Lima Senior takes care of business

LIMA - The Lima Senior boys basketball was in a nearly no-win situation Saturday night: Beat winless Wapakoneta, and shoulders shrug while the critics say, "Sure, but they were supposed to win."

Lose, and many people begin to doubt the validity of the Spartans undefeated start.

The only way Lima Senior could send a message was to win big.

An 89-36 win seems to fit that bill.

"Any time one team's undefeated and the other team (hasn't won a game), if they can beat you, it makes their whole season," Spartans coach Shawn Allen said. "All our team goals are still intact. Everyone wants to stay undefeated."

Anton Hutchins and Jermonte Healey each scored 17 points to lead the Spartans (7-0). Hutchins had two breakaway dunks and Healey made 3-of-6 3-pointers, including all three in the first half as Lima Senior built a 44-16 advantage.

Among the many things Allen liked about the win was the response from the Spartans at the outset of the second half. Already with the commanding lead, Lima Senior opened with a 13-0 run, capped off by Hutchins second dunk.

"I was tickled to death our kids came out after halftime and played just as hard as we did in the first half, even though we're up (28)," Allen said. "They came out and picked up right where we left off. It's sometimes hard to teach kids to do that."

Marlon Hutchins subbed in and scored 11 points. Danyel Walton was scoreless off the bench, but he corralled seven rebounds as the Spartans held a 41-17 rebounding edge.

Four of Lima Senior's win are by double figure differences. But there are serious matchups ahead, starting with Tuesday's game against Toledo Libbey.

"It's good for our program to have a game like (the Wapakoneta win). I'm really proud of our kids," Allen said. "Now our focus goes to Toledo Libbey on Tuesday. We'll enjoy this (Saturday night), and get back out (Sunday) thinking about Toledo Libbey."

The win over the Redskins (0-9), who were led in scoring by Jacob Lambert's eight points, was the sort where Lima Senior fans kind of looked at each other and began to dream about what could be.

The last time Senior started a season 7-0 was 2004-05, when they finished 19-4 and as district runners-up.

"We're certainly happy with where we're at," Allen said. "Our kids are playing very hard, and I think that's what is going to keep us in a lot of games."

It's still too early to peg this team on a district title-caliber level, or even better. But the signs are pointing in the right direction.