Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester's boys basketball team improved to 5-0 by beating Columbia City 48-42 Saturday.
Manchester seniors Eric Swan and Rex Reimer combined for 32 of Manchester's 48 points. Swan scored 21, while Reimer added 11.
But defense, not offense, continues to be the reason the Squires win. They finished with 13 steals, none bigger than Michael Hendrix's with 4:13 to go in the third quarter.
Falling out of bounds, Hendrix came up with a steal that he threw to the other end of the floor. Reimer chased the ball down and hit the layup, extending Manchester's lead to 33-25 and leading to a Columbia City timeout.
"Our defense is ahead of our offense," Manchester coach Gary Goshert said. "The defensive end of the floor has stabilized things. That play turned it around."
Columbia City fell to 3-4 with the loss.
Manchester travels to Oak Hill for a 6 p.m. Wednesday game.
MANCHESTER 48, COLUMBIA CITY 42
Columbia City (3-4) 13 12 9 8 -Ê42
Manchester (5-0) 11 13 13 11 - 48
Columbia City -ÊWaterson 2 1-1 5, Heuer 1 4-4 6, Elkins 6 2-3 14, Schumaker 3 0-0 9, Schmitt 0 1-2 1, Fuller 0 1-2 1, Boylan 0 0-0 0, Shively 1 3-3 6, Hilligoss 0 0-0 0, Niec 0 0-0 0. Totals - 13 12-15 42.
Manchester -ÊLittle 0 0-0 0, Swan 9 1-2 21, Reimer 4 2-2 11, Shafer 1 2-4 4, Hendrix 3 0-0 6, Fawcett 1 0-1 2, Lochner 1 0-0 2, Keffaber 0 0-0 0, Betten 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 5-9 48.
Three-point goals - Manchester 3 (Swan 2, Reimer), Columbia City 4 (Schumaker 3, Shively). Rebounds - Manchester 15 (Shafer 6), Columbia City 16 (Heuer 7). Assists - Manchester 14 (Reimer 5), Columbia City N/A. Steals -ÊManchester 13 (Shafer 6), Columbia City N/A. Turnovers - Manchester 13, Columbia City 20. Fouled out -ÊWaterson. Total fouls -ÊManchester 17, Columbia City 13.
JV: Columbia City 43, Manchester 34
Manchester record -Ê4-1
Manchester scoring - Not available
