SPORTS

Fliers' Davenport done sitting, back in starting lineup

Matthew Horn
Reporter
Clyde's Tanner Davenport looks for room to operate as Oak Harbor's Jac Alexander defends.

Clyde coach Ryan Fretz wanted his team to adjust to the fact no adjustment was necessary Friday.

Tanner Davenport made three of four free throws in the final 33 seconds and Oak Harbor missed a few jumpers in the same timeframe in the Fliers' 54-52 victory in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division.

"I was confident," Davenport said. "We practice that every day — free throws under pressure. I was ready for it."

Oak Harbor's Clay Schulte made a 3 for 45-37 advantage early in the fourth quarter before Davenport canned consecutive 3s of his own and Lucas Nicely added another for a one-point lead with 4:55 left.

"There's a big different between practicing and getting out there in games," Fretz said of Davenport. "He was ready and it was like he never left. You can't ask for much more from a senior. Nicely came off the bench and gave us a solid fundamental first half and hit a big shot at the end. As a coach, you're very happy to see the seniors do that."

Clyde's Connor Long threads a pass past Oak Harbor's Clay Schulte.

Davenport has played in four games since returning from a broke collar bone suffered during football. He made his first start Friday and played nearly 31 minutes.

"Once the first (3) went in it boosted my confidence," he said. "I shot the second without a worry in my mind it was going in. I feel like I'm healthy, but there's room for improvement.

"It was a slow start the first few games getting back in the swing. I found it (Friday). I worked my way back into the starting lineup and felt like my old self."

Davenport had a game-high 18 points and added six rebounds and four steals.

"He's playing like Tanner," Fretz said. "It took him a little to get back into it after watching for two months. He's back."

Clyde's Jaylan Johnson scored eight of his 10 points in the second half, including two free throws for a 52-51 deficit with 1:14 remaining following a 3 from Schulte.

"Our biggest adjustment was not making an adjustment," Fretz said. "We were down eight at the half. Don't freak out. We battled that against Vermilion, Bellevue and Perkins. We stuck to our game plan and I asked them to find another level. The intensity on defense helped create transition offense we needed."

Oak Harbor's Jac Alexander strips the ball from Clyde's Jaylan Johnson.

Conner Long added nine points, three steals and two blocks and Derick Harrah had six rebounds for Clyde (3-9, 2-6). Oak Harbor led 28-20 after two quarters.

"A lot (of credit) goes to Jaylan down low keeping their big guy from scoring," Davenport said. "The rest was a team effort. We took a step back last game and needed to take two forward. We did that. Hopefully this will be a kick-start with nine of 10 at home."

Tate Smith had 12 points and eight rebounds, Isaiah Jefferson had 11 points and Schulte added 10 for the Rockets (4-8, 4-4).

"In the second half, they got to the free throw line," Oak Harbor coach Eric Sweet said. "We didn't attempt one free throw in the second half. We made 3 of 4 and never got back to the line. Davenport hit back-to-back 3s and we didn't hit our 3s."

Stat Book

 Oak Harbor (Nate Poiry 2, Matt Harris 7, Jac Alexander 6, Aric McAtee 4); Clyde (Trevor Burtch 4, Seth Hohman 3, Lucas Nicely 5, Derick Harrah 5).

mhorn@gannett.com

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Twitter:@MatthewHornNH