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Ross routs Braves in division clash

Rams take 5-game winning streak into Winton Woods face-off.

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2:22 AM Wednesday, January 25, 2012

By Mark Schmetzer

Contributing Writer

ROSS TWP. — Nobody could accuse Brandon Fernandez and the Ross High School boys basketball team of looking ahead to Friday night.

With a battle for first place in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference West Division looming, the Rams might’ve overlooked the sub-.500 Talawanda team they met Tuesday night at Ross. Instead, they jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never trailed in a 66-33 division win over their Butler County rival.

Focus never was an issue, said Fernandez, who scored a game-high 15 points.

“We have a big game on Friday, but we knew we couldn’t slip up,” the junior guard said.

Rams coach Matt Wilhelm knew he wouldn’t have to spend much time reminding his players about not overlooking Talawanda, which is in its first season under former Ross assistant Bobby Lipps.

“The kids have so much respect for him as a coach and a person that they knew he’d do a good job,” Wilhelm said. “We weren’t worried about the kids looking ahead.”

Ross, which improved to 10-3 overall and 6-1 in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference West Division, will take a five-game winning streak into its showdown with the Warriors (10-3, 6-1) on Friday at Ross. Winton Woods fell to Northwest on Tuesday night. The Rams lost, 54-50, at Winton Woods on Dec. 16.

“This is what the kids work hard for,” Wilhelm said “We’re going to have a packed house Friday night. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

Junior guard Austin Davidson led Talawanda (4-9, 2-5 FAVC West) with seven points, while Ross senior Max Mischkulnig added 11 — seven on free throws — despite dealing with what Davidson described as a diamond-and-one defense.

“We wanted to front him, but that didn’t work,” Davidson said.

Brandon Burns added 11 points for the Rams.

Fernandez, who averaged 11.1 points per game in Ross’ first 12 games of the season, scored eight in the first quarter and 13 in the first half to help the Rams lead by as many as 16 points before settling for a 32-17 halftime lead.

He tied his single-game, career high with three 3-pointers in the first half, upsetting the Braves’ defensive goals. Fernandez is averaging 15.3 points per game over the last three Ross outings.

“When we lost two straight, I wasn’t shooting that well, but my teammates stayed behind me,” he said.

Talawanda hosts Northwest on Friday night.

Covering your home teams High school basketball

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