Batavia JV fell just short in an exciting home matchup against Goshen, losing 81-74 in a game filled with momentum swings and outstanding individual performances. The loss drops Batavia to 0-2 on the young season, but there were plenty of positives to take away from this competitive battle. Led by Caleb Tobias’s game-high 21 points and strong contributions from several teammates, Batavia showed great fight throughout the contest.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to pull away. Batavia started strong with early contributions from Makai Taylor and John McKeon, who helped build a 21-19 lead after the first quarter. McKeon was particularly effective early, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the opening period for 8 points. The second quarter saw Caleb Tobias begin to heat up, scoring 9 points in the frame while going 6-for-13 from the field for the game. A late surge by Ethan Becker, who scored 5 quick points on efficient 3-for-4 shooting, helped Batavia take a narrow 42-41 halftime advantage.

The third quarter featured some of the game’s most exciting basketball, with Makai Taylor taking center stage for Batavia. Taylor dominated the period with 8 points, showcasing his accuracy by finishing the game 6-for-10 from the field for 14 total points. The lead changed hands multiple times, but Batavia managed to carry a slim 58-56 advantage into the final frame. Unfortunately, Goshen opened the fourth quarter with a decisive 9-0 run that put Batavia in a difficult position. Despite a valiant comeback effort led by Tobias’s clutch three-pointer and contributions from Liam Trent, who finished with 11 points including three made three-pointers, Batavia couldn’t quite complete the rally. The team showed tremendous character in continuing to battle until the final buzzer, setting a positive foundation for future games.