The Pandora-Gilboa High School boys basketball team completed a perfect Blanchard Valley Conference season in front of a near capacity home crowd on Saturday, February 19. P-G claimed the outright BVC title, beating second place Liberty-Benton 50-40.
With both teams known for playing tough defense, it was no surprise for P-G to be holding a slim 10-5 lead after just eight minutes of action, thanks to the P-G defense forcing three charge fouls in the quarter. The surprise was that P-G would never trail the rest of the way, stretching their advantage to 24-16 by halftime.
P-G took control in the third quarter up 33-20, then with a 37-22 advantage early into the fourth quarter. The Eagles came within eight at 40-32, but the Rockets closed out the game hitting shots at the free throw line.
P-G was led on offense by sophomore Aidan Harris, who poured in a team high 20 points. Senior Ryan Johnson added 9 points before fouling out late. Colin Harris, Aidan Morris and Dillon Krohn chipped in by scoring 5 points apiece. Ethan Luginbill added three points and Sam Norton hit one shot from the floor, while Will Huffman hit one free throw to close out the victory.
The last time P-G won both the BVC and PCL crowns in the same season was 2017-18, when they made the long tournament run to the Division IV State Semi-finals, losing to eventual state champion Marion Local.
Concluding the regular season, #4 seeded P-G will now begin tournament action at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday February 22 in the Van Wert Sectional, against fellow PCL rival, #5 Miller City (11-9).
The winner will face off against the #6 Ottoville/#11 Continental winner in the Van Vert Sectional final at 7:3 p.m. on Friday night Feb. 25.
