Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
BAINBRIDGE — For the third time in program history, Zane Trace is hoisting up a Gold Ball.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
After the Pioneers clinched an outright Scioto Valley Conference title last week — the school’s second consecutive league crown — they checked another goal off their list with a grit-filled 50-45 victory over Paint Valley on Friday.
Zane Trace (18-3, 14-0 SVC) faced a seven-point deficit early on and a four-point deficit late. But a mix of experience, determination and tenacity pushed the Pioneers past the finish line — and to a perfect league season.
“We’ve had a lot of close games this year and I think that’s what we like,” Zane Trace senior Kyle Stonerock said after Friday’s win. “I think [close games] really boosts our mentality. Coming out, we’re just looking forward to a fight. That makes us come out and work hard.”
While the Pioneers may have been looking for a fight, the Bearcats (16-6, 11-3 SVC) gave them all they wanted and then some.
Paint Valley never trailed in the first half and held a lead as late as the 1:53 mark in the fourth. However, Stonerock and fellow seniors Xzander Ream and Nalin Robinson kept their teammates calm, weathered the storm and came out unscathed.
“We knew it was a conference game, we had the opportunity for a Gold Ball and [Paint Valley] wanted to take that away from us,” Robinson said. “It was their Senior Night and we understand that as well. They’ve got some dudes who are athletes but we’ve got dudes, too. I was glad that the referees kind of let us play for the most part. We don’t mind playing those types of games.”
Tale of the tape
From the start, the physicality of the matchup was hard to miss and the Bearcats threw the first punch.
Jonah Just scored the game’s first basket before Dax Estep gave PV a 4-0 lead early. After Stonerock hit the front end of two freebies, Estep and Cole Miller hit back-to-back buckets for an 8-1 lead with 4:21 left in the first quarter.
ZT’s Landon Robinson cut the deficit to five before Cavan Cooper pushed it back to seven at 10-3 with 2:25 remaining. However, two consecutive buckets from Stonerock and Ream’s first bucket of the night brought the Pioneers to within one at 10-9 heading into the second.
Ream hit his first 3-ball of the night early in the second, forcing a 12-12 tie, before the two teams continued to trade blows, heading into halftime in a 19-19 deadlock.
“Whenever we’re in a close game, my guards are usually telling me to come get the ball,” Ream said. “So I know when they’re doing that, I have to make something happen or look to make something come from me having the ball. I look to involve everyone, really. If I don’t have a good look, I’ve got to find someone who does.”
Estep began the second half with a 3-ball before Cole Miller got a bucket and foul shot to fall, putting the Bearcats ahead 25-21. Braylon Robertson then capped a 9-2 run to begin the third, sinking a 3-ball at the 5:10 mark, making it a 28-21 advantage.
But the Pioneers never looked phased.
Baskets from Robinson, Ream, Brock Jarrell and Landen Jarrell forced a 31-31 tie with 2:25 to go. Then, after Miller put PV back ahead on the other end, Ream gave ZT its first lead of the night at 34-33 with a triple that came with 51.2 seconds remaining.
After heading into the fourth trailing 36-33, Cooper and Todd Fairrow put the Bearcats back in front at 38-36 with 7:02 left. That advantage swelled to four points and stayed that way for the next five minutes of gameplay.
With 1:53 left, Robertson made one of two free throws to put PV ahead by a 45-42 tally.
But on the other end, just 33 seconds later, Ream dialed long distance again to tie the score. That was the start of a game-ending 8-0 run — Ream hit 3-of-4 free throw attempts and Robinson drilled a pair to put the game on ice with 7.1 seconds left.
“We’re celebrating right now. That’s where my mind is right now,” Ream said. “In an environment like that, this was incredible. We’re a part of something special.”
Stat book
Ream led all scorers with 23 points alongside four rebounds. Robinson followed with 11 points and a team-high eight boards while Stonerock finished with seven and seven.
“This means a lot to us, honestly. I know that,” Stonerock said. “Other classes remember their time [at Zane Trace] and I think we’re going to do that for a long time. I hope our junior high coming up really looks up to this. I look forward to coming back and watching them get the Gold Ball back, too.”
Paint Valley was led statistically by Miller, who finished with 15 points. Meanwhile, Estep tallied nine points and nine rebounds, and Fairrow added six points, six boards and four assists.
What’s on tap
The Bearcats will now look towards the postseason.
Paint Valley, in Division IV, will host the winner of New Boston and Miller in a sectional final. That matchup is slated for a 7 p.m. tip on Feb. 24.
Meanwhile, Zane Trace still has a regular season date at Vinton County on Feb. 17.
After that contest, in Division III, the Pioneers will await the winner of Rock Hill and Oak Hill, whom they’ll host in a sectional final at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25.
“It’s just [being] us, with our offense and our efficiency,” Robinson said. “We can always cut back on turnovers and, in the tournament, it’s got to be [allowing] just one shot [on the defensive end]. It’s just about focusing on us. I like us. If we take care of us, we’ll be OK.”
BOX SCORE
Zane Trace: 9-10-17-14 — 50
Paint Valley: 10-9-14-12 — 45
Zane Trace: 16-47 FG, 12-16 FT, 6-18 3pt., 24 rebounds (Robinson 8), 9 turnovers, 7 assists (L. Robinson 3). Scoring: Ream 23, Robinson 15, Stonerock 7, L. Jarrell 4, B. Jarrell 3, L. Robinson 2.
Paint Valley: 18-39 FG, 5-7 FT, 4-12 3pt., 25 rebounds (Estep 9), 16 turnovers, 11 assists (Fairrow 4). Scoring: Miller 15, Estep 9, Fairrow 6, Robertson 6, Cooper 5, Free 2, Just 2.
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