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Jason Meyer and the Buccs heated up in the second half to squeak by Dayton Christian 55-50.
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Team
Covington
Bethel
Tri-County North
Tri-Village
Twin Valley South
Newton
Franklin Monroe
Arcanum
National Trail
Ansonia
Mississinawa Valley
Bradford
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CCC
9-2
9-2
9-2
9-2
8-3
6-5
5-6
4-7
3-8
2-9
2-9
0-11
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ALL
16-4
16-4
16-4
14-6
15-5
10-10
9-11
5-15
5-15
4-16
3-17
0-20
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December 15, 2001 – COVINGTON
Bucc fans are learning more and more about their team as each game goes into the record books. Everyone knows they are talented and pretty darn good but there are questions that people have in the back of their minds. How good are they under pressure? Can they respond if they fall behind and have to come back? Are they tough enough?
All of these questions were answered tonight as they Buccs overcame a first half deficit of 16 points against a Division II team and willed their way to a 5-point win. Sure they shot poorly at times and were out rebounded for most of the game but they found a way to win. These are the types of games that a team needs to compete in if they want to become one of the elite teams in the state.
Dayton Christian dominated the first period as they jumped out to a 13-2 lead. Sloppy ball handling and poor shooting by the Buccs led to a 19-7 Dayton Christian lead at the end of the first.
Dayton Christian continued to burn the nets in the second as they bulked up their lead to 25-9. After a Covington time-out the Buccs began their comeback. Jarod Meyer got things started with a lay-up off of a nice Josh Burelison pass. A Derick Brumbaugh lay-up and two Bert Roeth 3-pointers and the Buccs were back in business trailing by 6 points. By the end of the first half the Buccs cut the Dayton Christian lead to 4, 29-25.
The third period was back and forth as both teams looked to take the momentum. Bert Roeth got the Buccs going with a lay-up early to cut the lead to 29-27. Dayton Christian was able to hold the Buccs off by nailing some critical 3-pointers and getting second and third chances underneath with offensive rebounds. Dayton Christian was able to push their lead back to 6 points on the 3-pointer with 2:30 left in the quarter. Behind a lay-up by Jarod Meyer and two jumpers by Jason Meyer, the Buccs were able to cut the Dayton Christian lead to 2 points by the end of the third, 41-39.
The fourth quarter was a classic. Bert Roeth tied the game on a lay-up while he was fouled. He converted on his free throw which gave the Buccs their first lead of the game, 42-41. The Buccs then stretched their lead to 45-41 before Dayton Christian nailed a 3-pointer to cut the lead back to 1. A Jason Meyer lay-up and a Clint Mohler 2-pointer put the Buccs up again by 5 points with 3:57 left. Again, Dayton christian nailed a 3-pointer to cut the Buccs' lead to 2. Clint Mohler was fouled and converted on both free throws to push the Buccs' lead to 51-47 with 3:00 to go.
As the clock wore down Dayton Christian began to foul. The Buccs converted on their last 4 foul shots to take the 55-50 win.
The win improves the Buccs' overall record to 5-1 on the season. It also gives them momentum and confidence as they head into another difficult part of their schedule. They host Newton next Friday and travel to Anna on Saturday. Then the Buccs have back-to-back home games against Russia and Marion Local to close out 2001.
Pointed In The Right Directions...
Week three of the high school basketball season has come and passed and the Buccs enjoy another "2 and out" weekend, taking victories from Franklin Monroe on the road on Friday and a home encounter with athletic Dayton Christian on Saturday, running their record to 5-1.
While their win against Franklin Monroe was predictable, the Jets were not. Always tough to play at home, the Jets hung tough in a less-than-pretty affair before succumbing to the Buccs 73-63. Jason Meyer again led the scoring with 23 points, with balanced support from Burelison, Roeth, and Jarod Meyer. And...while ragged, a win is a and a win on the road is to be savored...by any margin...against any opponent.
As predicted, Saturday's contest with Dayton Christian brought to town what may have been the most athletic challenge to date of this young season. While there is no Romain Sato presently at DC, they are a Division II school which annaully shows up with a lot of talent. How they get it...is sometimes the subject of question, but make no mistake...the Crusaders can play. And play they did...having the Buccs by the neck at the outset, jumping out to a 13-2 lead. But the steady play of Covington's senior lineup edged it's way back into contention by halftime, trailing by four, and took the lead for good with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. A gritty zone defense stalled the Crusader attack throughout the second half...and enough rebounding from Derick Brumbaugh and the Bucc frontcourt got the job done. As usual, the Buccs' foul shooting shut out any attempt on DC to steal a win.
Not lost in Saturday's win was the emergence of a point guard leader in the play of Jarod Meyer. The point position has been a subject of debate for this team over the past two seasons and Jarod's play Saturday against the most athletic ball pressure seen this season...following three solid performances over the past two weeks...demonstrates that the point position is in most capable hands. Though without the flash and speed of a Matt Witt, Meyer is an adept ball handler that can put a body between the ball and the defender, drawing crucial fouls down the stretch which he converted into points. Saturday night was the coming out of Jarod Meyer as the man who handles the ball for the Buccs. Add tough defense to his credit and the ability to be a scorer when called upon...and Jarod takes his place amoung the best players in the area.
The Buccs are at home Friday night against a very good Newton team that will bring a lot of fans to the gym...followed by Anna on the road Saturday night. Better get your shopping done early this week because the best basketball of the season is just ahead. Happy Holidays!
