The MAC Gym hosted the third annual “Love the Game” Valentine’s weekend basketball tournament. The tournament featured three divisions of 3rd and 4th grade boys and girls teams.
The first division to complete for the day was the 3rd grade girls division. This game featured the Wayne Trace Lady Raiders and the West Unity Hilltop Lady Cadets. This game was exciting from beginning to end. The lead was never more than two points throughout the game. Hilltop scored with a minute left to take a one point lead but Wayne Trace was able to beat the buzzer for a 6-5 victory.
The next division was 4th grade girls. Bowling Green and Tinora both entered the finals at 2-0. Bowling Green proved to be too strong upending Tinora 34-11.
The final division of the day was 3rd grade boys. St. Henry had won this tournament the last two years and wanted to make it a three-peat. Coldwater, Archbold, Paulding, Hicksville, and Bryan all had other aspirations. Coldwater held up their end of the challenge knocking off Bryan 25-2 and battled Hicksville to a 19-16 win to play in the finals. St. Henry fought off a feisty Paulding team 16-9 and beat Archbold 12-2. The final game was a MAC Gym classic finish. With just over one minute remaining Coldwater held an 11-8 lead. A St. Henry basket and a quick steal on the inbound led to another basket and sealed the deal for the St. Henry win.
In other pool games involving local teams the Antwerp 4th grade and under girls team beat Wayne Trace 17-9 and lost to Bowling Green 30-6. Paulding 3rd grade boys beat Archbold 5-9 and also beat Hicksville 26-15.
