Warriors get by Rams, stay in N10 race

SYCAMORE — Mohawk jumped out ahead of Upper Sandusky early and commanded a double-digit lead throughout most of the game as it cruised to a 50-38 home win in Northern 10 Conference play.The Warriors had three players score in double digits in their ninth-straight victory and fifth-straight in the N10 as they sit one game behind the conference front runner, Colonel Crawford (16-1, 11-0). Upper Sandusky (13-5 overall, 7-4 N10) still sits in third place with two weeks left in Northern 10 competition."You can try not to magnify it, but obviously we did know what's at stake here and the rest of the season," Mohawk coach Paul Dunn said. "That's why our kids were a little bit tense early there."The Rams held their only lead of the game when Brock Montgomery made two free throws to go up, 2-0.Mohawk's Kahne Hayman responded with a bucket inside the paint. A couple possessions later, teammate Hunter Haynes snagged an offensive rebound and put it back for the only lead change of the game.The Warriors' Connor Flood got into the mix then with an inside basket. Two offensive possessions later, Hayman knocked down a three from the top of the key.Then, Upper's Kaimen Iles sank a couple free throws to end a 9-0 run for Mohawk.Boomer Cleveland banked it off the glass, and Flood scored in the lane to end the quarter with a 13-4 Mohawk lead. The Rams did not make a single field goal in the entire first quarter.Iles scored inside for the first field goal for Upper only to have the Warriors' Haynes drain a three-pointer from the right wing to start the second period.The Warrior's Cleveland went coast-to-coast for a right-handed layup then teammate Kaleb Bish went baseline and converted a reverse layup to push the score to 20-6.The Rams' Justin Heilman took his team on his back over offensively over the next few minutes as Heilman made a short bank shot to start.Mohawk's Bish to hit a triple from behind the arc in response.That is when Justin Heilman swished a trey himself from the left wing to answer back for Upper Sandusky.A few possessions later, Hayman dribble-penetrated into the lane for a short jumper. Justin Heilman, again, took it upon himself to hit a spin move in the paint and score to make it a 12-point game.Mohawk's Flood put back an offensive rebound before the teams swapped foul shots. Cleveland got a steal and took it for a left-handed layup at the other end.The Rams' Iles made a three from the right wing to end the scoring in the first half: Mohawk 30, Upper Sandusky 17.After a Josh Heilman foul shot for the Orange & Black to start off the third quarter, the Warriors' Hayman and Bish each scored baskets in the lane.Upper's Montgomery tipped-in an offensive board, and teammate Justin Heilman made a couple from the charity stripe. However, Bish was able to get another close bucket to keep any run from the Rams at bay.After three quarters, Mohawk held a 36-22 advantage.Mohawk opened the final period with a 10-0 run catalyzed by Bish's conversion of an and-one opportunity.The Warriors' Ben Bogner darted a pass to Cleveland in the paint for a short two points. Cleveland then scored on a layup and tree-pointer from the right wing.Iles hit a trey from the left corner to end the run, and Montgomery made an and-one to show the Rams still had some fight left in them.Mohawk's Cleveland went baseline and layed it nicely in the net to prove the Warriors weren't quite done themselves.That's when Upper's Luke Schoenberger made a three followed by teammate Josh Heilman easy layup.The Warriors' Andon Clouse scored on a bank shot, the Rams' Schoenberger and Josh Heilman made a second three and scored in the lane respectively.Coach Dunn discussed with the Warriors' having limited practice as the season comes to a close; pointing out to them that they have games the next three Saturdays plus three games next week."So we've got to find ways to get better and prepare ourselves to win," Coach Dunn concluded.Bish had 12 points to lead Mohawk while Cleveland and Haynes added 10 a piece.Upper Sandusky's Iles led his team with 10 points.