A lot to learn from Battle 4 The Bay

SANDUSKY — Now is the time to grow.Calvert finished just 1-4 overall at Battle 4 The Bay at Cedar Point Sports Center this week, but the Senecas are learning, adapting and getting to know each other.Pool play games were played with two 20-minute running clock halves while bracket games were one 14-minute running clock half."Lots of positives," Calvert coach Jon Otterbacher said. "In the summer, you're going to be learning and growing and evolving as a player. Being the first time that we were even together because of multiple sports and multiple kids elsewhere, I thought we did a lot of good things to get better."Calvert was on the wrong end of a hot shooting Hudson team in the first tournament game. The Senecas led 8-6 early before the Explorers caught fire from 3.Hudson knocked down five straight triples, fueling what became a 23-0 run for the Explorers. Hudson won the game 35-10."I don't care about the size of the school," Otterbacher said. "I love playing in these competitions because those guys get in the gym a lot and are fundamental and disciplined. They finish around the rim. Those are things we teach our kids to do. We want our kids to look at that and want to be that good."Earlier in the day, Calvert lost 57-51 to Western Reserve. The Senecas used a 16-0 run to surge ahead 25-13, only for the Roughriders to claw back within 28-26 at halftime.WR took the lead in the second half, but Calvert stayed close. The Senecas got within 52-50 after Logan DeMoss split two free throws, but that was the closest Calvert got.The Senecas scored just one point the rest of the way. Logan Ritzler paced Calvert with 18 points while Grady Otterbacher scored 14 and DeMoss added 11."We have to be more disciplined and more team-orientated," coach Otterbacher said. "We have rules we need to follow as teammates and when you don't follow the rules, other people get out of position and we give up wide-open looks. For the most part, a lot of kids got better today. They grew together as a team. We'll regroup and learn how to play together."There's a lot of time before the season starts. Calvert has big pieces like Carter Wolph and Gavin Wagner to replace from last year's team that won 20 games and finished runner-up in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division."We need to find role players that do the little things to get better," coach Otterbacher said. "We know we're going to have some scoring. We know we're going to learn to rebound and box out as a team. For the most part, we need to hit the weight room right now in the summer. That's the best time you can do it."Clyde crashes out lateThe Fliers went 2-1 in pool play with a close loss to Division VI state runner-up Marion Local when it opened Tuesday's pool play finale against Lima Bath.The Fliers led by 14 in the first half, but the Wildcats rallied for the win.Once in the March Madness-like bracket, Clyde had a late lead against Creston Norwayne before a late 3 gave Norwayne a 26-25 win, ending the Fliers' day.Pool play games were played with two 20-minute running clock halves while bracket games were one 14-minute running clock half."There's a lot of positives to take away," Clyde coach Jared Shetzer said. "I think sometimes we focus too much on the negative of things. We felt like we had that game against Norwayne, but let it get away. We let a game this morning against Bath get away. Some of it is we're trying to build confidence and play a lot of different kids. I think the other part of it is we're learning each other still."Chase Castle gave the Fliers a 25-23 lead against the Bobcats late only for Norwayne hit a triple with about 15 seconds to play.Clyde moved the ball up the court, but struggled to find an open shot. Oscar Webb's triple in traffic clanked the rim, eliminating the Fliers with an overall record of 3-3.Clyde got to the round of 32 with a wild 21-19 win over Lakewood.The Rangers jumped out to a 14-5 lead before Clyde got back in the game. The Fliers tied the game at 16 and led 20-19 late.Freshman Jecori Roberts split two free throws with five seconds left. Lakewood didn't get a shot off in time, giving Clyde the win."The nice thing about that one was we were able to have some more experienced guys mixed with some younger guys," Shetzer said. "We don't quit. Our kids just played and played, even when they were down."Against Bath, Clyde raced out to a 24-10 lead. The Wildcats got within 31-27 at halftime and slowly surged ahead in the second half."I don't want to put it on the kids, but you sub some kids in that don't have a lot of experience," Shetzer said. "They make a couple bad choices and you get a couple bad breaks. They have to learn and grow from it. When they get in a varsity game, you have to take care of the ball and keep your man in front."Bellevue finishes 0-6The Redmen never got things going Tuesday, losing two pool games before dropping their bracket game.Bellevue dropped games to Marion Local (53-30) and Worthington Christian (53-40) in pool play action. Then, the Redmen were on the wrong end of a 25-16 loss to Medina Christian.