TROY – The Arcanum varsity boys basketball team’s season came to an end with a 59-49 tournament loss to the Yellow Springs Bulldogs.

“I wish we would have had better results,” Arcanum varsity boys basketball coach Brian Gunter said, “but we played hard.”

PJ Russell got the Bulldogs on the board first with a rebound tip-in with just 0:20 off the clock.

A Grady Garno free throw five seconds later had the Trojans trialing 2-1.

Sophomore Kory Baker dropped in two free throws at the 3:36 mark to even the score at 5-5.

Five unanswered Bulldog points had Yellow Springs leading 10-5.

Garno dropped in a goal at 1:42 for the Trojans followed by a Roland Newsome trey for a 13-7 Bulldogs lead.

A Baker field goal closed first quarter scoring for Arcanum with Yellow Springs on top 13-9.

Arcanum sophomore Colton Troutwine knocked down a 3-pointer opening second quarter play, pulling the Trojans within one.

A Newsome basket put the Bulldogs up 15-12. Mason Garber answered with a Trojan trey tying the score at 15-15.

The Bulldogs went on a 10-4 run taking a 25-19 at 3:15.

Garno hit a jumper in the paint to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 25-21.

With Yellow Springs leading 27-21, Arcanum freshman Connor Pohl dropped in a basket and a 27-23 score.

Trailing 29-23 with 0:03 on the clock, Garno buried a Trojan 3-pointer as the teams headed to the locker room with the Bulldogs leading 29-26 at the half.

A Wesley Moultrie basket put the Bulldogs up 31-26 starting third quarter action.

Five unanswered Garber points, a two pointer followed by a trey both from the top of the key knotted the score 31-31 at 6:45.

A Collin Habel field goal and a Baker 3-pointer completed a 10-0 Arcanum run and a 36-31 Trojan lead.

Garber hit all net on his second trey of the quarter, keeping the Trojans on top at 39-34.

Yellow Springs closed to 39-38 before a Garber rebound stick back had a 41-38 Arcanum lead at 1:50.

Two Bulldog field goals gave Yellow Springs a one-point 42-41 lead going into the final period of play.

“We went up four or five,” Gunter said. “We had a couple run outs where we didn’t finish. They came down in transition and got some easy baskets.”

Both teams traded baskets opening fourth quarter play before the Bulldogs ran off eight unanswered points for a 52-43 lead with 1:50 remaining.

“We kind of got flat. We didn’t make the shots we had been making,” Gunter said. “They are talented. That’s a good group, good point guard. They are seniors.”

The Bulldogs move on in tournament play outscoring Arcanum 17-8 in the final stanza for a 59-49 win.

“We wanted to play Friday. We are all competitors, and I didn’t want to leave these guys,” Gunter said. “I wanted to keep it going, but that’s tournament basketball.”

Coach Gunter reflected on the season and his four senior players.

“We have phenomenal kids. Great kids,” he said. “Four seniors that set the tone, as far as how hard we worked. These young men no matter what we were going through this year, the adversity early in the season, worked their tails off. Brought it every day in practice, set an example for our underclassmen. It’s hard to replace them but that’s that cycle of coaching.”