Third time is not a charm for Willard

Gazette Sports Editor

sports@gazettepublishingco.com

ASHLAND -- Wednesday night was unlike the last two meetings of the Bellevue Redmen versus the Willard Flashes. On this night Willard couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and Bellevue's team play ran on all cylinders as they dominated the league match-up at the Division II District Tournament with a 58-34 victory.

The Redmen jumped out to a quick nine-point lead as they displayed their type of team ball that they have bragging rights to as the team's nine points came from four seniors in the first four minutes of the quarter. It was Curt Watson who started the run with two from the key as Ed Haynes followed with two of his own from under the basket. A half-court steal by Cody Ruhlman counted for two down the stretch as Jake Sears stepped behind the arc and made it count for three.

The Redmen got two more from Watson as freshman Jalen Santoro showed his worth with a steal and a lay-up to push Bellevue ahead 13-5 for the Redmen's last two of the stanza as Willard added one more field goal for a 13-7 score after eight minutes.

The men in red grinded out the second quarter, outscoring Willard 10-2. Bellevue took tally's from Haynes off a picture-perfect assist from Sears with two more from Ruhlman a minute later. It was Ruhlman's next six points that in the minds of those fanatics who made the drive to Ashland put the game away as he hit a trey at the two minute mark followed a tickling of the twine with two seconds left in the half, but to Head Coach Mike Raifsnider it was nowhere near over.

"I don't think I ever thought it was put away," Raifsnider said. "I don't look at it like that... I coach all the way to the end like it's 0-0 and that's why I called a time-out right there at the end because we were letting them dribble penetrate on us. My kids have to realize that you have to play hard and do all of the fundamental things like the scores 0-0. When you are in a close ball game it's going to come down to that."

If Ruhlman wanted to show his coach of two years that the outcome was in fact going to be okay and it was in the bag, he did so with only 17 seconds off the clock in the third quarter as he drained one from downtown land to give Bellevue a 26-9 lead. Even if it wasn't the cushion Raifsnider needed to take a seat and relax -- it was all over.

Bellevue's astounding student section started the chanting at tip-off but the most important chant began with six minutes left in the fourth: "Start the buses."

"I've got a whole team of unselfish guys. When we win we win together as a team. It takes a whole group effort to get things done and we're just happy to be moving on to the next step. It's exciting and I'm very excited for the kids. I want them to be excited for the moment because they don't give em' to you, you have to earn them. It's been a long time for Bellevue to be here and I want my kids to enjoy this, but don't get caught up in it."

The Redmen were led by Ruhlman with an impressive 22, while he was followed by Watson in double digits with 10. Haynes pumped in eight, Santoro seven, and Jeff Roth five. Sears added four to the scoring column, while Hay added two. Willard was led by Santiago Sanchez and Brandon Cochran with nine each, as the Willard roster were held to single digit scoring.

"Cody had an outstanding game tonight. He got a couple of quick fouls on him early and we took him out of the game. I was actually a little upset at what he was doing for me defensively, but when we took him out he settled down a little bit and when he went back in he pretty much took over and had a really nice floor game. He handled the ball really well and took some great shots for us and I thought one of the biggest baskets he made was one of the three's that he hit right before the half," said Raifsnider. "His performance tonight is what I expect. Cody is a go-to guy and he's the guy that other teams focus on shutting down and he's got to work that much harder to get himself open and that much harder to be productive like he was tonight. They always say big-time players play big in big-time games and I thought he played big in a big game for me. That's what he supposed to do.

"Little by little Jalen is finding his niche. We had Jake Sears sick tonight, and heading into the game I didn't even know if he was going to play. I told Jalen before the game that it was possible he would get some extra minutes, and he took it in stride," Raifsnider added. "He has done a lot of good things for us on the floor this season."

The Bellevue Redmen will play the 22-0 Port Clinton Redskins this Saturday, March 13 at Ashland University in the Division II District Championship game. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Tickets for Bellevue fans and basketball fans in the area will be pre-sold at Bellevue Senior High School on Thursday, March 11 and Friday, March 12 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for students. All tickets will be $6 at the door if tickets remain.

Parking is available in lots around the gym and student activity center. A $2 parking charge will be assessed in some lots around Ashland University.

"Port Clinton has a great ball team, and that's obviously why they're undefeated like they are. It's going to be a huge task for us, but I think it's a great opportunity for us," Raifsnider said. "We're going to go up against an undefeated team and see where we stack up. We're going to come in here Saturday night with nothing to lose and everything to gain."

<¥nba>Box Score

<¥nba>Bellevue (16-6)

<¥nba>Jalen Santoro -- 3-0-1=7; Jake Sears -- 0-1-1=4; Cody Ruhlman -- 3-3-7=22; Curt Watson -- 5-0-0=10; Ed Haynes -- 4-0-0=8; Jeff Roth -- 1-0-3=5; Andrew Hay -- 1-0-0=2. Totals --17-4-12=58.

<¥nba>Willard (11-11)

<¥nba>Santiago Sanchez -- 1-1-4=9; Brandon Cochran -- 4-0-1=9; Jalen Douglas -- 1-0-2=4; Eric Danhoff -- 2-0-0=4 ; Marcus Hahler --1-1-1=6; Spencer Temple -- 1-0-2=4. Totals -- 10-2-8=34.

<¥nba>Score by quarter

<¥nba>Bellevue 13 10 19 16 58

<¥nba>Willard 7 2 12 13 34

<¥nba>3PT FG -- (B) Jake Sears 1, Cody Ruhlman 3; (W) Santiago Snachez 1, Marcus Hahler 1.