Bucyrus turns tables on Wynford in tourney opener
OAK HARBOR – Bucyrus was the higher seeded team in its sectional tournament game against Wynford on Tuesday night, but you wouldn’t have known it by the regular-season results.
The Royals defeated the Redmen twice, in close games, during the Northern 10 Conference campaign. But with the season the line, Bucyrus turned the tables for a 54-49 victory.
The key for the Redmen was outscoring Wynford 29-18 in the second half — enough to win the opening round of the Division III sectional tournament at Oak Harbor High School.
The Redmen will return to Oak Harbor Friday night to take on No. 3 seed Eastwood, at 6:15 p.m., for the championship.
“At the end of the game, you could see the confidence in the kids’ faces I’d never seen before,” Bucyrus coach Tony Rose said. “They believed they would win.”
With the basketball traditions of the respective schools, history was not on the Redmen’s side. After the teams started with a 15-15 first quarter, typical of their styles, the Royals eased out to a 31-23 lead just before halftime. Wynford (12-11) connected on five treys to build the lead.
Mark Garcia scored at the intermission buzzer to pull Bucyrus (12-11) back to within 31-25.
The second half was a different story. The Redmen scored eight of the first nine points to grab a 33-32 edge on two free throws by Dalon King. Bucyrus held a 41-40 lead after three and it seemed to energize the Redmen.
“They played zone most of the second half,” Wynford coach Mark DeLaney said. “They did a nice job of getting out on our shooters.”
The Royals only attempted 15 shots in the second half and just two free throws, none in the fourth quarter.
Bucyrus sealed it when D.J. Dagher took a charge with under a minute left and the Redmen on top 51-49. They sealed it at the line.
King had a game-high 19 points for Bucyrus and added five rebounds. Cole Hollis finished with nine on three 3s.
“We needed to stop shooting 3s,” Rose said. “That stopped their transition game for easy baskets.”
Alex Crall had 14 points to lead Wynford — with three 3s. Braxton Tea added 13 points and Nate Spark had seven rebounds.
“This is not about what went wrong,” DeLaney said. “This is about the four seniors that have been the cornerstone of this program all season.”
Hunter Miller, Keaton Teynor, Austin Shutler and Mason Johnson all played their last game for Wynford.
“They’re a whole team of great shooters,” Rose said. “We got lucky.”
Twitter: @TF_Schmidt
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