LCC overpowers Allen East

LIMA – You just know that when you face the Lima Central Catholic basketball team you are going to see tenacious defense the entire game; when the T-Birds mix in some hot shooting to go with that defense you are in for a really long evening.

Such was the case Thursday night when LCC took down Allen-East 72-33 in Northwest Conference action on senior night at Msgr. E.C. Herr Gymnasium.

LCC (16-2, 8-0 NWC) was saying good-bye to Anthony "Tank" Wilkerson, John Kidd, Billy Taflinger, and Ty O’Connor and wasted little time in showing the Mustangs that they were going to say farewell in style.

The T-Birds jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead and took a 16-4 edge at the first quarter break thanks to six first quarter points from O’Connor.

LCC then scored the first nine points of the second quarter as their lead grew to 25-4 and they went to the half with an insurmountable lead of 41-19.

Taflinger had eight second period points on his way to a game high 14 while O’Connor would end the game with 9 points and Kidd would finish with three.

"These last three years have been awesome and it is nice to leave on a positive note," O’Connor said. "Everone is starting to step into their role."

With the seniors going to the bench early in the third quarter the talented group of LCC underclassmen took over and outscored the Mustangs 22-2 in the third period as the T-Birds lead ballooned to 63-21 going to the final quarter of action.

Allen-East (5-13, 1-7 NWC) would outscore LCC 12-9 in the final quarter to settle for the 72-33 margin at the end.

"It was nice to get this win and clinch a share of the NWC," Taflinger said. "We played well tonight and are starting to come together as a team; now we want to get ready for the start of the tournament."

The tough LCC defense - they mixed in some 1-2-2 zone with their always tough man to man - forced the Mustangs into 24 turnovers in the game, many of which the T-Birds coverted into easy lay-up baskets.

LCC would finish the game hitting 50 percent from the field on 28-of-56 shooting including 7-of-12 on 3-point attempts.

"Their defense gets them going," Allen East coach Rick Sherrick said. "We didn’t get anybody hurt and we played hard and now look forward to the tournament."

The T-Birds totally dominated the boards as they out-rebounded the Mustangs by a 37-13 margin for the game.

"This game was to give the seniors the respect that they earned and deserved," LCC coach Frank Kill. "Tonight was a total team effort and right now we can have a different guy step up every night."

Allen East was led in scoring by Tanner Richardson with eight points and Dylan Mulholland chipped in with seven for the Mustangs.

LCC had all 11 players that were dressed for the varsity contest score in the game and Tre’on Johnson and Martyce Kimbrough both scored 11 points to join O’Connor in double digit scoring for the T-Birds.

Kidd, Taflinger, and O’Connor were on the LCC state championship team as sophomores, advanced to District play as juniors last season, and now stand 16-2 this year with two regular season games to play before they start tournament action.