PORTSMOUTH – Moving the ball got the Green Bobcats moving.

Saturday, January 22, 2000

PORTSMOUTH – Moving the ball got the Green Bobcats moving.

Boy, did they move.

Green used an excellent passing game to jump start its running game en route to an 86-61 belting of the Portsmouth Clay Panthers Friday night in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

The Bobcats had 17 assists with Chris Williams handing out seven and Alex Poe five.

Williams also had a game-high 28 points while Michael Riffe scored 24. Poe finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Kyle Dyer 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Kyle Darnell grabbed seven rebounds.

"The thing that stood out was our ball movement," Green coach Kevin Lewis said.

"It was crisper and we got the ball to the open man. You look at the assists column and see Williams with seven and Poe with five from the post. Those guys are normally on the receiving end, so that showed good ball movement from everyone."

Green moved to 9-1 overall with the win and leads the SOC at 7-0.

Benji Richards had 27 points to lead Clay.

Williams scored nine and Poe six the first quarter to more than offset 11 points by Richards as Green took a 21-15 lead.

Williams erupted for 13 points and Riffe had 11 as Green got 28 points and rolled to a 49-31 halftime cushion.

The Bobcats continued its offensive explosion the third quarter as they outscored Clay 22-20 and went ahead 71-51. Poe scored six points, Williams five, and Darnell four to lead the balance attack.

"We had nice balance offense and we played pretty well. I was pleased. Clay has been playing well," said Lewis. "Kyle Darnell and Kyle Dyer both had good games, especially on the offensive boards. At times they ripped the boards down. That was a big key.

"Alex had a good all-around game. And Williams and Riffe shot the ball real well as usual, but I was pleased with the inside play tonight. We didn’t get a lot of points from Ben Dyer of Jeff Dixon, but they’re finding their way to contribute. They do what’s asked of them and we’re pleased with the way they’re playing."

Green’s game Saturday night against Federal Hocking was postponed due to the weather.