Kameron Beekman and Terin Kinsway saved their best for last, combining for 24 second-half points to lead the Delaware Hayes boys basketball team to a convincing 48-34 win over host Darby in the OCC opener Friday in Hilliard.
While Beekman and Kinsway were scoring, the Pacer defense was limiting the Panthers to next to nothing. Hayes (2-2, 1-0 OCC) held Darby to nine points or less in three of the four quarters, including just five in the second.
Beekman closed with a game-best 14 points, Will Yoakum finished with 13 and Kinsway added 12 in the win. Sam Midura added 11 rebounds and freshman point guard Nate Griggs had seven points and six assists.
Hayes made all seven of its fourth quarter free throws and outrebounded Darby 32-15.
Jose DeLeon led the Panthers with 13 points.
Westerville South 60, Olentangy 52
The Braves shot well from deep, connecting on 11 three-pointers, but a slow start proved to be too much to overcome in Friday’s league-opening loss to the visiting and defending state-champion Wildcats.
South jumped out to a 12-0 lead to start the game.
“I’m not upset about how we played,” Olentangy coach John Feasel said. “I’d love to not give them a lead like that, but we battled back, did a good job of handling their pressure and shot the ball well.”
Jason Sieve led the charge, finishing with 24 points thanks to six threes. Sean Marks also scored in double figures, closing with 10 points in the setback.
Kaleb Wesson led the Wildcats with a game-best 26 points.
Also: Canal Winchester 62, Big Walnut 57, OT.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Buckeye Valley girls basketball team dominated on the defensive end, holding D-I Marysville to 25-percent shooting, but had shooting struggles of its own on the way to a 48-45 non-league setback Friday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Barons jumped out to a pretty good start, leading 13-10 after one, but saw the Monarchs battle back with a 14-10 second to take a 24-23 lead into halftime.
Marysville maintained the one-point lead until the fourth, when it hit just enough free throws to hold off BV.
Although the Monarchs made just 13 of their 23 free throws, they finished with a huge edge from the charity stripe as the Barons only connected on three of their 10.
Morgan Scowden had one of her best games of the young season in the setback, finishing with a team-best 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting. She connected on four of her eight shots from behind the arc while adding four rebounds, three assists and a block to her stat line.
Other BV contributors included Logan Hatcher, who had six points and seven boards; and Kelsey Shearer, who finished with eight points and five rebounds.
Also: Canal Winchester 54, Big Walnut 48; Hilliard Darby 60, Hayes 43; Westerville South 72, Olentangy 55.
BOYS BOWLING
Buckeye Valley stayed perfect Friday, improving to 4-0 with a 2,159-1,745 win over North Union.
Dawson Munday led the way with games of 200 and 216. Jimmy Davis and Leo Wells also had solid outings, finishing with respective two-game totals of 377 and 372.
Orange 2,190, Hilliard Darby 1,831
Nick Baumeyer had games of 159 and 255 to lead the Pioneers to a season-opening win over the Panthers Friday afternoon.
Orange’s Jaden Wiebell also had a nice outing, finishing with games of 189 and 215.
Also: Olentangy def. Hayes 2,224-2,140.
GIRLS BOWLING
Bree Hall rolled games of 206 and 141 to lead Buckeye Valley to a 1,750-1,744 win over North Union Friday afternoon.
Other top Baron scorers included Madi Shearer, who had games of 141 and 179; Trinity Smith, who closed with games of 128 and 148; and Tara McClure, who had a 191-pin effort in her one and only game.
Orange 1,984, Hilliard Darby 1,853
The Pioneers played well in their first match of the season, handling the Panthers thanks in part to a strong showing by SarahKate Palmer.
Palmer finished with games of 233 and 192 for a team-best series of 425.
Also: Olentangy def. Hayes 2,231-1,901.
HOCKEY
Orange 4, New Albany 2.
