Strong fourth quarter guides Wilson

The Redmen outscored Fitch 16-6 in the final period.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AUSTINTOWN -- In Saturday's 58-24 loss to Warren Harding, the Wilson High basketball team made 28 turnovers and scored 14 points over the last three quarters.
Tuesday, the Redmen (1-3) outscored the host Falcons 16-6 in the fourth quarter and made only four turnovers, all in the first half, on their way to a 62-56 victory.
Wilson, which came from being down by 11 points three times in the first quarter, had its first lead with nine seconds remaining in the first half when William Johnson stole an errant pass and went in for an easy layup for a 32-31 advantage.
"We came to play hard and everybody who hit the floor for us did exactly that tonight," Johnson said.
Second half
In the second half, the Redmen fought through five ties and seven lead changes to take a 58-56 lead on a Johnson field goal with 1:22 remaining.
A Justin Maxwell free throw extended the lead to 59-56 after a brilliant defensive play by Maxwell.
Maxwell, a three-season starter, said, "We just got tired of losing and being 0 and 3 when we knew we were better than that and surely better then we played against Warren Harding.
"So we came here and never stopped hustling tonight," Maxwell said.
A key Falcons turnover and a Glen Brown free throw made the lead 60-56 and after an Andre Harris steal, two Maxwell free throws with 3.9 seconds left sealed the win.
It was 6-foot-2-inch senior Maxwell and 6-1 junior Johnson who led Wilson's attack with 23 points each.
Wilson Mark Cherol said, "I told our kids going into this game not to lose sight of what we are trying to do -- to have chemistry and come together as a team.
"They did exactly that tonight, they played hard and they won and came back from the disaster against Harding," Cherol said. "We have to believe this will lead to bigger things for the rest of the season."
Fitch coach Roger Day had plenty of praise for Wilson, saying, "Obviously they did a great job and played hard which is the mark of a Cherol-coached team. I thought we matched their intensity in the second half, but we have some underclassmen learning on the run."
James Wallace the Falcons' 6-5 senior center, who had 28 points and 23 rebounds against Girard last week, led Fitch with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Tom Hahn, another 6-5 senior, was the only other Falcon in double figures with 12 points.