With such a crucial game coming Friday night, it was difficult to see the Cavs taking a step or two backward.

Chillicothe saw Gahanna Lincoln (11-5) pull away in the second half much like the Cavs did from Logan and Jackson in their games last week. The end result, a 65-44 loss at Hatton Gym Tuesday night.

Gahanna made all eleven of their field goals in the fourth quarter, mostly on layups. Three of those shots were from beyond the arc.

Zach Johnson hit a quick basket to start the final period to cut the Cavs’ deficit to six-points at 40-34, but Manny Powell sank a three-pointer to put the Lions ahead 43-34. Two quick baskets by Austin Rutherford put the game out of reach.

Rutherford had great defensive anticipation which helped force 22 Cavalier turnovers (most coming in the second half) and a Gahanna total 12 steals. All the while, he and teammate Isaiah Israel found an easy path the basket to score 14 points apiece. Troy Mundy provided 12 more points with the two other three-balls in the fourth.

Chillicothe meanwhile seemed out of sync.

At times offensively, the Cavs failed to communicate, which allowed the Lions to turn the game into a bit of a runaway.

Early on, the Cavs fell behind 8-4 before Jalen Jones sank a free throw and Aaron Elliott dropped in a long ball from the corner to tie the game at 8. Johnson’s first basket of the night put Chillicothe ahead 10-8 with 1:56 left in the opening period. Neither team would score again until Grant Patch hit a reverse layup to start the second quarter.

In the second period, the lead switched hands five times. The Cavs gained a run of momentum following a MaLik London dunk, but Gahanna closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run for a 28-22 lead at the half.

The Cavs’ big three scorers, London (14 points), Johnson (12 points) and Elliott (11 points) were held below their averages. London and Johnson combined for 16 of the Cavs 22 points after halftime.

Chillicothe (11-5/6-1) now prepares for the Trojans (14-2/6-1) in an SEOAL showdown this Friday at Portsmouth High School.

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