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| Ben Christian had a big night for Covington with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds. |
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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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DECEMBER 12, 2008 - COVINGTON
The Covington Buccaneers continued their fast fast start to the 2009-09 basketball season by capturing their third straight victory with a 59-42 over National Trail, Friday.
At 3-0 and 2-0 in the Cross County Conference, Buccaneer coach Roger Craft couldn't have asked for a better beginning to the season.
"Any time we can start out 3-0, we'll take it," Craft said. "All three of the games were the type of games we struggled in last year, so we're moving forward. We just have to continue to improve."
The type of game Craft was referring to was one where the Buccs would surrender a significant run to the opponent and never recover.
In the first two games the Buccs did recover after surrendering double-digit runs and tonight against Trail the Buccs survived a 7-0 run at the end of the second half that cut a 20-10 lead to 20-17 at the break.
"A lot of that (the runs surrendered) is due to turnovers," Craft explained. "We had nine turnovers in the first half and a few happened at the end of the half that gave them some easy baskets."
Covington had just pushed a 10-8 lead at the end of the first period to double digits on a pair of Adam Craft free throws, two lay-ups by Jake Bitner and two straight baskets by Ben Christian.
The Blazers turned the tied as Taylor Neil converted a turnover into a three-point play and Josh Arahood scored on a lay-up after stepping into the passing lane for another turnover.
"We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball," Craft emphasized after his team committed 17 turnovers. "We'll have some turnovers because we like to play fast, but we have to do a better job of staying under control. We had several traveling calls tonight because we were out of control."
The Buccs regained control of the game in the third period as Nate Lavey hit on a pair of baskets and Ben Christian connected on a trey and a short jumper in the paint to push the lead back to ten, 29-19.
Covington eventually extended the lead to 39-26 at the end of the third as Craft, Lavey and Sparks connected on jumpers and Christian scored on a lay-up and two free throws.
"Ben and Nate each had a nice game tonight," Craft praised. "Both hit some big baskets when we needed them."
Having different players step up big has been Covington's M.O. so far this season.
"That's the type of team we are," Craft continued. "One night we'll have Beckstedt hit threes and the next it will be Benny (Christian) scoring points. The kids don't care who scores as long as we come out with the 'W'."
Beckstedt, who had led Covington in scoring in the first two games, had a quiet night until late in the fourth quarter.
The Buccs struggled at the free throw line by missing three straight front ends of a one-and-one and National Trail cut the lead to 43-35 on a three-pointer by Dalton Abner.
With time running out, the Blazers began to send the Buccaneers to the free throw line. Beckstedt entered the game and hit on seven of eight attempts, which were all the points he scored on the evening.
"Free throws are huge and Beckstedt is a good free throw shooter," said Craft.
Covington went to the line for 26 attempts in the fourth quarter and managed to make 14. Beckstedt and Jake Bitner combined for 11 of the free throws on 12 attempts.
The Buccs were 20 of 34 from the charity stripe for the night.
"We didn't shoot particularly well from the free throw line as a team, especially in the fourth quarter," Craft said. "Missing free throws is just like a turnover and it prevents you from putting a team away."
Covington also struggled from the field as it only hit on 19 of 46 field goals for 41% and made just one of nine three-point attempts.
"We missed a lot of shots in the paint tonight," said Craft. "We're strong inside and should finish those shots better than we did."
The strength advantage Covington had inside did pay off on the boards as it held a 37-26 rebounding advantage, 12 to 6 on the offensive end.
Ben Christian had 12 of the rebounds to go along with his game-high 17 points.
Covington travels to Versailles tomorrow night.
Scoring by Quarters:
Covington ............10......20......39......59 - 59
National Trail .........8......17......26......42 - 42
Covington Scoring:
Ben Christian - 17
Nate Lavey - 9
Andy Sparks - 8
Jake Bitner - 8
Eric Beckstedt - 7
Adam Craft - 6
Josh Boehringer - 4
National Trail Scoring:
Dalton Abner - 16
Taylor Neil - 11
Josh Arahood - 5
Cody Vance - 3
Matt Gibbons - 3
Kale Rexode - 2
John Day - 1
Tanne Rhoadus - 1
Three-Point Scoring:
Covington: Christian (1)
National Trail: Abner (4), Vance (1)
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