Kalida's Ben Schroeder (50) blocks a shot in the Wildcats regional semi-final game Tuesday night.
Kalida rolls into regional final By Kevin Wannemacher
Brown Publishing Correspondent
BOWLING GREEN - Kalida outscored Wayne Trace 7-0 in the second quarter and rode that momentum to a 48-32 victory over the Raiders in Division IV regional semi-final action at Bowling Green State University Tuesday evening.
Early on, the Raiders hung tough with the Wildcats and stayed even at 13-13 after eight minutes of action.
However, the difference in the second quarter proved to be a big one. Kalida outrebounded the Raiders 8-2 in the period, including grabbing six offensive boards in the stanza. The Wildcats also forced Wayne Trace into five second quarter turnovers, nine in the first half.
"We just couldn't crack that zone in the second quarter," noted Raider head coach Jim Linder. "They were lengthy and it bothered us."
"We have to come to play defense because we don't have enough offense," commented Kalida head coach Richard Kortokrax. "The only direct result that I think was a positive was our defensive effort."
Wayne Trace missed all four of its shots in the period while the Wildcats were only three of twelve in the period. But, with the Wildcats leading 18-13 and the first half winding down, Kristopher Osterhage picked up an offensive rebound basket that pushed the margin to seven just before the end of the half.
"I felt like at halftime we were still in the game," added Linder. "We just didn't make shots either. It was one of those nights. They were determined to take us out of our game and they did a good job of that."
"My blue-collar senior really had an outstanding game," Kortokrax continued. "He come up with steals and was able to help us get easy baskets. Michael Bockrath had a great game tonight. He led us tonight and did everything we asked him to do."
The Raiders cut the deficit to five one time in the third quarter, getting within 22-17 on a Jason Gordon basket. After a Kalida missed shot, the Raiders failed to take advantage, committing their tenth turnover of the night and seeing their best chance to get back in the game fade away.
Kalida then put it away in the fourth quarter. Four more Raider turnovers turned into eight Wildcat points and the Wildcats would put the victory away. Wayne Trace scored only two points in the opening four minutes of the final stanza as Kalida pushed the margin to 40-23 with 4:07 remaining.
Davis finished his career with seven points while Akkerman bucketed six and grabbed four rebounds in their final games.
Jordan Basinger led the Wildcats with 13 points and five boards while Michael Bockrath added a dozen markers and four steals.
Kalida (21-2) advances to play Ottawa Hills (23-1) in the regional championship on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Anderson Arena in Bowling Green. The Green Bears defeated Miller City (20-5) 57-44 in the opening semi-final of the evening.
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