For the first five minutes of the game, the #20 seeded Tecumseh boys’ basketball team were right with the #1 seed Springfield squad. The game was tied at ten, and the Arrows went right at the Wildcats.
Just that quickly, Springfield flexed some muscle and went on a 13-3 run to end the quarter to set the tempo and dominate the Arrows 85-42 in the opening round of the Division One sectional tournament at Trotwood Madison on Friday night.
With the loss, the Arrows end their season with a 5-18 record, while the Wildcats advance in what they hope is the start of a nice tournament run. It was also the 100th career win for Isiah Carson, the Wildcats coach.
Tecumseh came out strong, jumping in front 6-3 in the first two minutes of the game. Clay Mastin busted a long three to tie the game early, then Ross Warren scored at the rim, and an ensuing free throw from Mastin put the Arrows up early 6-3 with 6:05 left in the first period.
A thunderous dunk from Leonard Taylor gave the Wildcats the lead and after another pair of free throws from Danny Davis, Springfield took the lead for good.
Leading 12-10 with 2:56 left in the opening period, the Wildcats ran off six consecutive points which included a pair of technical free throws to give them an 18-10 lead. They never looked back.
A three from Michael Green was the only thing the Arrows could muster the final three minutes of the quarter, as the Wildcats ended the period on a 13-3 run, and took a 23-13 lead into the second period.
Springfield started to widen the margin in the second period. After pushing their lead out to 32-15, Devin Alltop hit a short jumper to give the Arrows their first field goal of the second quarter at the 4:12 mark, as they trailed 32-17. Springfield then put the game out of reach as they closed the half on a 13-3 run, taking a 45-20 lead into the break.
In the third, another big run by the Wildcats took their lead out to 56-22.
Tecumseh was led in scoring by Mastin with 13 points, while adding six points apiece was Warren and Reid Hale. Alltop and Davey Berner each scored four.