By Ben Stroup
The Buckeye Valley boys basketball team parlayed a huge third quarter into a solid 69-63 non-league win over visiting Mifflin Tuesday in Delaware.
The Barons, who trailed 31-29 at the break, outscored the Punchers 23-10 in the third to take control of things.
Nick Hyatt led BV with 24 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals. Jesse Tomlinson backed him with 14 points while Grant Kelly added eight points, five assists and four rebounds.
Marysville 65, Hayes 63
Delaware Hayes shined at times, but struggled down the stretch as seven late turnovers flipped a 14-point fourth-quarter lead into a tough 65-63 non-league loss Tuesday in Marysville.
The Pacers couldn’t have played much better for the first three and a half quarters. They led 59-45 with 4:30 left to play, turning the ball over just twice up to that point.
“Aside from the New Albany game, I thought we played as well as we have all year for the first three and a half quarters,” Hayes coach Jordan Blackburn said. “We handled pressure well all game, but, in the last four and a half minutes, we didn’t.
“Marysville really turned it up … and we didn’t match their intensity.”
Jevon Knox led the Monarchs’ late charge with 15 fourth-quarter points. He finished with a game-best 29 points and seven three-pointers.
Up one with 35 seconds left, the Pacers, who made 17 of their 20 free throws, missed the front end of a one-and-one to allow Marysville to complete the comeback. The Monarchs outscored Hayes 24-16 in the fourth.
“We’ve played pretty well in some close games lately, but tonight I thought we kind of gift wrapped the game,” Blackburn said.
Will Yoakum led Hayes with 21 points while Terin Kinsway and Zach McIntire closed with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Westerville Central 72, Olentangy 68
The Braves outscored the visiting Warhawks 21-16 in the third and 22-19 in the fourth, but a rough first half proved to be too much to overcome in non-league action Tuesday in Lewis Center.
Olentangy was outscored 18-14 in a competitive first quarter before Westerville Central used a 19-11 second to create some separation.
Seth O’Neal led the Braves with 21 points while Derrick Wyche and Carter Kinnaird chipped in 17 and 15, respectively.
Delaware Christian 70, Madison Christian 52
The Eagles handled business Tuesday, knocking off visiting Madison Christian to wrap up at least a share of the Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League crown.
The championships will be Delaware Christian’s first since the 2000-2001 season.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delaware Hayes was right in the thick of things through three quarters, but was outscored 20-10 in the fourth en route to Tuesday’s 60-47 non-league setback against visiting Marysville.
Nine different Pacers scored, including Jessica Walker, who had a team-best 10 points. Brandy Bauer and Katie Blair were also solid, closing with eight and seven points, respectively, while Keiona Houser added six.
