James Steinke hit three 3-pointers in the second half to start a run that put the game out of reach. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright)
The Trojans began to take control in the second quarter by holding Franklin Monroe to two points. Then they turned a nine-point halftime lead into a comfortable victory with the help of timely three-point shooting.
Vandalia, OH – Playing great defense is necessary to survive the Shelby County Athletic League schedule. Take it easy on that end of the floor and losses mount.
Veteran columnist Jeff Gilbert writes Ohio State basketball and OHSAA sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
Botkins gets it.
The Trojans take defense seriously, play it with pride and it is the staple of their tournament survival.
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On Wednesday night in the Division VII regional semifinals at Butler High School, Botkins’ defensive acumen put Franklin Monroe’s slashing and driving offensive attack on the defensive. Almost every time the Jets spotted a runway to the rim, they were grounded. They backed away to look for another path. Or they committed a turnover.
Botkins allowed only two points in the second quarter to gain control and methodically pulled away to a 46-30 victory. The Trojans will play in the regional final Saturday for the first time since back-to-back appearances in 2021 and 2022.
“Our defense is something we pride ourselves in throughout the course of the year, and our defense traveled tonight,” Botkins coach Phil Groves said. “I just want to praise God. He’s blessed us with a great team, great group of kids. And it’s been a fun ride – hope to keep it going.”
Collin Doseck looks to get the ball to a teammate while Franklin Monroe used double teams to try to get back in the game.
That defense, the offense and preparation will have to be finely tuned by 4 p.m. Saturday at the Nutter Center. The Trojans (20-6) face county rival Russia – the juggernaut of this high school season – for a trip to the Division VII state semifinals. Russia (26-0) beat Botkins by 19 in early December and 11 a month ago. The good news for Botkins is that second loss was the closest anyone has come to Russia this season.
“We are truly blessed to be in this position,” said Groves, whose team has won six straight. “Russia is a great team. Our goal moving forward on Saturday is to break it down possession by possession and compete in every one of those possessions. We’d like to believe that the strength of our schedule prepares us for moments like this.”
A third Shelby County team, Anna, will also play at the Nutter Center on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Marion Local in the Division VI regional final.
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“You play them in the regular season, it’s always a toss-up – never know who’s gonna win,” Botkins senior guard Collin Doseck said of league games. “I like that they moved to seven divisions because before it was always a county team beat the county team, and then you just get one county team. But now there’s multiple divisions for Shelby County to represent, and that’s what we’re doing this year.”
Eli Pitts goes strong to the basket for two of his game-high 12 points.
Doseck understands the challenge of playing Russia. But it’s a challenge he wants for himself and his team.
“It’s gonna take a great game from us, and we’re gonna have to play hard and physical,” he said. “It’s physical, it’s tournament time and we just gotta play good defense and box out.”
Franklin Monroe (21-5) finished second in the Western Ohio Athletic Conference with their only league loss coming to Tri-Village, which lost to Anna on Tuesday. But the Jets got a jolt from Botkins that made them aware of what it would be like to play in the SCAL.
In the first quarter, plus the first possession of the second quarter, the Jets were playing the way they wanted to even if they, like Botkins, couldn’t make a jump shot. The teams combined for six layups, two free throws and a 12-foot jumper. “Cold As Ice” would have been appropriate tune between quarters.
At that point the Jets’ offense was finding its way into the lane enough to take a 10-6 lead. Then Botkins built a defensive wall around the lane. The Jets still couldn’t make a jump shot. And they often committed turnovers trying to break through the wall.
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“Mindset was keeping them out of the paint,” Doseck said. “They had a couple guys that are really good drivers. So you just stay in front of them and stay in your gaps. You play good defense and shut them down.”
And it was clear that FM’s leading scorers, Lucas Brenner and EB Fall, who combine for 29 points a game, were in for a long night. From the second quarter on, they were like misguided treasure hunters trying to find a path to the basket. Fall scored twice in the first quarter and finished with six points. Brenner’s four points came in the second half after Botkins built a comfortable lead.
Colton Pleiman splits two Franklin Monroe defenders in search of a shot.
“Getting used to them really helped,” Doseck said of the first quarter. “It’s always hard playing a tournament team. You’ve seen them on film, but it’s a lot different playing them in person. So getting used to it, knowing their tendencies, how they play, how they move, just helped us a lot.”
Botkins’ offense, which found open shots but couldn’t make them in the first quarter, finally found some traction in the second quarter. Three-pointers from Doseck and Will Monnin helped gradually build a 21-12 halftime lead. The offensive display wasn’t flawless or even pretty, but the Trojans were methodically finding a way. They could have played “Slow Ride” at halftime as a nod to the first-half action. Instead, they played the staple song of most sports venues, “Sweet Caroline.”
The good trends continued for Botkins in the second half and the pace quickened. Some of the Trojans’ fans might have still heard Neil’s voice in their head singing “good times never seemed so good.” The 3-pointers began to fall – first from Eli Pitts, twice from James Steinke – and the lead hit 34-17 with 2:37 left in the third quarter.
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Steinke missed two 3-point attempts in the first half. But his two during the third-quarter run and another to start the fourth pushed the lead back to 15. Steinke’s points got the crowd going and were the backbreakers for the Jets and energy-drivers for the Trojans.
“It just feels really good, honestly,” said Steinke, who finished with nine points. “Hitting three threes, it just really gets the crowd going, it gets our team going. And I think that was one of the differences in the game.”
Groves wasn’t surprised that, if left open, Steinke could provide an offensive boost.
Collin Doseck passes out of a double team during the second half when the Trojans gained control.
“James is the type of player that when the game is moving up and down and free flowing, that’s where he’s at his best,” Groves said. “I thought that’s the way the game progressed, especially there in the second half, and really played into his role.”
Eli Pitts scored 12 points and Doseck 11 for the Trojans. And while it was Steinke hitting the big shots to extend the lead, Doseck said it could have been anybody.
“We got seven, eight guys that can all shoot the ball, score the ball, get to the rim,” Doseck said. “And defend. We can do it all.”
And the Trojans and everyone know doing “it all” will be mandatory against Russia. But especially the defense. That has proven to be an every-season tournament equalizer and advantage for Shelby County teams.
“We work on it every single day,” Steinke said. “Our new defensive coach, Coach [Dane] Cook, he really helps us out with being in our gaps, help side, everything.”
If the three Shelby County teams have their way Saturday at the Nutter Center, there is no doubt great defense will be required.
Eli Pitts is fouled by Franklin Monroe’s EB Fall.
