Eli Pitts scores past a Lehman defender for two of his 12 points in the Trojans’ 66-55 regional semi-final win. (Press Pro Feature Photos)
At 23-3 the Botkins Trojans have been overlooked as a Division VII team that might have the goods to take down #1-ranked Delphos St. John. And after braking Lehman Catholic’s ride in the regional semi-final, they’re going to get that chance.
Vandalia, OH – Over two nights of regional tournament basketball at the Student Activity Center in Vandalia, Wednesday’s matchup in Division VII between the 23-3 Botkins Trojans and the 20-6 Lehman Cavaliers had been the least touted of the four games.
Many contend that it’s been a down year, in general, for Shelby County League basketball, with Russia, Fort Loramie, Jackson Center and Anna all in rebuild stage. So Botkins’ 19-3 regular season record has not gotten the press, or notice, at least in some minds, despite a win over Lima Central Catholic.
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Likewise, Lehman’s 20-5 record entering Thursday’s regional semi-final did not have the cache of Marion Local, or Tri-Village in Division VI, and certainly could not be compared to #1-ranked Delphos St. John in Division VII, undefeated and led by the area’s top player in Cam Elwer.
But following the Trojans’ 66-55 win over Lehman Wednesday Botkins fans left the the gym believing…that maybe, just maybe their energetic, bordering on frantic defensive personality might give them at least some edge. And if they could make it close and make some shots, who knows? It’s why they play the game.
And Lehman, after it’s best season in nearly a half century – given it was the first regional appearance in that span of time (45 years, in 1981) – simply had the misfortune of being in the Trojans’ path Wednesday night. The Cavaliers got off to a horrendous start, trailed 18-4 after the first quarter, and dug themselves a hole too deep to escape.
Lehman junior Shane Frantz started slow, but ignited for 13 points in the second half to lead all scorers with 19.
Botkins coach Phil Groves has proven repeatedly since taking over the program five years ago, that he can coach defense. And while he hasn’t had a Cam Elwer – yet – to carry the load at the other end of the floor, he’s had the kind of share-the-load talent to mix and match and make it work. 2026 is no different, and Wednesday the Trojans proved again that to under-estimate them is to sign your own death warrant.
In Lehman’s case it was not a case of under-estimate, it was just a case of being too amped up to play their attack-dog style of offense, countering Botkins attack-dog style of defense.
Nerves? Who knows? But it wasn’t the kind of Cavalier basketball that got them through the Piqua district like a hot knife through butter.
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1,000-point scorer Shane Frantz threw up an air ball on his first attempt. And the indefatigable CJ Olding kicked the ball out of bounds on an early Cavalier possession. How bad was it? Well by the end of the first quarter Frantz had just 3 points and Olding was on the bench with his third foul.
Eli Pitts runs past a Lehman defender to the rim during Botkins’ 66-55 win in the regional semi-final.
“Definitely, we were not ourselves,” said Cavs coach Jeremy Hughes, who should receive some kind of recognition for leading the Cavs an unexpected metamorphosis in area Division VII basketball this season. “It might have been the atmosphere of the packed house that was here for the Delphos game. I don’t know. But I know we weren’t ourselves. We definitely could not get control of our nerves in the first half.”
Botkins took full advantage, having six different players score, and with three-point shots from James Steinke and Brayden Welsh raced out to an 18-4 lead.
In the second quarter Owen Zimpher caught fire to score four consecutive baskets to lead another 15-point quarter, while Evan O’Leary and Braden Ulbrich got untracked for Lehman…but Botkins still went to the locker room with a comfortable 33-17 halftime lead.
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“We wanted to set the tone from the beginning with our defense,” said Phil Groves. “And our defense disrupted them for most of the evening. We had some spurts where we made mistakes with our rotations, but overall, our goal every night is to defend at a high level, and I think we did that tonight.”
Lehman’s Evan O’Leary found the Botkins defense, and Tucker Huelskamp (in white), disruptive.
