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| This Martin Leistner steal for a lay-up was a sign of good things to come for the Buccs in the fourth quarter. |
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| 2009-10 BASKETBALL LINKS |
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2009-10 SCHEDULE
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12/05/09
12/11/09
12/12/09
12/15/09
12/22/09
12/29/09
12/30/09
01/08/10
01/09/10
01/15/10
01/16/10
01/22/10
01/26/10
01/29/10
01/30/10
02/02/10
02/12/10
02/19/10
02/20/10
02/22/10
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02/27/10
03/03/10
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@ Fairlawn
@ National Trail
Versailles
Miami East
@ Bethel
Lehman (Piqua Classic)
Russia (Piqua Classic)
Ansonia
@ Milton Union
@ Tri-Village
@ New Bremen
Newton
@ Miss. Valley
Franklin Monroe
@ Anna
Marion Local
Arcanum
Twin Valley South
@ Bradford
@ Tri-County North
Sectional @ Piqua
Bradford
Lehman
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66-46
83-47
45-48
43-35
45-48
65-63
52-60
55-38
41-36
42-49
33-52
76-53
57-40
61-43
46-59
39-44
44-46
50-45
51-24
57-23
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60-33
34-44
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| 2009-10 CCC STANDINGS |
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Team
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CCC
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ALL
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| Bethel |
11-1 |
16-4 |
| Tri-Village |
11-1 |
15-5 |
| Covington |
9-3 |
12-8 |
| Miami East |
8-4 |
13-7 |
| Arcanum |
8-4 |
14-6 |
| Franklin Monroe |
7-5 |
11-9 |
| Twin Valley South |
7-5 |
10-10 |
| Ansonia |
6-6 |
8-11 |
| Mississinawa Valley |
4-8 |
7-12 |
| Bradford |
3-9 |
7-13 |
| National Trail |
2-10 |
4-16 |
| Newton |
2-10 |
5-15 |
| Tri-County North |
0-12 |
1-19 |
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JANUARY 9, 2010, WEST MILTON
Roger Craft and the Covington Buccaneers couldn't agree more with the old saying, "It's better to win ugly than lose pretty" - especially after a hard-fought 41-36 victory over Milton-Union Saturday night.
"Absolutely," agreed Craft. "It was ugly, but we'll take it."
That's because it showed the growth and character of the Buccs as they overcame a frustrating 3-for-24 shooting effort in the first half to torch the nets for 22 fourth quarter points in stealing the victory.
"We wouldn't have won this game a year ago," Craft said. "Things were not going very well - we only scored 10 points in the first have and had 19 at the end of the third - but the kids kept their composure. They just kept scratching and clawing until things finally started to happen."
To say it was a horrendous basketball game through three quarters would be an understatement as neither team could find a way to put the ball in the basket on a consistent bases.
The game was deadlocked at 6-6 after one and Milton held a 15-10 lead at the break.
Things were just as ugly in the third as Covington trailed 18-14 with under a minute to go, but received a boost with a Jordy Meyer basket and an Eric Beckstedt trey to take a 19-18 lead with a quarter to go.
"I think we trailed the entire game until that point," said Craft. "It (taking the lead) gave us a lift."
Which would be another understatement as Covington caught fire for 22 fourth quarter points, which Craft credits his defense for setting his team up for offensive success.
"Our defensive pressure was the difference in the fourth quarter," he explained. "We were finally able to have an offensive flurry with a couple of baskets to get our lead up to 6 or 8 and they (Milton) started to press a little bit. We took advantage with a couple of turnovers for lay-ups and got us some cushion on the scoreboard."
Covington also pounded the ball inside all evening and wore down Milton down the stretch after struggling converting inside the paint for three quarters.
And it was Jordy Meyer who elevated his game as the senior led all performers with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
"Jordy had a big night - a big weekend," Craft praised. "He's playing with confidence and that's the key for him. Jordy needs to believe in Jordy."
Meyer also came up big from the free throw line as he connected on 8 of 9 in the fourth quarter after missing on his only other attempt in the first half.
"He's stepped up for us," Craft continued. "He was 14-for-17 last night and 8-for-10 tonight and a lot of those free throws came in pressure situations."
Covington out-rebounded Milton 34-28 and 23 of the Buccs' rebounds came from Jordy Meyer and Adam Craft - Meyer with 13 and Craft had 10.
Eric Beckstedt joined Meyer in double figures in points with 13.
The Buccs shot 32% from the floor (13-41), and made just 2-for-14 from behind the arc. Covington was also 13-for-23 from the free throw line.
Milton was 14-for-48 shooting for 29% and 3-for-18 from three-point land.
And the ugliest stat of the game was in turnovers as the two teams combined for 38. Covington had 18 and Milton 20.
"It's hard to explain," said Craft in regards to how poorly the game went by both teams. "It was one of those nights where you try to persevere. We did that and came out with the win."
Which, at the end of the day, is all that matters.
Regardless of how ugly it is.
Scoring by Quarters:
Covington ............6.....4......9......22 - 41
Milton-Union ........6.....9......3......18 - 36
Covington Scoring:
Jordy Meyer - 14
Eric Beckstedt - 13
Ben Christian - 6
Adam Craft - 4
Josh Boehringer - 2
Martin Leistner - 2
Milton-Union Scoring:
Stephenson - 13
Warner - 6
Wheeler - 5
Smith - 3
Romie - 3
Warner - 2
Wallace - 2
Helman - 2
Three-Point Scoring:
Covington: Beckstedt (2)
Milton-Union: Smith (1), Romie (1), Warner (1)
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