give Kenton a two-possession lead, but Caleb Gabes got the hoop-and-harm 3-point play with 1:56 to play to get the margin back to one. With fouls to give, Celina used one, and on the ensuing possession, Kenton was called for over-and-back to give Celina the ball with a minute to play. The Bulldogs had two shots just miss, but Werntz got the third try to go through with 40.6 seconds remaining to give Celina a 40-39 lead.

After a Kenton timeout and a Celina foul to stop any momentum, Carter Altstateter came up with the ball on a turnover. Kenton fouled, but the foul came around the head-and-neck area, resulting in an automatic intentional foul. Altstatetter missed the first free throw but made the second with 16.9 seconds left, and Kenton was forced to foul to put Celina back on the line.

Werntz missed the front end of the one-and-bonus, but got his own rebound and was fouled again. Werntz missed the second, but Braylon Gabes got hold of the ball and was fouled with just 6.5 seconds left. Gabes missed and Kenton sprinted down court, but Yoder's trey was short, giving Celina the victory.

"We held them to five (points) in the fourth quarter," said Johns. "It's very difficult to hold teams, especially one with their shooting ability, to five points. We did a real good job on the glass at the end of the game."

Braylon Gabes paced Celina with 11 points. Caleb Gabes and Werntz each finished with eight.

Lawrence, who was 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-7 from the 3-point line in the first half, was held scoreless in the second half to finish with a game-high 16. Yoder and Rarey each added eight.

Celina tries to start a winning streak tonight with a short trek to Coldwater for a freshmen/junior varsity/varsity tripleheader starting at 4:30 p.m.