CADIZ — Harrison Central bounced back from a tough loss to Weir in the 4A semifinals to topple Indian Creek, 63-58 Friday night.

Sophomore Mykel Quito led the Huskies with 19 points, while junior Hayden Cassidy added 17 and Clayton Vermillion posted 12.

Indian Creek was led by Drake Freshwater’s 11.

​​Southern Local 57, Shadyside 49

SALINEVILLE — The Indians picked up a victory in the OVAC Class 2A consolation game by knocking off invading Shadyside.

The Tigers, who played without Ben Wach due to an injury, were led by senior Elijah Brock, who went for 17. Tyler Stottlemyer and Luke Bell evenly divided 18 for the Orange.

Jason Riggs and Brady Ketchum each had 16 to pace the winners.

Frontier 50, Barnesville 45

BARNESVILLE — The Cougars picked up an OVAC consolation win in Belmont County Friday evening.

Frontier was led by Avery Powell’s 12 and Tice Curtis’ 11.

Barnesville received 15 points from Taison Starr, 11 from John Blizzard and 10 from Cam Carpenter.

Paden City 45, Beallsville 41

PADEN CITY — The Wildcats fended off the Blue Devils for an OVAC consolation victory Friday.

Lila led Paden City with 15, while Lehtonen added 14.

Logan Taylor paced Beallsville with 14, while Chance Allen added nine.

Bridgeport 71, Hundred 51

AT HUNDRED – The Bulldogs won an OVAC consolation game as Colin Jackson led four double-figure scorers with 18 points. Gary Widmor added 14, Daniel Spurlock 13 and A.J. Gear 11.

The Hornets were paced by Josiah Morgan with 10.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

West Liberty Drops Pair

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Hilltoppers dropped their season-opening doubleheader on Friday at Union University by scores of 12-7 and 7-3.

In the opener, Ryan Talbert got the season started with a one-out single to left field driving in Ty Helmke to get the Hilltoppers on the board early. Talbert finished the game with three hits, including a double, and three RBI. Jacob Sherman ended the season opener with three straight hits, two of which were doubles, after flying out in the first inning and scored a pair of runs.

A late rally from West Liberty brought the game back within two runs. Martins Ferry product Jake Probst drove in a run, then Sherman and Talbert laced back-to-back two-out doubles bringing the margin to 8-6 Bulldogs.

Union answered with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take back control of the game.

The Hilltoppers got runners to second and third to start the ninth, but the ensuing three batters went down in order.

Wheeling Park product James Salvatori and Brad Goodyear each had two hits. Salvatori recorded a double and Goodyear had the RBI in the ninth.

Four pitchers threw for the Black and Gold, Brooke alum Justin Pennybacker suffered the loss over five innings.

In the nightcap, Union rolled out to a 7-1 lead in game two through five innings controlling the seven inning nightcap.

The Hilltoppers got on the board in the third off a Sherman grounded out to drive in Hunter Cottrell, who reached on an error to start the inning, narrowing the margin to 3-1.

A Cottrell two-out double drove in Salvatori in the sixth, then Helmke came around in the seventh on a wild pitch after leading off the frame with a double.

COLLEGE WRESTLING

West Liberty Blanks D&E Again

ELKINS, W.Va. – The No. 4 ranked Hilltoppers posted its highest scoring dual of the season in a 56-0 shutout victory over Senators Friday night..

It was the Hilltoppers fourth shutout of the season and second over the Senators.

A shorthanded D&E squad forfeited six matches, then West Liberty earned bonus points wins in all four contested bouts.

Khyvon Grace (141) and Francesco Borsellino (285) bookended the competition with falls. Borsellino ended the night with a slam in just 1:33, while Grace earned his pin in the second period.

Weirton Madonna state champion Alec Cook (165) and Parker Bentley (197) both picked up major decisions. Cook downed his combatant 10-2, then Bentley racked up the points with a 20-7 rout.

The Hilltoppers end the dual season 21-4 and turn their attention to NCAA Division II postseason wrestling.

COLLEGE SWIMMING

Wheeling’s Banks Reaches Podium

Canton, OH. – The 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference/Mountain East Conference championships wrapped up on Friday from the C.T. Brannin Natatorium. The Wheeling University men’s swimming team would finish ninth overall, but ended the tournament with another strong swim.

Junior Ethan Banks, a St. Clairsville alum, was the only swimmer to compete on the day as he returned to the distance events to close things out. He would swim in the 1650 Freestyle, an event he has swam in several times this season. He would enter with a seed time of 18:12.46 and was looking to lower that time, and did just that, dropping that seed time by 24 seconds and finished at 17:38.57 to complete his big day. He would take 12th overall and 6th overall in the MEC.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

Barry University 6, West Liberty 0

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Hilltoppers began their weekend trip with a loss to the Buccaneers.

West Liberty was held to no hits and just three baserunners. Savannah Holbrook got on the basepaths first for the Black and Gold drawing a second inning walk before a lineout ended the frame. Weir grad Mallory Rosnick led off the third with a base on balls, but a double play quickly stymied the threat. Riley Conkle was the last ‘Topper to reach base with a one-out walk in the fourth only to be followed by back-to-back infield pop outs.

The Bucs broke an early scoreless tie with four runs in the third inning and added two more in the fifth.

West Liberty will be back in action Saturday for two games at Nova Southeastern. First a neutral site contest versus Mars Hill at 10 am, then the Hilltoppers will play the hosts at 12:30 p.m.