Streaky Tornadoes start fast in 57-47 win

It was almost a repeat of the game just last Thursday as Columbian built a big lead on Perkins. But the Pirates battled back and took the Tornadoes down to the wire – but lost. The same could be said about the second matchup Wednesday night in Tiffin as the Tornadoes stormed out to a 24-12 first-quarter lead, but then the Pirates battled back only to falter again in the end – this time 57-47 – in SBC Lake play.Every time Perkins (10-7, 3-4 SBC Lake) would push TC (9-9, 4-3), the Tornadoes had an answer or a quick spurt offensively to pull away. That was certainly the case in the fourth quarter as after a Sam Schweinfurth 3-pointer pulled Perkins within 45-44 with 4:49 left in the contest, Columbian ended the game on a 12-3 run to ice it, including some big shots from Mitch Stephey and DaShawn Russell."This team has just come together so much since the first of the year. They're really starting to fire on all cylinders and it's because they've bought in," Fretz said. "They're bought-in to what we're doing at Columbian. They've bought-in to the culture, they've bought-in to working hard in practice and making each other better."We don't blame guys for things, we build them up if they're down and that has changed since the first game to now. Once that changed it allowed us to learn the game a little more, to play hard as a team, to make that pass to get someone else open and we share the ball better. Earlier in the season we'd get up on teams and we'd give up the lead because they were still learning how to win together. That's something we developed over Christmas break and over the first of the year and I couldn't be prouder of these guys for the way we've played since the first of the year."After the Schweinfurth trey, TC's Russell scored the next four points. But Perkins responded as Joey Diederich drilled a triple of his own to bring Perkins within 49-47 with 3:04 left. However, TC ended the game with an 8-0 run as Zach Shawberry got loose on a back-cut for a layup and Stephey buried a huge corner 3-pointer to end it."That's what it's all about right now is playing consistent for 32 minutes," Pirates coach Eric Kochendoerfer said. "That's not all about offensive or defensive execution, but about hustle plays, taking charges and getting on 50-50 balls and that's on me and the coaches, we have to be doing that. We have the talent out there, but we think our talent will take over for our effort … but I think Tiffin did a great job with the 50-50 balls, getting their hands on passes deflecting things, getting into the lanes. They won that game because they wanted it more than us. That's a sad thing to see as a coach."Just six days ago, Columbian managed to hold off the Pirates and it did it again. Fretz's team has a different look to it of late as the Tornadoes have won four straight and six of its last seven. Certainly a dangerous team heading into February.The streaky Tornadoes came out on fire Wednesday with a 24-12 lead after one. TC got just about everything it wanted in the first eight minutes of the contest. But then the Pirates stiffened up and got back in it with a 15-7 second frame, including a 13-4 run to start. "Perkins is a good team. They're very athletic and very talented, so we know they're going to make a run," Fretz said. "But the resilience again by our guys – we had a 20-point lead on them at their place at halftime and they came back to tie it – so to play with that resiliency and pull out the win it was big for our guys."Schweinfurth paced the Pirates with 11 points, while Kellen Glass, Diederich and Tim Boals all ended with nine points. Shawberry led TC with 15 points, followed by Russell with 13 and Logan Gooding with 11.The Tornadoes are playing with confidence right now and it's showing. Can they keep it up against rival Bellevue Saturday night? Stay tuned."With how our guys practice and are coachable, I have all confidence in them that we'll be ready," Fretz said of the matchup with the Redmen. "Bellevue is a tough team. They beat Perkins, played Sandusky tough both times and dropped one recently to Clyde, but we think they'll be at full-go against us and ready to go."I can't wait for the atmosphere. It will be the first time I get to coach against Bellevue in this gym and I'm looking forward to it, but I know our guys will be mentally and physically ready for it." Columbian 57, Perkins 47Perkins (10-7, 3-4 SBC Lake): Sam Schweinfurth 4-0-11; Kash Koch 0-0-0; Joey Diederich 4-0-9; Bryce Davie 1-0-2; Kaden Legando 3-1-7; Kellen Glass 4-1-9; Vinny Strohl 0-0-0; Tim Boals 2-3-9; Levi Groot 1-0-2. Totals: 22-5-47.TC (9-9, 4-3): Owen Hickey 1-0-2; Zach Shawberry 7-1-15; Mitch Stephey 3-0-7; Logan Gooding 4-1-11; DaShawn Russell 4-4-13; Nolan Miller 1-0-3; Logan Smith 1-0-2; Bradley Willman 2-0-4. Totals: 23-6-57.Perkins&emsp;&emsp;12&emsp;&emsp;15&emsp;&emsp;12&emsp;&emsp;8&emsp;&emsp;– 47Columbian&emsp;&emsp;24&emsp;&emsp;7&emsp;&emsp;10&emsp;&emsp;16&emsp;&emsp;– 573-point goals: Perkins 4 (Schweinfurth 3, Diederich); Columbian 5 (Gooding 2, Stephey, Russell, Miller)Foul shots: Perkins 5-10; Columbian 6-8Turnovers: Perkins 6; Columbian 12