Hill scores 27 as Findlay rolls over Defiance

Javonte Hill pumped in 27 points and was one of four Findlay players in double figures on Friday when the Trojans opened their 2023-24 boys basketball season with a 68-39 win over Defiance. "I like to keep the intensity up, keep everyone hyped," said Hill, who scored eight points in the first, third and fourth quarters. Findlay's intensity overall, from one end of the court to the other, made a huge difference against a young Defiance team that graduated all five starters and six two- and three-year lettermen who won 50 games as sophomore, junior and seniors. Findlay forced Defiance into 21 turnovers, hounded the Bulldogs into a 15-for-41 (36.6 percent) shooting night, and broke a fairly close game wide open with two scoring runs in the second quarter and another to start the second half. "I thought we played hard, we competed and created some turnovers," said Findlay High coach Jim Rucki. "They're young. For several of their guys this was their first real start, their first varsity game." Findlay led just 14-8 after one period of play. But Luke Weihrauch scored to open the second quarter, Will Cordonnier put back an offensive rebound and Hill knocked down his third 3-pointer of the game to boost that margin to 21-8. Antonio Lopez would answer with a 3-pointer for Defiance, one of six on the night by the senior sharpshooter. Cordonnier then converted an alley-oop pass and a baseline jumper, Weihrauch scored in transition and Cordonnier lost his man with a head fake and drove to the basket. Two free throws by Sam Ernst and Weihrauch's steal and lay-up capped a12-1 burst that put the Trojans up 34-12. A 9-0 start to the second half all but locked it up. Hill scored off a steal, then went coast-to-coast after pulling down a rebound. Weihrauch converted another turnover and Cordonnier added a free throw, giving Findlay a 43-18 lead and more than enough of a cushion to withstand the hot hand of Lopez, who pumped in four 3-pointers during one four-minute stretch of the third quarter. "The best part of the night for me might have been early in the third quarter when we had a couple of two-on-one fast breaks," Rucki said. "Guys gave up the ball and I think Javonte was the beneficiary of both of them. He gave it up, and he got it back for easy lay-ins. Those were perfect two-on-one breaks, just like you talk about and work on in practice. "Guys could have driven in for a lay-up opportunity, but they gave it up for a better wide-open play. "That might have been the best minute of the night for me right there." Lopez, whose six 3-pointers paved the way for a team-high 20-point night, twice trimmed the deficit to 15 points with his long-range barrage. Findlay ended the game with a 20-6 run, though, to win going away. "I was impressed with Defiance. Their guys get after it for 32 minutes," Rucki said, "They move the ball well and they make you work. I thought we were the better team coming in, just because we had guys that have played varsity basketball and they did not. They play hard and they just keep coming at you, though. That team is going to win some games." Lopez led Defiance with 20 points. Brogan Castillo had 10. "We bring two guys back with a little bit of experience," Defiance coach Bryn Lehman said. "I still think we can be physical enough and competitive enough in games, but right now the game is too fast for our guys and we're just not consistent enough. "There were spurts where we were just as good, but over the course of the game Findlay played like a senior-laden team, which they are. They're predominantly seniors who have been through the wringer a few times. They're battle-tested and it showed," Hill led a balanced Findlay offense, with Weihrauch scoring 13 points and Ernst and Cordonnier 11 each. Cordonnier, a 6-foot-6 senior, led the Trojans with six rebounds, Ben Best and Ernst had five each and Weihrauch grabbed four. "We have the potential to have balanced scoring." Rucki said. "We share the ball, and when we're healthy we feel we have seven guys who can put the ball in the basket." Findlay was not at 100 percent for its season opener, with 5-10 senior guard Brody Barnes and 6-3 junior wing Ryan Montgomery not in uniform. Montgomery, who was a candidate for Ohio's Mr. Football Award, is expected to be a physical force inside for the Trojans, as well as a threat on the perimeter. "Ryan hasn't practiced this week; little nagging injuries," Rucki said."He played well in preseason, shot the ball real well. Hopefully we can get those guys back soon, 'cause we need the bodies." Findlay's next two boys basketball contests will be Thursday night games, a home matchup with Oregon Clay on Dec. 7 and a road game at Springfield on Dec. 14 in a pair of Northern Lakes League cross-over contest. DEFIANCE (0-1) Zipfel 0-4 0-0 0, Wright 1-5 0-0 2, Lopez 7-10 0-0 20, Castillo 4-4 2-4 10, Ligon 2-10 0-2 5, Hutcheson 0-2 0-0 0, Kellermyer 0-3 0-0 0, Rodenberger 1-2 0-0 2, Williams 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 15-41 2-6—39. FINDLAY (1-0) Weihrauch 6-10 0-0 13, Best 1-2 1-1 3, Ernst 4-8 2-2 11, Hill 10-14 4-5 27, Cordonnier 5-12 1-2 11, Garmong 1-3 0-0 3, Stillings 0-0 0-0 0, Yeager 0-1 0-0 0, Rood 0-0 0-0 0, W00endt 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 27-51 8-11—68. Defiance &emsp;&emsp;8 &emsp;&emsp;10 &emsp;&emsp;18 &emsp;&emsp;3—39 Findlay &emsp;&emsp;14 &emsp;&emsp;20 &emsp;&emsp;16 &emsp;&emsp;18—68 3-POINT GOALS: Defiance 7-17 (Zipfel -0-1, Wright 0-2, Lopez 6-8, Ligon 1-5); Findlay 6-18 (Wendt 0-1, Garmong 1-3, Weihrauch 1-2, Best 0-1, Ernst 1-3, Hill 3-5, Yeager 0-1, Cordonnier 0-3). REBOUNDS: Defiance 21 (Rodenberger 7); Findlay 26 (Cordonnier 6, Best 5, Ernst 5, Weihrauch 4). TURNOVERS: Defiance 21, Findlay 9. JUNIOR VARSITY: Defiance, 43-35.