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| Gene Studebaker concluded an outstanding career in a Buccaneer' uniform with 11 points. |
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| Corey Patty led the Buccs with 13 points. |
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Team
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CCC
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ALL
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Covington
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10-2
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13-7
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Newton
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10-2
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15-5
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Mississinawa Valley
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9-3
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11-9
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Twin Valley South
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8-4
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13-7
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Tri-Village
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8-4
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11-9
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Arcanum
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7-5
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12-8
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Ansonia
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7-5
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11-9
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Franklin Monroe
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5-7
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9-10
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Bethel
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5-7
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9-11
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| Miami East |
4-8 |
5-15 |
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Tri-County North
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3-9
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4-16
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National Trail
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1-11
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1-19
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Bradford
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0-12
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1-19
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February 28, 2007 – PIQUA
The Covington Buccaneers went into Piqua Wednesday night looking for their tenth straight win and a chance at a sectional championship showdown with the Lehman Cavaliers. Lehman defeated Triad earlier in the evening to punch its ticket into the finals to be played on Saturday.
Unfortunately for Covington, it ran into a red hot Botkins team that rained twelve three-pointers on the evening. The result was a night of frustration and a 73-41 season-ending defeat.
"We just ran into a buzz saw tonight (in Botkins)," said Covington coach Roger Craft. "It's not like were weren't defending it (the three). They (Botkins) just kept knocking them down."
Botkins canned eight of its twelve treys in the first half to build a 34-18 half time lead. The Trojans only connected on two first half field goals inside the arc and the remaining six points in the half came at the free throw line.
The Trojans then continued shooting lights out in the third period by scoring 27 points and increasing their lead to 61-29. Four more treys rained in in the period, including one which resulted in a four point play.
"It just seemed like everything went right for them and wrong for us," Craft said. "Give Botkins credit, they shot the ball very well."
Covington started off the contest by scoring the game's first four points on Gene Studebaker jumpers.
Botkins responded with two straight three bombs by Xavier Counts, but Derek Brumbaugh and Corey Patty gave the Buccs the lead right back on a pair of baskets.
Another Counts' trey followed before Patty gave the Buccs a 10-9 lead on a jumper.
That would be Covington's final lead of the contest as Ryan Leugers and Ryan Schmerge scored on back-to-back treys and Zane Wildermuth closed out the first with a one handed slam to make the score 17-10.
The wheels fell off for Covington in the second period as Botkins outscored the Buccs 17-9 in the frame.
Botkins put the game away with a 27-11 advantage in the third and cruised through the final period for the 73-41 win.
"It wasn't meant to be," Craft explained. "The kids played hard, but sometimes you run into a team that's hot. That's what happened to us tonight."
In spite of the frustrating defeat to end the season, Craft is proud of his seniors who have meant so much to his program over the past four years.
"I can't be more proud of a group of kids than I am of these seven kids (the seniors)," said Craft. "Each one of them brings something different and unique to our team. I hate to see this class go."
The senior class is the primary reason the Buccaneers were able to overcome a 5-7 start to capture a share of the Cross County Conference championship and win nine straight games before bowing out of the tournament against Botkins.
"It would have been very easy for the kids to pack it in when we were 5-7 and things were tough," Craft continued. "They learned a lot of life lessons about hard work and determination in sticking together and overcoming that. That (a nine-game winning streak) says a lot about the character of these kids."
Covington was led in scoring by Corey Patty with 13 points and Gene Studebaker with 11.
The Buccs connected on 16 of 48 field goals for 33 percent and just 1 of 12 from behind the arc.
Botkins held a slim edge on the boards 29-26 and turnovers 14-15.
Covington ends its season at 14-8, while the Trojans improve to 14-8 and face Lehman in the sectional final on Saturday.
Scoring by Quarters:
Covington .........10......18......29.....41
Botkins .............17.......34......61.....73
Covington Scoring:
Corey Patty - 13
Gene Studebaker - 11
Seth Mohler - 7
Derek Brumbaugh - 3
Nate Lavy - 3
Kyle Janet - 2
Andy Sparks - 2
Botkins Scoring:
Travis Dietz - 17
Xavier Counts - 13
Kyle Meyer - 9
Ryan Leugers - 9
Zane Wildermuth - 6
Ryan Schmerge - 5
Taylor Berning - 5
Phillip Kennedy - 4
Daniel Schneider - 2
#50 - 2
Three-Point Scoring:
Covington: Nate Lavy (1)
Botkins: Travis Dietz (4), Xavier Counts (3), Ryan Leugers (3), Ryan Schmerge (1), Taylor Berning (1)
