Franklin Furnace – The Green Bobcats defense went from a swinging screen door to a block of granite.

Wednesday, December 15, 1999

Franklin Furnace – The Green Bobcats defense went from a swinging screen door to a block of granite.

After being unable to stop the Portsmouth Clay Panthers the first quarter, Green’s defense stiffened the next two quarters to trigger a 70-52 Southern Ohio Conference Division I win Tuesday.

Clay held an 18-16 lead the first quarter, then could manage only 18 points over the next two quarters.

"It seemed like the first quarter we couldn’t stop them. It seemed like we spent the whole quarter taking the ball out of bounds," Green coach Kevin Lewis said. "We started getting some stops the second quarter, and because we started playing defense we got our running game going."

And run the Bobcats did, especially Chris Williams who pumped in a game-high 34 points. Joe Salyers and Ben Dyer had 11 points each with Jeff Dixon getting six assists and Dyer three.

"We got some balanced scoring and that helped us," said Lewis.

Kyle Darnell grabbed 12 rebounds, Williams nine, and Kyle Dyer eight.

"Ben Dyer had a nice game. He handled the ball a lot along with Jeff Dixon. Between them we got 11 assists and Ben had 11 points in only his second career start. It was nice to see him step up," said Lewis.

Jake Davis had 12 points and Matt Large 9 to pace Clay.

"Kyle Darnell did an outstanding job defensively," said Lewis. "Their first three games (Travis) Kielmar had been over 20 points and we held him to eight. He was the main focus and I thought our post defense was the key to him."

Benji Richards and Tim Shaffer had 5 points each the first quarter as Notre Dame went ahead. Williams had 8 points the first quarter.

But Green held the Titans to 10 points the second quarter while Darnell scored 6 of his 8 points and five different Bobcats scored to lead a 20-10 quarter and give Green a 36-28 halftime lead.

"The second and third quarter we really got it going defensively," said Lewis. "Salyers had 7 of his 11 points the first half and they came at a time when the game was still in doubt. That was big."

Green’s ability to come back was fueled by Williams with 11 points the third quarter including three 3-pointers and the lead went to 50-36.

Williams capped the win as he scored 10 points the fourth quarter.

Green, 2-0 overall and in the league, hosts Beaver Eastern Friday in a pivotal SOC game.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY – 18 10 8 16 – 52: Benji Richards 1 1 0-0 5, Tim Shaffer 1 0 4-4 6, Matt Large 3 1 0-0 9, Joey Hammond 0 0 1-2 1, Robby Huff 2 0 2-2 6, Jake Davis 3 1 3-4 12, Travis Kielmar 3 0 2-4 8, Chris Day 0 1 0-0 3, Kaleb Payne 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 14 4 12-16 52. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: Aaron Payne.

GREEN – 16 20 14 20 – 70: Joe Salyers 2 1 4-4 11, Ben Dyer 1 3 0-2 11, Jeff Dixon 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Williams 4 7 5-7 34, Kyle Dyer 0 0 1-2 1, Kyle Darnell 3 0 2-7 8, Jesse Ferrell 1 0 0-0 2, Jacob Yarnell 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 23-56 (11) 13-24 70. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Kyle Dyer. Rebounds: 42 (Kyle Darnell 12, Kyle Dyer 8, Williams 9). Turnovers: 13. Assists: 16 (Dixon 6, Ben Dyer 5).