The shorthanded Ravens struggled early on Tuesday against Mediapolis, but pulled within two after scoring the first two points of the fourth quarter. 

Unfortunately, Hillcrest (7-3) managed just three points the rest of the way as the Bulldogs (8-1) distanced themselves for a 39-29 win.  

It was still a four-point game when Mediapolis began to slow down and hold the ball, forcing the Ravens to foul. 

“The strange thing is, we only had one team foul several minutes into the fourth quarter, so it was tough to get them to the line,” Hillcrest coach Dwight Gingerich said. “At the other end we pretty much got just one shot and they got the separation late.”

The Ravens were playing without Luke Schrock on Tuesday, in addition to missing Noah Miller who suffered a season-ending ACL injury over the winter break. Mediapolis on the other hand, got a boost from the return of its first-team all-conference forward Cole Lipper. The 6-foot-4 junior was out with an injury for the first eight games of the season, including the first matchup with Hillcrest.

“We had a tough time, as he scored 17 of their 39 points,” Gingerich said. “They methodically worked the ball and were very patient in getting him touches against both man and zone.”

Grant Bender and Aiden Krabill combined to score 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Krabill was 3-of-4 from the 3-point line and Bender made both of his attempts from outside. 

“It was great to see Aiden Krabill step up and knock down three triples, as he and Grant Bender gave us strong offensive nights,” Gingerich said. 

Bender finished a team-high 14 points and six rebounds. Seth Ours led the Ravens with four assists. 

No one besides Bender and Krabill attempted a two-point basket for Hillcrest and the rest of the team combined to shoot just 1-of-12 from the 3-point line. 

“I don’t see them shooting that poorly again, but it happened that night, unfortunately,” Gingerich said. “The ball movement was great at times, but the shots did not fall.”

The Ravens trailed 12-5 after the first quarter, and 21-15 at the half. Hillcrest held Mediapolis to just seven points in the third quarter and pulled within 28-26 early in the fourth, but would get no closer. 

“I was proud of our guys from an effort standpoint, especially being another man down with Luke Schrock out,” Gingerich said. “We simply turned it over too often in a low possession game, and shot it poorly from the line, going 1-6. Those two things make it tough to win.”

GAME STATS

Mediapolis 12 9 7 11 – 39

Hillcrest 5 10 9 5 – 29

HILLCREST SCORING: Grant Bender 14, Aiden Krabill 12, Seth Ours 3. REBOUNDING: Bender 6, Krabill 4, Josiah Beachy 4. 

MEPO SCORING: Cole Lipper 17, Jackson Hutcheson 7, Kadin Salek 7, Elijah Grier 4, Anthony Isley 4.