Bowling Green Christian’s Caleb Kuntsmann (23) goes in for a layup against Toledo Northwest Ohio Classical’s Jude Leguire (23) during the first quarter of a game on February 5 at the Bowling Green Community Center. (Scott W. Grau|Sentinel-Tribune file)
MT. GILEAD, Ohio — Bowling Green Christian Academy’s quest for a varsity boy’s state title ended Saturday evening after dropping a 64-36 decision to Marion Christian in Independent Christian Schools of Ohio semifinal action at the Gilead Friends Gymnasium.
BGCA’s appearance in the “Final Four” was its seven all-time and first since 2017. Marion has made it to the semifinals on nine occasions, earning six championship berths and winning the title twice (2014 and 2022). The Lions were seeking their first ever championship bid.
MC was on fire from the floor early on and poured in 14 3-pointers over the course of the contest. The Lions never led in the game and got no closer than 3-2 in the opening minute on a driving layup by senior Caleb Kunstmann. The Hawks would build their led to 14-4 after hitting the team’s fourth trey of the quarter.
BGCA would whittle its deficit back to six on hoops by senior Titus Angel and Kunstmann, but MC countered with another 3-pointer and a conventional basket to go ahead by 11 at 19-8. Angel closed the first stanza scoring and BGCA trailed 19-10 after eight minutes of play.
Angel scored the first points of the second quarter to bring BG within seven, but the Hawks answered with another basket to go ahead 21-12. The Lions then produced two quick buckets by sophomore Trent Thompson to draw within five (21-16) with under four minutes to play in the half and momentum seemed to be on BGCA’s side.
However, MC closed the half on an 14-0 run after a BGCA turnover wiped out a chance for the Lions to close the gap to a single possession. MC used three more shots from beyond the arc to stifle BG’s comeback attempt. A confident Hawks club took a 35-16 advantage into the locker-room at the break.
Angel scored the first points of the third to make it 35-18, but MC drilled another three to go up by 20 before senior Jaydin Pinkney answered for BG with two points. But the Hawks kept the triples coming, hitting two more in helping MC build a 26-point lead (46-20) before baskets by Angel and senior John Fyfe briefly slowed down the Hawk attack. MC answered Fyfe’s hoop with another trey and closed the quarter leading 49-25.
In the fourth, BGCA found itself down by 28 early on before junior Jackson Hammack hit BG’s lone 3-pointer of the game (14 total attempts) to make it 53-28. Down by 28 again, senior Brett Boston hit a pair of foul shots and a basket (56-32), but MC pushed its lead back to 26 shortly thereafter. Another Boston bucket made it 58-34, but the Lions would get no closer after MC hit its 14th triple of the game.
Marion finish 14 for 30 behind the arc (46.7%) and 22 for 50 (44.0%) from the floor all together. The Hawks also made 6 of 7 free-throw tries. BGCA shot just 15 of 51 (29.4%) from the field, including 14 of 37 (37.8%) in 2-point attempts. The Lions were 5 of 8 from the charity line, including a perfect 4-for-4 from Boston. BG’s 36 points were its third fewest scored this year and Marion’s 64 points were the most tallied on the Lions all season.
Angel led the Black & Purple with 10 points, while Boston added eight (6 in the 4th). Fyfe finished with five, Kunstmann and Thompson had four each, Hammack posted three, and Pinkney added two. Angel was the team’s top rebounder with nine (all defensive). Kunstmann had six boards, three assists, and a steal. Thomas set up five Lion hoops and was credited with two steals. Thompson had one block.
Senior Kade Brugger scored a game-high 22, including six 3-pointers in 11 attempts. Freshman Jake Kruse contributed 12 points off the bench, making four threes in seven tries. Senior Garrett Slater added nine points, while sophomore Chase Brugger and senior Jaxon Watters had seven apiece to help the MC cause. Like BGCA, Marion had five seniors in its starting lineup.
Kunstmann and senior Hudson Thomas were honored pre-game as BGCA’s representatives on the ICSO All-West Team. Head coach Rob Boron also earned ICSO honors as the West Division Coach-of-the-Year.
BGCA, 21-4 overall, saw it’s 12-game win streak halted and it was the team’s first loss since an overtime setback on Dec. 30. The Lions close the season this weekend (March 1-2) with three games at the Harvest Temple Invitational.
Joining BG will be Senedot, Gospel Haven, Freedom, Faith Christian, Northwest Ohio, Grand Lake Christian, and host Harvest Temple. The Lions play Senedot in their opening-round game Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Marion, the second seed in the East, will face top eastern seed Gospel Haven on Monday night for the state championship. GH edged Northwest Ohio (West-2), 38-35, in the day’s first semifinal.
