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Defense, rebounding key VJHS 7th-grade boys’ win

For the most part, the Vandalia seventh-grade boys basketball team’s shots just weren’t falling Thursday night against Ramsey.

But thanks to the Junior Vandals’ dominating defense and ownership of the offensive glass, it didn’t matter.

The Junior Vandals cruised to a 29-11 victory, as 10 offensive boards in the first eight minutes helped them jump out to an 11-1 lead and suffocating defense throughout kept Ramsey from entertaining serious thoughts of a comeback.

Vandalia wound up with a narrow 21-17 rebounding edge, but 12 of those boards were on the offensive end, compared to just two for Ramsey.

Even more frustrating for the visiting team was Vandalia’s harassing defense, led by guard Tim Ritchey.

Ritchey came away with a game-high six steals, helping him score a game-high 10 points.

Ritchey started the Vandals’ 11-1 game-opening run with a steal and fast-break layup. Aaron Harter followed with an offensive rebound and a putback. He then came up with a steal and fast-break of his own.

The sequence pretty much summed up the Junior Vandals’ success, and Ramsey’s frustration.

Hunter finished with five points and four rebounds, while Logan Rogers had six points and two rebounds. Wade Cowger chipped in four points and three rebounds, while Leyton Godoyo had two points, three rebounds and two steals.

Zach Etcheson contributed three rebounds to the win, while Alex Rees had two of the Junior Vandals’ 13 steals.

Last Tuesday’s Game

Vandalia 36, Hillsboro 25

Godoyo scored 13 points, including six during a 17-point Junior Vandals third-quarter explosion that blew the game open.

Rogers added eight points for Vandalia (3-2, 1-0), while Ben Davis, Rees and Ritchey had four points apiece. Dalton Wherle, Michael Wells and Chase Woolsey rounded out the Junior Vandals’ scoring with a point apiece.

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