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| Gene Studebaker goes up for a shot in the Buccs win. |
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| Richard Canan coverts the lay-up while being fould from behind. |
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Team
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CCC
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ALL
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Covington
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10-1
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16-4
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Bethel
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10-1
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15-5
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Tri-Village
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9-2
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13-7
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Twin Valley South
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8-3
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15-5
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Arcanum
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8-3
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15-5
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Newton
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5-6
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7-13
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Ansonia
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5-6
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8-12
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Franklin Monroe
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4-7
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5-15
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Mississinawa Valley
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3-8
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6-14
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Tri-County North
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3-8
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6-14
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National Trail
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1-10
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1-19
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Bradford
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0-11
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1-19
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February 25, 2006 – PIQUA
Basketball players use the phrase "In The Groove" when everything is going right, the basket seems three-feet wide, and the game seems slower than usual. For players who find themselves in that situation, it's almost like a dream...one that you wish would never end.
Covington's Darin Rhoades, he must have been enjoying one of those moments Saturday night in the opening round of the sectional tournament against Botkins. That's because the senior torched the nest for a career high 35 points to lead Covington to a 68-55 win.
"It (being in the zone) felt really good," said Rhoades. "My teammates got me some open looks, which got me going. Richard (Canan) was able to get me the ball on some fast breaks for some easy lay-ups. It was fun"
The fact that Rhoades credited his teammates for contributing to his performance is something Roger Craft felt was just as important.
"Darin was on tonight, but he knows the other kids contributed as well," said Craft. "Richard, Dusty (Kimmel), Gene (Studebaker), Seth (Mohler), Sprank (Corey Sprankle) and Nick (Meyer) all had a hand in it tonight."
Rhoades began the contest with a his first of two treys on the night, but Botkins responded with back-to-back three bombs to take a 6-3 lead.
Covington then outscored Botkins 14-6 over the remainder of the first as Richard Canan knocked down a trey and a jumper and Dusty Kimmel, Rhoades, Corey Sprankle and Seth Mohler each contributed with points.
Gene Studebaker open the second period with a put-back, but Botkins battled back to cut the margin to 28-27 by half time by hitting on two more long treys along the way. Plus, Kimmel was taken to the locker room to have a busted lip attended too.
"Dusty is a tough kid," complemented Craft. "That wasn't going to keep him out of the game."
With Kimmel back in the lineup to start the second half, Covington took over the contest by outscoring Botkins 18-10 in the third period. Twelve of Covington's points came from Rhoades, who connected on two jumpers, a trey, a traditional three-point play, and a pair of free throws.
"We new we had to pick it up in the second half," Rhoades said. "They hurt us in the first half from the outside, so went went to a zone and got out on their shooters. We started to get some long rebounds and we able to get out and run."
Craft agreed.
"We started to contest their shots better (in the second half)," said Craft. "Plus, Kimmel played outstanding defense. He held their big man (Brad Bargman) to just one field goal all night. That was big."
The Buccs then opened the fourth by pushing their lead to 54-40 on a back-door lay-up by Sprankle, a basket by Mohler and four free throws by Rhoades.
"Sprank (Corey Sprankle) played very well tonight," Craft said. "We had a couple of guys get into some foul trouble and Corey came in with a solid effort."
Botkins made an attempt to get back into the contest in the final 4:00, but the Buccs sealed the contest by making 14 of 15 free throws in the fourth period to take a 68-55 win.
"We knew coming in that Botkins would be ready to play," described Craft. "You can throw the records out when it come to tournament time. Botkins is scrappy, physical and they have some nice shooters."
Rhoades converted on 13 of 13 free throws on the night and shot 8 of 12 from two-point range and 2 of 4 from behind the arc for 35 points.
Dusty Kimmel had a solid night with 9 rebounds and 7 points, while Richard Canan tallied 9 assists and 9 points.
"Richard did an outstanding job of running the offense," said Craft. "He had just one turnover all night and that one was probably my fault. He was dribbling around a defender close to the bench and I sort of got in his way. So actually he had nine assists and I had his one turnover."
Covington forced Botkins into 15 turnovers and committed just 9, while Botkins pulled down 28 rebounds to Covington's 27.
The Buccs improve to 17-4 and advance to face Fort Loramie on Wednesday at Piqua High School.
Scoring by Quarters:
Covington ...........17...........28..........46........68
Botkins ................12...........27..........37........55
Covington Scoring:
Darin Rhoades - 35
Richard Canan - 9
Seth Mohler - 8
Dusty Kimmel -7
Gene Studebaker - 4
Corey Sprankle - 3
Nick Meyer - 2
Botkins Scoring:
Xavier Counts - 20
Travis Dietz - 10
Vince Cartright - 7
Brad Bergman - 6
Aaron Burning - 5
Kyle Meyer - 4
Ryan Schmerge - 3
Three-Point Scoring:
Covington: Darin Rhoades (2), Richard Canan (1)
Botkins: Xavier Counts (4), Travis Dietz (3), Vince Cartright (1)
Records: Covington 17-4, Botkins 6-15
