By ANTHONY STEVENS
for the Daily Telegraph

Richlands 85, Lebanon 69

The monkey is finally off the back of the Blue Tornado. Richlands (1-5) got their first win of the year by defeating Lebanon 85-69 in consolation play.

“It feels good to get the first one,” Richlands coach Jody Fuller said. “I was starting to press and the kids were starting to press, so it’s a very welcome win.”

It was tied at 13-13 after the first eight minutes of play. Led by Cody Fuller the Blues started the second quarter on a 12-0 run. After a couple of baskets by Lebanon, post Scottie Ball then ignited a 7-0 run. It went from a close game to a 36-19 Richlands lead. The Blues maintained the pace and led 44-28 at halftime.

“This was a full team effort,” stated Fuller. “These kids all love each other. They share the ball well and the team chemistry is always good.”

Lebanon (3-3) made a couple of runs in the second half, but could get no closer than eight points. Early in the fourth quarter the Pioneers cut it to 64-56 on a basket by Owen Slate. Ethan Ratliff answered for the Blue Tornado with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Powered by Fuller they again begin to extend their lead. “Richlands executed in the second quarter and we didn’t have any defensive intensity,” Lebanon coach Thad Lambert said. “Our effort was much better in the second half, but we had dug such a big hole it was hard to come back out of it.”

Ball (28 points, 9 rebounds), Fuller (27 points) and Luke Phillips (11 points, 5 assists) led the Richlands offense.

For Lebanon, Austin Bollinger scored 25 points and surpassed 1,000 points for his career with the effort. Nick Helton (22 points) and Slate (13) led the Pioneers.

LEBANON (69)

Bollinger 9 2-5 25, Helton 7 2-2 22, Stamper 0 0-0 0, Slate 6 1-4 13, Sargent 1 0-0 2, Hooker 2 0-0 5, Owens 1 0-0 2, Rasnake 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 6-9 69.

RICHLANDS (85)

Phillips 3 4-7 11, Fuller 9 5-6 27, Ratliff 1 0-0 3, Ball 13 2-7 28, Lowe 3 0-1 6, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Moir 2 0-4 4, Atkinson 0 2-2 2, Smith 1 2-2 4, Thompson 0 0-0 0. Totals 32 15-29 85.

Lebanon 13 15 24 17—69

Richlands 13 31 18 23—85

3-point goals – Lebanon 12 (Bollinger 5, Helton 6, Hooker 1), Richlands 7 (Phillips 1, Fuller 4, Ratliff 1). Total fouls – Lebanon 18, Richlands 10. Fouled out - Stamper. Technicals – Coach Lambert.