The Washington Blue Lions, coming off a pair of losses to Hillsboro and Vinton County, welcomed non-conference foe Wilmington to "The Lair" Monday night. The Hurricane, trending upward recently, put together a potent outside game that ultimately hurt CH and won going away by the final score of 74-53.
The game featured two stunning runs in the first two quarters that actually caused the visitors to take command and put the game out of reach. In the first period Washington soared out to a 10-0 lead (Wilmington was held scoreless for over 4 minutes in the first frame). However, the 'Cane scored the final 7 points to trail by only 3 at the first stop.
WHS, starting the second period on fire, continued a run of their own by scoring the first 12 points in the quarter to capture a 19 -- 10 advantage and never looked back (eventually having a 37-20 lead at the half). That 17 point lead only grew as the third stanza unfolded with Wilmington outscoring the Blue Lions by 8 to make the third quarter stop to read : 61-36.
So, it was the two quarter blitz of 54-26 that doomed WCH and led to their eighth straight loss.
The WHS aforementioned outside game was spearheaded by senior guard Brandon Glass who hit for 18 points on the strength of 6 for 7 from distance. It was his remarkable sharpshooting that led to his being named the WCHO "player of the game." Washington, on the other hand, was led by sophomore Tanner Lemaster who garnered a game-high 28 points.
Head Coach of the Blue Lions, Shannon Bartruff, said things will not get easier for his squad when they return to FAC action this Friday (their next assignment will be to take on the Chillicothe Cavaliers who are the defending champions).