BOYS' BASKETBALL - Norwalk stays tied for first in NOL with win over Galion

The Norwalk boys’ basketball team found a way to win Thursday in Northern Ohio League action against Galion.
The Truckers rallied in the second half to post a 41-38 win.
Norwalk improved to 9-5 overall, 7-2 in the league and are tied atop the league standings with Bellevue, which downed Fostoria 55-48 Thursday.
“The thing we’ve tried to impress on with the kids is team and the only stat that counts is the final score,’’ Truckers coach Steve Gray said. “The great thing about this team is that they never give up. No matter how we’re playing offensively, they always defend. I’m so proud of these kids.’’
The Truckers trailed 25-18 at halftime, but limited the visitors to 13 second-half points while scoring 23.
In the fourth quarter, Norwalk, led by an 11-1 run, outscored the visitors 14-5.
The Tigers, who were 1-of-14 from the field in the fourth, scored their lone basket with six seconds left as Andrew Nicholls hit a three-point shot.
“I thought in the second half, our defense was as good a half of defense as I’ve seen in a long time,’’ Gray said. “The kids did a great job of getting the shooters off their spots and recognizing what they were attempting to do.’’
Tigers coach Tim Birie talked about the second half.
“They did a better job of defending and we started to miss some shots,’’ he said. “We didn’t slow down and be patient when we weren’t making them. If the shots aren’t falling, we have to be able to take the ball inside.’’
Jordan Burke and Jared Cashen each picked up their game offensively with six points apiece in the final eight minutes.
The Truckers, who trailed 12-4 after the first quarter, took their first lead at 35-34 with 5:22 left in the game on a Jared Cashen hoop. Norwalk extended that advantage to 40-34 on a Ty Wells free throw with 12 seconds remaining.
Nicholls hit his triple to draw Galion within 40-37, but Wells converted another free throw to push the advantage to four points with three ticks left on the clock. Jack Nicholls was fouled on a three-point attempt with a second left and hit a free throw.
A last second Tiger shot went astray.
“In the first half, we didn’t make the extra pass,’’ Gray said. “Our ball movement and people movement were atrocious.’’
Burke led Norwalk with 15 points and Cashen added 12.
The Truckers were 15-of-34 from the field and 9-of-17 from the free-throw line with 20 rebounds and 17 turnovers. Cashen grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Andrew Nicholls netted 11 points to lead the Tigers, who went 15-of-46 from the field and 3-of-11 from the line with 27 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
Norwalk completed a sweep on the night with a 41-36 reserve team.
Trailing 33-25, the Truckers outscored the visitors 16-3 in the fourth quarter.
Jake Fetherolf tallied 14 points and Dirk Weisenburger contributed 12 for Wes Sellers’ team, which improved to 6-8 and 4-5.
Norwalk welcomes Shelby, which defeated Willard 62-56, in Saturday.
“Shelby has an outstanding team,’’ Gray said. “It will be a great challenge for us.’’
Boxscores
Varsity
Galion 38
J. Nicholls 3-1-8, Brooks 1-1-3, A. Nicholls 4-0-11, Kirk 0-1-1, McCuen 3-0-7, Thomas 2-0-4, Loper 2-0-4. Totals: 15-3-38.
Norwalk 41
Wells 1-2-4, Ringle 1-0-2, Cook 1-0-2, Burke 5-3-15, Jared Cashen 4-4-12, Jacob Cashen 3-0-6. Totals: 15-9-41.
Galion    12    13    8    5 — 38
Norwalk    4    14    9    14 — 41

Reserve
Galion 36
Quaintance 4-5-17, Keller 0-1-1, Blair 3-1-8, Johnson 4-1-10. Totals: 11-8-36.
Norwalk 41
Koehn 2-0-5, Ewell 0-2-2, Finch 2-0-5, Cook 1-0-2, Beveridge 0-1-1, Fetherolf 5-4-14, Weisenburger 5-2-12. Totals: 15-9-41.
Galion    7    10    16    3 — 36
Norwalk    10    7    8    16 — 41