Late surge sends Margaretta past Willard, keeps Polar Bears alone atop SBC Bay CASTALIA, Ohio — Margaretta showed why it sits atop the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division, responding to every Willard push with poise and timely execution. Keiygan Morris knocked down a pivotal 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and the Polar Bears closed the game on a strong run to defeat Willard 67-55 on Friday night, remaining unbeaten in conference play and alone in first place. Margaretta (11-1, 5-0 SBC Bay) watched a 14-point advantage dwindle to three early in the final period before Morris connected from the left wing out of a timeout. The basket halted Willard’s momentum and ignited a closing stretch in which the Polar Bears never allowed the margin to slip below five points. Julian Washington led Margaretta with 26 points, delivering scoring bursts in every quarter, while Judah Keller added 17 points. Morris finished with six points, all from beyond the arc, including the game’s defining shot. The Polar Bears set the tone early, jumping out to a 22-12 lead after one quarter behind aggressive defense and efficient shooting. Margaretta carried a 33-25 advantage into halftime after Washington capped the half with a running 3 at the buzzer. Willard (9-2, 4-1) made several second-half runs behind sophomore Jaxson Hall, who scored all 26 of his points after the opening quarter. The Crimson Flashes closed to within two late in the third quarter and again early in the fourth, but Margaretta answered each time with disciplined offense and timely stops. Following Morris’ go-ahead triple, Keller and Washington combined for six straight points as the Polar Bears pulled away in the final minutes to secure the conference win. Margaretta continues league play Saturday at Monroeville. The teams will meet again Feb. 13 in Willard, a rematch that could carry significant conference implications. Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Willard — 12 13 15 15 — 55 Margaretta — 22 11 13 21 — 67 MARGARETTA (11-1, 5-0 SBC Bay) Kale Bailey 2 2-2 6 Keiygan Morris 2 0-0 6 Julian Washington 10 3-3 26 Judah Keller 7 2-2 17 Tyson Bailey 4 0-0 8 Jake Bouy 2 0-0 4 Totals: 27 7-7 67