Sheridan boys no match for Athens, OSU-bound Burrow

LOGAN – Falling behind 7-0 wasn't the sort of start that Sheridan envisioned in its Division II sectional final against Athens on Friday night.

But, really, it was a microcosm of the Generals' season. Between injuries and inconsistent play, nothing ever came easy for Sheridan during the regular season.

It was no different against the top-seeded Bulldogs, who scored seven points in the first two minutes and cruised to a 68-46 win at Logan High School.

Luke Fox had 17 points and Joey Palmer 14 with a team-high 12 rebounds in their final games, but Sheridan (16-8) was doomed by inconsistent defense and 31 percent shooting.

Neither effort was good enough against a Bulldogs team that was ranked in the Associated Press' top 10 for most of the season.

Athens shot 50 percent and made eight 3-pointers.

"I never imagined they would make it look as easy as they did," Sheridan coach Greg Booth said. "They came out and executed. Kudos to them for that."

Mr. Football winner Joey Burrow, an Ohio State signee, scored 17 of his game-high 32 points in the first half when Athens (21-2) used a 10-2 run to break the game open.

He made five 3s to lead three players in double figures; point guard Griffin Lutz added 12 points and 6-foot-5 Ryan Luehrman 11 with a game-high 13 rebounds and five assists.

The Bulldogs effectively spread the floor for their shooters, forcing the Generals to cover more ground than normal.

Burrow and Luehrman had 3s to start the second quarter and Burrow had a big three-point play with 1:14 left until halftime after Sheridan got within 32-22.

Sheridan never got closer than 10 points for the rest of the game.

Booth credited the Bulldogs for hitting shots, some of which were contested.

"We gave them a lot of open looks, and was I really surprised because that's pretty uncharacteristic," Booth said. "Sometimes I think maybe we get so involved in individual matchups that we dismiss our 'help' responsibilities.

"Our rotations were either a step slow or just not there, kind of all night," he added. "And we had a tough time with their athleticism, containing the dribble. That led to long closeouts and they didn't miss those wide open looks."

Booth credited his team for being able to salvage a respectable season, despite losing senior Ethan Snider to a knee injury and playing without classmate Nick Thomas for part of the early season.

"It breaks your heart for this group of seniors, because I just wish I could have done more for them," Booth said. "I wish I was better for their sake because they deserve it. It's just a great group of kids."

Athens advanced to the district at the Ohio Convocation Center, where it plays either unbeaten Chillicothe Unioto or Washington Court House.

sblackburn@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

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