Botkins defense not only disrupted, it caused repeated turnovers, loose balls, points in transition…and frustration. With Oldling on the bench and Frantz cold from the field, Botkins ran out to a 30-9 lead at one point, and only some afore-mentioned mistakes by Botkins with turnovers and missed assignments gave Lehman as much hope as a 16-point halftime deficit could offer.
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To Hughes’ credit, he calmed them down enough in the eight minutes of halftime to have Frantz come out and bury the first shot of the third quarter, a three-pointer from the corner. Moments later he connected again. And teammate Jackson Kennedy, nicknamed ‘Juicy’ by teammates, dropped one on an ensuing possession to suddenly cut the Botkins advantage to 38-29 at the midpoint of the quarter.
Hope?
Something for the coach…the Trojan mascot show is appreciation for the efforts of Botkins coach Phil Groves.
Well you’ve got to take care of the ball, and you have to play defense to protect that 12-5 Lehman run, and the Cavaliers did neither.
They prompted turned the ball over on back-to-back possession, Botkins picked it up and scored on layups by Will Monnin and Eli Pitts, and then Monnin buried a three-pointer. Brayden Welsh canned his third three-pointer of the game, and suddenly Lehman was back in that deep, deep hole, 50-36, at the end of the third.
“They’re a scrappy team,” added Groves. “They’re not in the regional semi-final by accident. They’re a good team and they force a lot of live-ball turnovers. Credit to them for battling like they did, and we knew they would.”
Groves singled out some mistakes by defense, but in truth the Lehman defense created some moments of sloppiness for the Trojan offense, as well. And a CJ Olding layup off a turnover, followed by another Jackson Kennedy three at the outset of the fourth quarter again cut the margin to within range, at 58-50.
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It was close enough that for the first time in the game the Botkins crowd came to their feet two minutes into the quarter to exhort their team to close ranks, focus, and finish things – nail down that Saturday regional final date with Delphos St. John.
It was all the priming that the pump needed. Shane Frantz would come alive for a trio of three-pointers and 13 points in the second half; but Botkins continued to disrupt, created turnovers, score off those turnovers…and simply wear down a Lehman team that had nothing left in the tank. Frantz would finish with a game-high 19 points, Lehman would outscore Botkins 19-16 over the final eight minutes, but the Trojans’ 16 was more than enough to close out the 66-55 win.
“There’s no question that we dug ourselves too big a hole,” said a disappointed Hughes. “I wish it could have been different. We just couldn’t play Lehman basketball tonight. The first quarter killed us, and the second, third, and fourth quarters if we didn’t win those quarters it was very close, back and forth.”
Frantz led them all with 19, Braden Ulbrich and Evan O’Leary each had 9, Jackson Kennedy had 8 and CJ Olding had 6.
For Botkins, they had four players in double figures – Owen Zimpher (14), Will Monnin (13), Eli Pitts (12), and Brayden Welsh (11). James Steinke had 9 and Tucker Huelskamp had 7.
More disruptive defense…Owen Zimpher blocks the shot attempt of Lehman Shane Frantz.
Botkins, despite flying under the radar for most of the season, now finds itself face-to-face with the #1 team in Division VII basketball in Saturday’s regional final.
And under the radar? Nine of ten people you ask wouldn’t know, but the Trojans have been ranked #2 in Ohio Division VII by Max Preps now for three weeks. Groves was asked to assess their chances, and he didn’t bite.
“Delphos is a great team,” Groves shared, but not much more. “We need to defend at a high level, and try to contain as much as possible. Keep them to one shot. Don’t let them have second and third opportunities. They’ve got five guys that can score and one of the best guards in the state.”
Spoken like a man whose team has been taken for granted, perhaps – like a man who does believe that if he can disrupt enough, and make enough shots, he could have a chance at the end.
And there is precedence. It’s exactly how Botkins beat highly-favored Richmond Heights in 2021 for the Division IV championship.
And don’t think they’re not aware…in Delphos.
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