In an exciting SWC contest between the Berea-Midpark Titans led by head coach Kevin Braaten and the Elyria Pioneers led by head coach Brett Larrick, the Pioneers were able to defeat the Titans 83-74 behind #10 Jayden Crutcher’s whopping 27 points and #24 Kendyll Compton’s 15 points. The Titans were led in scoring by #11 Nick Reece with 23 points, and #10 Andre Alexander with 16 points.

The first quarter began with the Pioneers and Titans in a defensive showdown, no easy buckets except for #10 Jayden Crutcher who nailed a 3 to open up the scoring for the Pioneers. #1 Dylan Mattox, after a display of rebounding heroics from the Titans, found an easy lay to the basket for 2.

#4 Reid Braaten sunk a 3 pointer from almost half court which sent the Titans student section into a frenzy! Braaten and teammate #11 Nick Reece were like siamese twins, leading each other to baskets left and right. The gym was totally behind the home team Titans with only 3 minutes left in the quarter, the score being 15-11 Titans.

Crutcher of the Pioneers quietly kept his team within reach, scoring multiple baskets over defenders with ease. #10 Andre Alexander of the Titans nailed a pair of 3 pointers, forcing a Pioneer timeout. But, the game remained close heading into the 2nd quarter. To finish the 1st quarter, #13 Forward Cal Maloney nailed a tricky and-1 and hit his free throw. Elyria answered back with a 3 from #5 Taylor Blanton, tying the score 21-21!

In the 2nd quarter, Elyria kept it within striking distance of the Titans. The Titans were playing amazing team basketball, with 5 players above 6 or more points each! The score with 5 minutes left in the first half was 31-28 Titans. Alexander of the Titans shushed the Elyria crowd with a HUGE 3 pointer to extend the Titan lead to 6.

#22 Pierre Alston of the Pioneers had an excellent 2nd quarter, dunking in front of the Titan student section and scoring 8 points off the bench.

At halftime, the home team Berea-Midpark Titans led the Elyria Pioneers 43-36!

Alexander of the Titans and Crutcher of the Pioneers traded baskets to start the 2nd half, and Elyria cut the Titan lead within 2 with 5 and a half minutes to go in the 3rd quarter. Elyria took the lead with a DEEP 3 from #24 Kendyll Compton, and another 3 from Crutcher extended it. The Titans meanwhile battled back and forth with the Pioneers thanks to shooting heroics from Alexander and Reece.

Reece hit a layup coast to coast and then a steal which turned into 2 more that sent the gym wild! The Titans led the Pioneers 59-54 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Crutcher started off the final frame like he started every other one, dominating on both sides of the floor. Compton with a massive dunk to light up the Elyria side while Blanton nailed a 3 to shift the momentum back to the Pioneers. #0 Cam Bell of the Pioneers glided to the hoop with an and-1 to hype up the Elyria crowd even more.

#3 Tyson Clay of the Titans nailed a pair of foul shots to take the lead back, but Compton had an answer of his own with a coast to coast layup. Talk about a back and forth ending to an already entertaining game, The Pioneers led by just a single point with 3 minutes left in regulation.

Compton with a CLUTCH and-1 to extend the lead to 6 with just 2 minutes to go! Clay of the Titans said “no thank you sir” with a 3 to bring the lead back down to 5. But, it was not enough for the Titans as they drop the game to the Pioneers 83-74.