Kyle Kanet shoots a three-pointer.

2007-08 BASKETBALL LINKS MEET THE 07-08 BUCCANEERS MEET THE 07-08 LADY BUCCS MEET THE 07-08 CHEERLEADERS

2007-08 SCHEDULE 11/01/07 12/08/07 12/14/07 12/18/07 12/21/07 12/22/07 12/29/07 01/04/08 01/05/08 01/11/08 01/12/08 01/18/08 01/19/08 01/22/08 01/25/08 01/26/08 01/29/08 02/01/08 02/02/08 02/08/08 02/19/08 Versailles @ National Trail @ Bethel Ansonia @ Tri-Village Marion Local Russia Newton @ Milton Union @ Mississinawa @ New Bremen Franklin Monroe @ Anna Miami East @ Bradford @ Fairlawn Arcanum Twin Valley South Delphos St. John's @ Tri-County North SECTIONALS 34-30 44-52 61-68 43-57 40-46 26-54 36-59 52-60 53-62 62-54 30-49 41-44 41-73 48-44 70-36 49-43 34-55 55-57 38-61 52-54 33-46 2007-08 CCC STANDINGS Team CCC ALL Twin Valley South 10-1 15-3 Tri-Village 8-1 13-3 Arcanum 8-2 11-6 Franklin Monroe 8-2 10-7 Miami East 6-3 10-6 Bethel 5-4 7-7 Ansonia 5-4 8-8 Covington 3-9 5-15 National Trail 3-7 3-13 Newton 3-6 3-12 Mississinawa Valley 3-8 4-12 Tri-County North 2-8 5-12 Bradford 0-9 1-14

December 8, 2007 - NEW PARIS
The Covington Buccaneers virtually gift wrapped a victory for National Trail Saturday as they only converted on 4 of 13 free throw attempts and shot 0-6 in the fourth quarter. Four of those shot attempts were in the paint.

The result was a frustrating 52-44 defeat.

"You won't win many games if you shoot 35 percent from the free throw line like we did tonight," said Covington coach Roger Craft after his team only connected on 6 of 17 free throw attempts for the game. "Missing free throws is just like a turnover."

The fourth quarter debacle in which Covington was outscored 13-4 made the defeat that much harder to swallow. Especially after Covington held a 38-32 lead late in the third period and watched the lead get cut to 40-39 at the end of the frame.

"We pulled on the panic button," Craft explained. "We got into a hurry with everything we were doing - running the offense, shooting free throws, you name it. We lost our focus."

The Buccaneers held a 19-14 lead after one and a 30-25 lead at the half, even after Trail jumped out to an 11-5 lead.

Much of that was due to playing typical Buccaneer basketball, executing the offense for open looks and playing smothering defense.

Twelve of Covington's seventeen field goals came in the first half.

"We pretty much controlled most of the game," Craft said. "We had more field goals, more rebounds and less turnovers than they did. But we didn't hit our free throws."

The Buccaneers held a 23-20 advantage on the boards, including a 12-5 advantage on the offensive end.

"That shows we didn't finish shots," Craft explained. "When you have an advantage like that on the offensive end, you've got to convert."

For the contest, Covington shot 37% from two-point range (13-35) and 23% from behind the arc (4-17), while National Trail was 11 for 24 from two-point range and four for 10 on three pointers.

But the difference in the contest was at the charity stripe, where National Trail was 18 for 27 and Covington 6 for 17.

"That's the bottom line," said Craft. "They made free throws and we didn't. And they won."

Covington drops to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the CCC. The Buccs look to rebound next Friday at Bethel.

Scoring by Quarters:
Covington ...........19.....30......40......44
National Trail .....14.....25......39......52

Covington Scoring:
Jordy Burelison - 11
Andy Sparks - 9
Kody Thiebeau - 8
Jordy Meyer - 6
Kyle Kanet - 3
Bill Dickey - 3
Adam Craft - 2
Ben Christian - 2

National Trail Scoring:
Kimberlin - 15
Jones - 11
Arahoood - 9
Ebersole - 6
Catron - 4
Abner - 3
Coggin - 2
Rhodus - 2

Three-Point Scoring:
Covington: Burelison (2), Thiebeau (1), Kanet (1)
National Trail: Kimberlin (3), Catron (1)