The Delaware Hayes boys basketball team’s losing streak grew to three games Saturday, but it took strides in the right direction despite a 45-39 loss to host Hilliard Davidson.

“After a tough two-game stretch in which we didn’t match the other teams’ physicality, we played very strong and tough against a much bigger and stronger Davidson team,” Hayes coach Jordan Blackburn said. “We had our chances in a one-possession game and came up short.”

A Nate Griggs three, which would have tied the game, rattled in and out with the Pacers down 41-38 with 37 seconds left.

Will Yoakum scored 28 of Hayes’ 39 points while chipping in a game-high eight rebounds.

“I was proud of Will,” Blackburn said. “He scored, but more importantly, he led. We have other guys who are capable of scoring and we need to get them going as well.”

Olentangy 74, Thomas Worthington 68

Jason Sieve and Greg Hendrix poured in 22 points apiece as the Braves got back on track with a solid non-league win Saturday at Thomas Worthington.

Olentangy scored 20-plus points in each of the first two quarters, racing out to a 46-32 lead by halftime. The Braves scored 18 points, just two in the first quarter, in the first half of Friday’s 59-55 loss to rival Orange.

Jerred Kinnaird also scored in double figures, finishing with 10 points in the win. The Cardinals’ Christian Carter, meanwhile, led all scorers with 25 points.

Gahanna Christian 62, Delaware Christian 61

Isaac Rindfuss and Andrew Dunnavant scored eight fourth-quarter points apiece, but DCS’ rally fell just short against visiting Gahanna Christian Saturday in Delaware.

The Eagles trailed by 10 with 5:36 left before their late surge.

Rebounding proved to be the difference as Gahanna Christian finished with 17 offensive boards, 10 in the second half, to gain an edge.

Dunnavant led the Eagles with 15 points and six assists while Rindfuss added 10 points and eight rebounds. Adam Standley was also solid, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the setback.

Liberty 59, New Albany 48

The Patriots used a big third quarter, parlaying a three-point halftime lead into a 10-point cushion heading into the final frame Saturday in New Albany.

Liberty won the fourth quarter 17-16 to smooth out the scoring summary.

Ben Roderick led the Patriots with 16 points while Ethan Novy and Nick Nakasian finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Big Walnut won just one quarter, the first, but it was more than enough to get the job done en route to a 44-40 non-league win over visiting Watkins Memorial Saturday in Sunbury.

The Golden Eagles led 14-7 after the first eight minutes of action. The Warriors slowly chipped away at their deficit, but couldn’t catch BW.

Two players combined to score more than half of Big Walnut’s points as Kelly Kreager and Erin Boehm finished with 12 and 11, respectively.

River Valley 52, Buckeye Valley 49

The Barons shot and rebounded better than the host Vikings, but turnovers plagued them all game long Saturday in Caledonia.

Buckeye Valley made 31 percent of their shots from the floor, compared to River Valley’s 29 percent, and won the rebounding battle by a huge 48-30 margin, but its 24 turnovers proved to be too much to overcome.

BV’s Alaina Radcliffe and Logan Hatcher both finished with double-doubles. Radcliffe had 13 points and 12 rebounds while Hatcher finished with 13 points and 11 boards. Tess Hughes also had a big game, chipping in eight points and 11 rebounds in the setback.

Hayes 35, Grandview 34, OT

Keiona Houser played the role of hero Saturday, scoring the Pacers’ only two points of overtime with a putback with 30 seconds left to sink the visiting Bobcats.

Madison Eldridge led Hayes with eight points while Abby Weller finished with seven.

Liberty 75, Teays Valley 41

The Patriots dominated the first half on the way to a lopsided non-league win Saturday in Powell.

Liberty led 14-2 after the first quarter and 36-8 by the break.

Four Patriots finished in double figures — Teegan Pifher (13 points), Bre Yashko (11), Katie Harrop (10) and Lauren Spicer (10).

Also: Wapakoneta 63, Olentangy 50.