By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

BOYS BASKETBALL

WATERLOO 38, MINERAL RIDGE 35

A second-half comeback fueled by the offensive touch of senior Navarre Alhassan lifted the Vikings to their seventh consecutive victory.

The win for Waterloo came on the road and after the team 22-13 at halftime.

Waterloo, however, held the Rams to just three third-quarter points, while Alhassan heated up wih a 13-point third quarter.

Alhassan then scored all eight of the Vikings’ fourth quarter-points.

The Vikings’ senior standout connected on 12 made field goals, with seven of those coming from 3-point range.

LAKE CENTER CHRISTIAN 71, ROOTSTOWN 44

Tanner Norman and Matt Werder combined to score 41 points to lead the Tigers to a Portage Trail Conference victory over the visiting Rovers on Friday in Hartville.

Norman nailed four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 22 points, while Warder canned a couple of 3s and finished with 19 points.

Luke underwood also joined them in double figures with 11 points, including three 3s.

The Tigers got going offensively early, outscoring Rootstown 23-9 in the opening quarter. The lead grew to 42-23 by halftime.

Brady Fillmore led the Rovers in scoring with 14 points.

GARFIELD 62, LIBERTY 55

Preston Gedeon continued his hot shooting and finished with 27 points one game after posting a career-high 28 points in a G-Men win earlier this week.

Gedeon hit nine field goals and was 5-for-10 at the free-throw line.

Jackson Sommer scored 14 points for the G-Men, while Vinnie Grandizio also reached double figures with 10 points.

Garfield’s defense held Liberty to just 15 first-half points, but Liberty’s offense awoke in the second half to score 40.

The G-Men, who were slowed slightly win a nine-point second quarter, were able to balance its production across the game.

RAVENNA 45, NORTON 40

The Ravens bounced back from Tuesday’s loss at Woodridge to get back on track with a Metro Athletic Conference victory at home over the Panthers.

Mason Ross and Pavel Henderson each scored 11 points to pace the Ravens, who juimped out to a 16-5 lead after the first quarter.

WOODRIDGE 66, FIELD 46

The Falcons could not overcome a slow start in a double-digit loss at Woodridge on Friday.

The Bulldogs claimed an 18-7 lead after the fist quarter and then methodically built on the lead from there.

Evan Duve led Woodridge in scoring with 16 points, while the leader for Field (1-10, 0-7 MAC) was Grady  Eader and Joe Crawford, who each scored 10 points for the Falcons.