Tigers end season in Div. IV district quarterfinals; fall to Logan Elm

The 2025-26 boys basketball season for the McClain Tigers was another season of building a foundation for the program under head coach Jarrod Haines. That season came to a close on Monday evening, as the No. 10 seeded Tigers lost their Division IV SE District Quarterfinal game to the No. 7 seeded Logan Elm Braves 51-40. 

McClain kept the game close throughout most of the contest, as Logan Elm broke away in the final part of the fourth quarter to gain the win. At one point in the second half, the Tigers trailed by just three points. 

The Tigers trailed 15-6 after the first quarter with their points coming from Jordan Bell, Hudson Lovett and Elijah Storer. In the second frame, MHS scored 10 points with a 3-pointer by Lucas Banks, a two-point basket made by Connor Chandler and four points off two baskets by Lovett. 

Also in the second, Logan Elm scored eight points for a halftime lead of 23-16. 

McClain had an 11-point third quarter with baskets from Brady Binegar, Banks (a 3-pointer), and Lovett scored four points with a two-pointer and two free throws made on two attempts. The defense of the Tigers held Logan Elm to only four points in the third quarter, with the score being 27-25 with the Braves in front going to the fourth frame. 

MHS scored 15 points in the fourth quarter with Banks and Storer each making a two-point field goal, Bell scored three points in the quarter off a two-pointer and free throw, Lovett sank a 3-pointer, and Chandler connected with a 3-pointer and two-point basket in the final frame. 

Logan Elm had a 24-point fourth quarter where they made three 3-pointers, four two-point baskets and were 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. 

The Braves were led in scoring by Owen Russell with 14 points, Kelton Bennington with 13 points, and with 10 points each were Brady Neff and Ethon Manson. Scoring two points apiece for the Braves were Doren Patton and Zane Seimer. 

The leading scorer for McClain was Lovett (who returned after missing games with an injury to end the regular season) with 13 points. Lovett made four two-point baskets, a 3-pointer and he was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. 

Banks and Chandler each finished with eight points, and scoring five points was Bell. The remainder of McClain’s final scoring totals included: Binegar (2) and Storer (4). 

Totals for MHS were 11 two-point baskets, five 3-pointers, and they went 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. 

MHS finishes the season at 6-16 overall. Logan Elm moves to 13-10 on the season. 

The Braves will play next in the district semifinals against No. 2 seeded Unioto on Sunday, March 1 at the Ohio University Convocation Center in Athens at 5:30 p.m. 

Seniors for McClain are Jordan Bell, Julien Evans and Carson Chandler.

BOX SCORE
MHS      06 10 09 15 — 40
LEHS    15 08 04 24 — 51