Meigs Comes Back to Stun Alexander
By: Alex Porter
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ALBANY, Ohio – The TVC-Ohio still has to crown a conference champion even though the season is nearing an end. Tuesday night the Meigs Marauders traveled to Albany to take on the Alexander Spartans in an important matchup.
When top players for Meigs, senior Weston Baer and sophomore Coulter Cleland, combine for at least 35 points or more, the Marauders are 6-2. Tuesday night, Baer and Cleland combined for 45 of Meigs’ 53 points as the Marauders came out victorious 53-41 over Alexander.
The Spartans were tenacious on the defensive end throughout the first half, preventing progress for star guard Weston Baer. The credit for that defensive success can be given to the Spartans’ Trey Schaller who gave the Marauders headaches on the offensive end for a large portion of the game.
As Baer was having trouble getting going offensively, Cleland was single-handedly responsible for keeping Meigs within striking distance.
“I felt like I played pretty well without practicing yesterday,” Cleland said.
According to Meigs Head Coach Jeremy Hill, Cleland missed practice Monday night due to illness but wasn’t affected dropping 27 points along with six rebounds.
The Spartans had a backcourt duo of Kaleb Easly and Kyler D’Augustino doing some damage as well easily leading the way for the Spartans in scoring with 18 points. D’Augustino was a close second with 15 points while adding three rebounds.
Jeremy Hill had some high praise for D’Augustino after the game.
“With D’Augustino and Coulter Cleland, there’s going to be some fine basketball to watch over the next few years,” he said.
Despite the victory, Meigs did not have a clear path for the win the whole game. Coming out of the halftime break, Alexander was leading 26-20 and maintained a similar lead throughout the third quarter. The play from Easly and D’Augustino was hindered as the tempo and energy from the Marauders grew heading into the fourth quarter and that was all Meigs needed to lock the game away.
“If you keep the kids focused and they go out and do their jobs, you can be successful,” Hill said. “This place is extremely difficult to play at and to come out with a win really feels nice.”
The Marauders kept their focus heading into the final quarter of play down 33-32, and never allowed Alexander to lead again. Although Weston Baer had a tough time to get the ball consistently into the basket through the first three quarters, the fourth wasn’t a problem. Baer got the stroke going into the fourth as he finished with 18 points.
But another player on the Meigs roster can be accredited with a huge fourth quarter performance. Freshman Ethan Stewart had only three points on the night, but it was three points that put the game away. Stewart hit the dagger three along the left wing with 1:24 left in the game. Smith also finished with three rebounds and four steals.
“I’m just feeling great,” Stewart said. “I’m just trying to do what coach [Hill] says. … It felt good.”
After the 53-41 outcome, Meigs will move to a 11-8 record (7-3 TVC-Ohio). As for Alexander, the Spartans will go to 12-6 (7-2 TVC-Ohio). Looking ahead to the OHSAA playoffs in the coming weeks, both teams will look to make lengthy runs deep into the tournament.