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3/3/06

Diebler reaches 2,000 plateau in sectional tournament victory

By Gary Ogle
News Journal




MANSFIELD -- Upper Sandusky's Jon Diebler scored his 2,000th career point and showcased his teammates as well while booting Galion out of the sectional tournament on Wednesday night.
The Rams put four players in twin digits to dismiss the Tigers 79-50 and advance to Friday's 8 p.m. sectional title game with Ontario.

"They're a good basketball team," Galion coach Steve Kent said. "It's no disgrace to lose to them." The Rams (16-5) are the defending Division II state champions, and showed they're gong to be a tough out for anyone in the postseason. Galion tried to counter by slowing the pace, and trailed just 15-11 after one quarter.


"We had a nice game plan. We just don't have the athletes to execute," Kent said. "I like what we did defensively. We limited Jon's (Diebler) shots.

But Jon distributes the basketball and the other kids convert."

There was no holding the Rams back after that. Upper Sandusky rifled the nets in Pete Henry Gymnasium for 33 points in the second frame and a 48-26 lead at intermission.

Diebler, a junior already committed to Ohio State and with a 77-point game to his credit this season, had 14 first-half points and finished with a game-high 21.

He also shook off early foul trouble to register 11 rebounds, four blocks, four steals and numerous assists.

"We wanted to keep Jon in the game because you're taking two and three people with him. The last half of the season you can't do that," said Keith Diebler, Jon's father and the Upper Sandusky coach. "Using Jon as a decoy really helps."

His 2,000th point came on a fadeaway baseline jumper.

"For the Upper Sandusky program, it's a milestone. But it wouldn't have meant much if we hadn't won," Keith Diebler said, noting Jon wasn't aware of the 2,000-point mark because "he doesn't read JJ Huddle."

"I think Jon is more excited about the kids he's playing with and making passes, and I think he'll tell you he's played with some pretty special people."

The second half was anticlimactic, especially after the Rams opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run.

Alex Falk had 15 for the Rams, Ian Mason added 14 and Aaron Wetherell added 12.

"I said Upper was probably the most improved team in the league (Northern Ohio League) since Christmas time," Kent said. "We just can't score. We average 49 points a game, but we did a lot of things right defensively."

Luke Sutton led the Tigers with nine points and James Zeuch came off the bench to add seven, all in the final quarter.

Kent came back to the Tigers on a one-year basis only. He noted how special it was to end his career Wednesday at Mansfield against Upper Sandusky.

"It's ironic. The last game I coach, Upper Sandusky is the school my dad (Carroll Kent) is in the hall of fame for," Kent said. "And my grandfather (Vernon Hoffman) is in the Hall of Fame here at Mansfield."
gogle@nncogannett.com 419-563-9225