PAULDING – The Paulding Panthers moved within one more victory in the Green Meadows Conference of the boys basketball league championship as the maroon and white held off a pesky Fairview squad 51-37 Friday night at the ‘Jungle.’
The Panthers were on top 12-9 at the end of one period before outscoring the Apaches 17-16 in the second quarter for a 29-25 halftime advantage.
Fairview slightly trimmed into the deficit in the third period, picking up ten points compared to the Panthers’ nine as the black and gold pulled within 38-35 entering the final period.
However, the fourth quarter was all Paulding as the Panthers bucketed 13 markers and limited the Apaches to two points to secure the 51-37 victory.
Nick Manz paced a balanced Panther attack that saw a trio of players reach double figures, scoring 13 points on the night.
Ethan Foltz and Peyton Adams both chipped in ten markers for Paulding, which improves to 11-5 on the season and 5-0 in the Green Meadows Conference. The maroon and white visits second place Tinora next Friday before hosting Wayne Trace in the conference finale on February 10.
Luke Zartman also had seven points for the Panthers with Isaac Reeb posting five and Casey Agler finished with four. Kane Jones recorded the remaining Paulding basket.
Eli Shininger scored a dozen markers to top Fairview, which falls to 2-13 in all games and 0-5 in the conference.
Kale Salyers (seven), Brody Retcher (six), Adam Lashaway (five), D’Andre Hastings (four) and Kasen Kauffman (three) completed the Apache scoring.
Fairview captured the junior varsity contest 39-33.
