Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

DOVER - As has been the case most of the year, the Western Boone boys basketball team found themselves in a position to make a run to win the game in the fourth quarter on Friday night against Frankfort. But unfortunately for the Stars, they still haven't mastered the ability to find a way to get over the final hurdle to win a closely-contested game. Friday was no exception, and the Stars found themselves just a couple plays away in a 54-44 loss to the Hot Dogs. "We have to get consecutive stops defensively and get some key rebounds," Western Boone head coach Dustin Oakley said. "Overall, we have to make the winning plays in the fourth quarter. I felt like we could have got what we wanted against their extended zone, and we just didn't finish around the rim well. We have to make those plays. It is almost like we have to play a perfect game to get some of these wins, and it's just not happening now." The game was close throughout, with Frankfort leading 13-9 after a quarter, and Western Boone closing to within 24-22 at the half. With 6:24 to go, Western Boone trailed just 37-33 and got within three at 39-36 on a basket by Marcus Stepp. But Frankfort hit two free throws on its next possession after securing an offensive rebound, and after Western Boone turned it over, the Hot Dogs hit a 3 to make it an 8-point game. The Stars got as close as five, but couldn't get the stops they needed to down the stretch. "We had to switch up our defense being down, and I thought it created some chaos for a little bit," Oakley said. "The whole game is free throws and in the first half we made all the 50-50 plays, and we didn't do that in the second half. We forced them to take some shots we wanted them to take, and we couldn't secure rebounds or didn't dive on the floor in the second. That's what it takes at Western Boone to win." The loss drops the Stars to 2-9 on the year. Of the nine losses, seven have been with two possessions, or within two possessions late in the game before free throws. "I appreciate and love these kids and the way they come out and compete," Oakley said. "They haven't quit on us despite the record, and that says a lot about them and the way they focus in practice. They never give up, and that's the best part about this job honestly. Our guys are going to come out and compete, now we just want to make sure we are making smart decisions with the basketball down the stretch and make some winning plays." Levi LaGrange had 15 points for the Stars, who got nine from Kaden Bennington and seven from Stepp. The Stars are back in action Saturday night at Hamilton Heights. "We have to control the game and get a lead early," Oakley said. "We have to play the game in the 40s. By the end of the year, we aren't going to be average in the 60s, so we have to take care of the basketball and locate their shooters. We have to be aggressive, find spots to attack and make sure we execute our game plan." Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems. On Saturday Night the JV and Varsity Boys Basketball Teams traveled to Hamilton Heights and came away 0-2. The Varsity Stars fell in triple OT 79-73. It was a great effort by the Stars but couldn't make enough plays in the end to secure a win. Scoring for the Stars was Kaden Bennington 27, Marcus Stepp 17, Luke Barta 16, Levin LeGrange 6, Josiah Smith 6, and Blake Miller 1. C-Team The Western Boone C-Team traveled to Southmont for the Sugar Creek Classic Tourney on Saturday and came away 1-1. In the first matchup against Southmont the Stars fell in OT 36-34. Leading the way for the Stars was Julian McClaine with 9, Brennen Kopriva 7, Dylan Sheets 6, Brandon Potter 5, Layton Yancey 3, Luke LaGrange 2, and Nick Hurliman 2. In the Second game the Stars defeated North Montgomery by a final of 26-20. Scoring for the Stars was Luke LaGrange with 10, Nick Hurliman 6, Brennen Kopriva 4, Dylan Sheets 2, Layton Yancey 2, and Evan Allen 2.