Urbana routs Greenon for 11th straight win

Stillings scores 28, and Hillclimbers inch closer to division title.

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer 11:14 PM Friday, February 3, 2012

URBANA — After thumping Greenon 81-50 on Friday for its 11th victory in a row, the Urbana High School boys basketball team finds itself one win away from winning the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division title.

“We want it,” Urbana senior Zach Stillings said. “All that stands in our way is Graham. Take down Graham, and we’ve got it.”

Urbana (13-1, 7-0 CBC) can clinch the title outright by beating Graham next Friday.

If that’s not motivation enough, junior varsity coach T.D. Evans has promised the players he’ll shave his goatee if the Hillclimbers beat the Falcons for a second time.

Even if Urbana were to lose at Graham, it could still win the division by winning its two remaining division games, against Northwestern and Indian Lake. That shouldn’t be a problem if it plays like it did in the first half against Greenon.

Urbana put the game away midway through the first quarter. It led 23-6 after the first quarter and 38-12 at halftime.

“That was probably the best half we’ve played,” Urbana coach Jeremy Dixon said. “We did a good job moving the basketball, finding the open man and limiting easy shots for them.”

Urbana also jumped out on Greenon early in the first matchup between the two schools on Dec. 20. Urbana led 17-9 after one quarter in that game and went on to win 61-39.

Stillings had 18 of his 28 points in the first half Friday, and most of his baskets were layups at the end of fast breaks.

“I didn’t have to work too hard for it,” he said.

“Every team will take easy baskets,” Dixon said. “For whatever reason, we were able to get a lot in transition tonight. The key to that was forcing tough shots and then getting rebounds in the first half.”

Stillings has scored at least 20 points in five straight games. He also had 15 rebounds Friday.

“He’s been doing really well lately,” Dixon said. “Our guards do a great job of getting him the ball. Post guys can’t score unless they get the ball. He’s not going to bring the ball up the floor. We’ve been doing a good job of getting him the ball, and he’s been doing a good job of finishing.”

Tristan Singer added 15 points for Urbana. Joe Wright and Alex Niswonger had 8 each. Wright also had 12 assists.

Urbana hosts Springfield tonight in a game postponed from earlier in the season.

Anthony Colletti led Greenon with 15 points, all in the second half. Cody Carpenter scored 13, and Josh Pilcher had 11.

The Knights fell to 8-9 and 3-5 in the Mad River Division. They have lost four of their last five games.

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