Jackets clipped by Cleary, eliminated from tournament contention

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Wednesday night's 70-66 loss for the Defiance Yellow Jackets to the Cleary Cougars at the Karl H. Weaner was the beginning of a heartbreaking domino of events that led to DC being eliminated from WHAC Tournament contention.

Just moments after the final horn in Defiance, the UNOH Racers loss to Lourdes went DC's way to keep the Yellow Jackets (12-14, 7-14 WHAC) in the hunt. However, the Aquinas Saints stormed back to knock off Cornerstone in Grand Rapids to clinch the 8th and final seed in next week's WHAC Tournament.

Needing a win to pull even with Aquinas in the WHAC standings, Defiance overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half and briefly held the lead before the halftime break. A pair of free throws by the Cougars (12-14, 11-10 WHAC) broke a 33-33 tie at the end of the first 20 minutes.

The second half resulted in the same 35-33 score and had a similar feel to the first half. The Cougars opened up an 8-point lead with a 10-4 start to the half that eventually swelled to 9 points before Defiance chipped away down the stretch. Starting with a 3-point play by Evan Angstmann, Defiance worked a pair of defensive stops that led to 2 free throws by Angstmann and a 3-pointer by Donovan Stone to bring DC within one at 50-49. Following a DC timeout, Wren Sheets lifted Defiance to the lead with a go-ahead layup and later tied the contest at 54-54 with just under 6 minutes to go. The Cougars were able to work two different 5-point leads that Defiance cut to 1 point each time, but could not get over the hump in the closing moments.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance shot 31 percent in the first half while Cleary shot 34 percent. Rebounds were closely split at 24-23 in favor of the Cougars. 
• DC improved to shoot 42 percent after the break with the Cougars earning just a 2-point advantage in the second half from the free throw line.
• Carter Sudhoff was DC's top scorer in first half with 13 points and went on to a team-high 17.
• Evan Angstmann came alive in the second half with 10 of his 16 for the night after the halftime break.
• Christian Burton and Donovan Stone each chipped in 9 points apiece while Wren Sheets posted 6 points, all in the second half.
• Devonte Curry tallied his first points of the season with a banked-in 3-pointer and a trio of free throws in the first half.

UP NEXT
Defiance completes the regular season at home on Saturday against the Aquinas Saints at 2 p.m. The Yellow Jackets will honor lone senior Parker Chatman prior to the game.

-JACKETS-