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| Adam Craft goes up for two of his team-high eight points. |
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| 2008-09 BASKETBALL LINKS |
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2008-09 SCHEDULE
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12/05/08
12/06/08
12/12/08
12/13/08
12/16/08
12/27/08
01/02/09
01/03/09
01/09/09
01/16/09
01/17/09
01/23/09
01/24/09
01/31/09
02/03/09
02/06/09
02/07/09
02/13/09
02/16/09
02/20/09
02/27/09
03/04/09
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Tri-County North
Fairlawn
National Trail
@ Versailles
@ Miami East
@ Marion Local
@ Piqua
@ Piqua vs Russia
@ Ansonia
Tri-Village
New Bremen
@ Newton
Milton Union
Anna
@ Franklin Monroe
Bradford
Bethel
@ Arcanum
Mississinawa
@ Twin Valley South
Bradford (T)
Ft. Loramie (T)
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59-58
63-51
59-42
26-47
54-65
34-48
56-63
33-51
36-47
50-54
50-59
39-26
66-52
53-59
36-54
58-34
40-39
36-52
64-56
49-52
50-27
34-47
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| 2008-09 CCC STANDINGS |
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Team
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CCC
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ALL
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| Miami East |
11-1 |
18-1 |
| Arcanum |
11-1 |
13-6 |
| Tri-Village |
10-2 |
14-6 |
| Bethel |
9-3 |
12-8 |
| Ansonia |
7-5 |
9-11 |
| Franklin Monroe |
6-6 |
11-9 |
| Mississinawa |
6-6 |
9-11 |
| Covington |
6-6 |
8-12 |
| Twin Valley South |
5-7 |
10-10 |
| Tri-County North |
3-9 |
4-16 |
| Newton |
2-10 |
3-17 |
| Bradford |
1-11 |
5-15 |
| National Trail |
1-11 |
1-19 |
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JANUARY 3, 2009 - PIQUA
With one quarter to play in the Holiday Tournament against Russia at Piqua High School the game was right there for the taking for the Covington Buccaneers.
Russia held a slim 32-26 lead in a low scoring, physical game that was right up Covington's alley.
But the same deficiencies that have plagued the Buccs in the four previous losses came back to bit them in the fourth quarter as Russia blew the game open for a 51-33 win.
"We've got to make shots inside the paint and hold onto the basketball," said Buccaneer coach Roger Craft in regards to what cost Covington in the end. "It's as simple as that. Until we start making shots close to the basket and handle the defensive pressure, we'll continue to struggle."
Because every team left on Covington's schedule will put together the same scouting report on the Buccs.
"Every scouting report says the same thing," Craft explained. "Covington can't score inside, so stop their perimeter game. Pressure the ball and they'll rush their offense. That's the way to beat Covington. And until we correct those things and give teams other things to think about, that's the way it will be."
The Russia coaches were on hand in the Buccs' second half collapse against Piqua, so it was no surprise the Raiders applied the same strategy.
Russia took away Eric Beckstedt, who lit up the Indians with five first half treys the night before. The Raiders made the Buccaneers try to beat them inside, which worked due the fact that Covington was just 12 of 31 inside the paint.
"Shooting the ball is more mental than anything," Craft explained. "We need to get some confidence in ourselves."
Then Russia applied a full court press and forced the Buccs into 17 turnovers.
"They got us in a hurry with their pressure and we didn't handle it well," Craft continued. "Instead of slowing down and running the offense at our pace, we rushed passes and shots. That create turnovers and poor shots."
Still, the Buccs held an 11-10 lead after one and trailed just 20-19 at the half.
A Beckstedt trey gave Covington a 22-20 lead to start the second half, but the Buccs only managed four more points in the third on a Ben Christian lay-in and two Jordy Meyer free throws.
Russia connected on five field goals and a free throw in the frame to take a six-point lead into the fourth.
Both teams traded buckets to open the fourth and Jake Bitner hit on a free throw to make the score 35-31, but foul trouble became an issue for Covington and Russia was in the bonus.
The Raiders converted on ten free throw attempts and canned a trey to close out the contest on a 16-2 run for the 18-point win.
"The mistakes we are making are correctable, which is a good thing," Craft said. "We just have to continue to work hard to correct those things."
Another positive is the experienced gained in the tournament and the fact that the Buccs are confident they can play with anyone.
"We are good enough to beat good teams if we shoot better and take care of the basketball," said Craft. "These kids work hard and they'll look forward to getting in the gym and correcting the things that have hurt us."
For the game Covington shot 13-for-39 from the floor for 33% and was 12 of 31 from inside the paint for 38%. The Buccs made six of 11 free throws for 54% and held a 26 to 25 rebounding advantage.
Russia was 18-for-48 from the field for 37% and 3 of 17 from behind the arc for 17%.
But the difference in the game was the 15-for-31 shooting inside the paint, 12 of 20 from the free throw line and a 17-12 turnover advantage.
The Buccs drop their fifth straight and stand at 3-5 on the season.
Covington travels for its sixth straight road game on Friday against Ansonia.
Scoring by Quarters:
Covington ..........11......19........26.......33 - 33
Russia ................10......20........32.......51 - 51
Covington Scoring:
Adam Craft - 8
Ben Christian - 7
Jake Bitner - 6
Eric Beckstedt - 5
Jordy Meyer - 5
Andy Sparks - 2
Russia Scoring:
Francis - 12
Tweener - 11
Wilson - 11
Hoying - 8
Knight - 4
Toller - 3
Goubeaux - 2
Three-point scoring:
Covington: Beckstedt (1)
Russia: Francis (2), Wilson (1)
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