Tigers swept in 2020 opener by Hermann

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 1/8/20

Losing by a significant margin last year on the road at Hermann, Tim Evans’ Belle Tigers looked to make that a distant memory opening 2020 at home Friday night against the visiting Bearcats …

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Tigers swept in 2020 opener by Hermann

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Losing by a significant margin last year on the road at Hermann, Tim Evans’ Belle Tigers looked to make that a distant memory opening 2020 at home Friday night against the visiting Bearcats from northern Gasconade County.

Tied at 7-7 after one quarter, Jat Ridenhour started the second quarter with a 3-pointer for Belle giving the Tigers a 10-7 lead with 5:50 until halftime.

From there, it was all Bearcats as they ended the first half on a 13-2 run for a 20-12 halftime lead they would not relinquish en route to handing Belle a tough 58-54 loss.

“We played a lot better against these guys that we did last year,” Evans said. “You have to tip your hat to Hermann though. They’re a very good, well-coached team.”

Surviving three ties and two lead changes in the first quarter, Belle took their first lead on a Ridenhour 3-ball after a Colton Robinson bucket at the midway point of the opening eight minutes.

Following Ridenhour’s aforementioned 3-pointer in the second quarter, the Tigers were held scoreless until Lane Feeler beat the first-half buzzer pulling Belle back to within single digits of the Bearcats at halftime.

Trading 3-point shots with Ridenhour, Hermann junior sharpshooter Holden Ash stroked his fourth 3-pointer of the game to start the second half and give the Bearcats a 23-12 lead with 7:32 for the third quarter.

Going on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, Feeler scored seven of Belle’s next nine points to pull the Tigers to within two points at 23-21 at the 5:31 mark of the third quarter.

Hermann then answered with an 11-0 run of their own behind Ash and Trent Anderson leaving Belle with a 34-21 deficit with 2:45 for the third quarter.

Gentry Dunn and Eddy Paz delivered back-to-back 3-balls trimming the deficit back to single digits at 34-27.

Outscored 9-5 the rest of the period, Belle went into the fourth quarter trailing Hermann 43-32.

Trailing 47-32 with 7:05 remaining, Belle went on a 17-4 run capped by four Paz free throws pulling the Tigers to within a bucket of Hermann 51-49 with 1:26 left.

Already with five 3-pointers on the night, Ash scored Hermann’s final seven points keeping Belle from a win to open the 2020 portion of their season.

Ridenhour led the Tigers with a team-high double double of 17 points and 13 rebounds in addition to two blocked shots and a steal.

Paz reached double figures scoring nine of his 11 points in the second half followed by Feeler scoring eight of his 10 points in the second half.

Gentry Dunn just missed making it four Belle players in double figures with all eight of his points in the second half.

Robinson (6) and Gieck (2) rounded out the scoring for the Tigers.

Ash led Hermann and all scorers with a game-high 22 points.

Trent Anderson scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half to go along with seven rebounds while his younger brother Parker Anderson added 12 points and seven boards.

Falling 53-45 to Hermann in the junior varsity contest, Belle was led by Thomas Lingo with 17 points and eight rebounds. His brother Justin Lingo added seven points.

Parker Anderson led Hermann in the JV game with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Connor Coffey also reached double figures with 16 points for the JV Bearcats.