Tyler Ray, Deegan Horn not only weapons for Bellevue
UPPER SANDUSKY - It looks like Bellevue has another problem for opponents.
Better make sure Jackson Martin is on the scouting report. The sophomore scored a game-high 19 points and Bellevue evened its overall record with a 66-53 nonconference victory Wednesday over Upper Sandusky.
Tyler Ray added 15 points and Ashton Martin 10 in Bellevue's balanced attack.
"A lot of people focus on Tyler and Deegan [Horn]," Bellevue coach Ed Rich said. "People are going to have to start focusing on a couple more guys. That is huge."
Jackson Martin dropped in a jumper to start the second half, before he and Ashton Martin each added a 3-pointer. Rich was more impressed with the fine points of Bellevue's defense.
"What we really talked about in the locker room was getting out on shooters," Rich said. "We were slow closing on guys we knew could knock it down. We talked about getting out and making them put it on the ground."
Ray averages 10.9 points, with a team-high 19 3-pointers. Horn adds 9.4 points.
Jackson Martin averages 5.8 points, 2.3 steals and 1.8 blocks. He had a game-high nine rebounds against the Rams.
Ryan Mohr averages 7.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He and Ryan Stombaugh scored eight points apiece against Upper Sandusky.
Ashton Martin averages a team-high 3.2 assist, with 4.7 points and 1.9 steals. Mason Bova shoots 52.6%, with 10 makes in 19 tries on 3-pointers.
Bellevue scored the first eight points and the final nine in the third quarter for a 21-9 advantage over the Rams and 49-37 lead after three quarters. Bellevue scored 11 straight points in the second quarter.
"Our defense has been solid all year," Rich said. "It was nice to put the ball in the basket a little bit more than we normally do. That helps. I told them it was going to take more than 50 points to beat these guys."
It was Rich's first win over Upper Sandusky in seven years at the helm.
"Our guys knew it," Rich said. "It is a big win for our program."
Bellevue, which forced 19 turnovers, led by at least six the entire fourth quarter.
"Our half trap has been our go-to these last couple games," Rich said. "People struggle with it. We are really long. Like any pressure, once it gets in someone's head, it's hard to get it out. Our defense was excellent."
Bellevue (7-7) is at least .500 through 14 games for the first time since 2017-2018. Its only double-digit losses are to Tiffin Columbian and Sandusky.
It lost three games by three or less and one by five. It won three of seven games in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division.
"From where we were the last couple years, to where we are now, it feels good," Rich said. "We are not resting on it, but it does feel good. We have been in every game. It was nice to get some things to fall for us."
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Sophomore Jackson Martin among Bellevue scorers
