Anthony Wayne pulls off historic win over Findlay

Anthony Wayne's Grant Fiock knocks over Findlay's Adam Twining during a Division I district semifinal game.

FINDLAY -- Anthony Wayne made history on Thursday night when it knocked off Findlay 37-28 in a Division I boys district semifinal at Liberty-Benton.

The victory is the first district semifinal win in the history of the Generals' basketball program.

"I don't think there's a more proud coach than I am for these guys," Anthony Wayne coach Bryan Borcherdt said of the Generals, who outscored the Trojans 7-0 during the final three minutes of the game to claim the victory.

The Generals won primarily because of some tough defensive play and plenty of patience on the offensive end.

Donnal, the 6-foot-9 University of Michigan commitment, and Matt Fox, a 6-1 sophomore, led AW (16-6) in scoring with eight points apiece.

Donnal scored all of his points in the second half after missing most of the first half with foul trouble.

"It's a great feeling because it's the first time in school history for us to win a district semifinal game," Donnal said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Anthony Wayne vs. Findlay

Findlay's 6-11 senior C.J. Gettys pumped in a game-high 15 points, and Boston Ballmer provided nine.

However, it's a game the Trojans (16-6) may look back on with some regret after scoring only two points in the second quarter while Donnal was hampered with foul trouble.

"We just missed some shots that you have to make," Findlay coach Jim Rucki said. "You have to make a couple of those shots, and we weren't able to make them."

Donnal picked up two fouls in the first quarter and had to take a seat on AW's bench for most of the first half. He picked up his second foul with three minutes remaining in the opening quarter and didn't play for the rest of the first half. He witnessed 11 of the first 16 minutes of the game sitting beside AW's coaching staff.

When Donnal left the game, the Generals owned a 7-2 lead. Findlay closed the period with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 9.

But the Generals handled his absence well enough to take a slim 12-11 advantage into halftime.

"I had confidence in my teammates that they could get the job done offensively and defensively," Donnal said about having to watch from the bench.

"We didn't take advantage when the big kid was out," Rucki said. "That was something we were hoping for, and we couldn't get the ball inside."

AW's Ose Omofoma scored from close range to give the Generals an 11-9 lead to start the second quarter and account for the only field goal in the period. Jake Reid made it 12-9 when he made one of two foul shots with 2:55 left in the first half.

Gettys knocked down a pair of foul shots to make it a 12-11 contest with 2:34 left in the half.

Neither team scored again.

Donnal and Gettys became more active in the second half, and the scoring picked up for both teams.

However, AW held on down the stretch -- making seven of nine foul shots. The Generals will now play Norwalk on Saturday at Bowling Green State University at 7.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com or 419-724-6302.