Fast start again key to Trojans' victory

HOLLAND – The recipe was the same. So was the finished product. For the third straight game, Findlay's defense sparked an out-of-the-gate run that led to a comfortable halftime lead and eventually a 66-38 win over Springfield on Tuesday in a Northern Lakes League cross-over game on Tuesday. "We were able to turn them over and get some easy baskets," FHS coach Jim Rucki said after the Trojans improved to 3-0. "We did not shoot well from the perimeter (2-for-13 on 3s), and we had some guys in foul trouble. But the kids played hard, they competed." Right out of the gate, Will Cordonnier scored, Sam Ernst turned a turnover into a lay-up and Javonte Hill connected. Off another steal, Luke Weihrauch scored, was fouled and completed the 3-point play that put Findlay up 9-0 before Springfield ever got on the board. Ben Best's 3-pointer and baskets by Cordonnier and Hill capped a 7-0 run that made it 20-8 late in the first quarter, and Findlay, which so far has held all three of its opponents under 40 points, was well on its way to its third 20-plus point win of the season. "We were able to get points off our defense," Rucki said. "We executed and did some good things." Cordonnier led Findlay with 25 points, including 15 in the second half when the lead mushroomed to 20 and then 30 points. Weihrauch had 12 points and Hill 10, although both were saddled with three fouls in the first half. "You never know. You might zig when the other guy zags and you get hit with your fourth foul," Rucki said. "We have experienced guys, though, who played pretty well even with those fouls." Kai Taylor, a 5-foot-9 freshman, led Springfield with nine points. Izaac Moses and Drew Martin both had seven for an 0-4 Springfield team that graduate all five starters from a team that was 15-9 a year ago. Findlay opens NLL Buckeye Division play next week with two challenging road games, Tuesday at Anthony Wayne and Friday at Toledo Whitmer, the preseason pick to win the league title. FINDLY (3-0) Weihrauch 4-4—12, Best 1-0—3, Ernst 3-0—6, Hill 5-0—10, Cordonnier 11-2—25, Montgomery 1-0-2—4, Yeager 2-2—6, Garmong 0-0—0, Stillings 0-0—0, Rood 0-0—0, Wendt 0-000. TOTALS: 27-10—66. SPRINGFIELD (0-4) Green 2-0—4, Moses 2-2—7, Adams 0-0—0, Martin 3-0—7, Taylor 4-0—9, Falade 1-0-3—5, Lawniczak 1-1—3, Whitmire 0-0—0, Ramsey 0-1—1, Sellers 0-2—2, Burrow 0-0—0, Eyob 0-0—0. TOTALS: 12-6—38. Findlay &emsp;&emsp;20 &emsp;&emsp;10 &emsp;&emsp;17 &emsp;&emsp;19—66 Springfield &emsp;&emsp;11 &emsp;&emsp;7 &emsp;&emsp;12 &emsp;&emsp;8—38 3-POINT GOALS: Findlay 2 (Best, Cordonnier); Springfield 3 (Moses, Martin, Taylor). JUNIOR VARSITY: Springfield 52-43. FRESHMEN: Findlay 50-25.