Redskins tame Panthers
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WINTERSVILLE -- Experience makes a big difference in high school basketball, and that difference was on display Friday night in Indian Creek's 66-29 win over Buckeye 8 rival Buckeye Local.
"It was just a lot of young kids playing against a lot of veterans and (the score) was the result of that," Indian Creek coach Joe Dunlevy said. "Buckeye Local is going to be a very good team down the road."
The senior-laden Redskins (6-3) used a 19-0 run in the first quarter to take all the momentum after the youthful Panthers took the first lead and never looked back.
"(Experience) was most definitely the difference," Buckeye Local coach Chris Heaton said. "It was their five seniors against the young team that we have. I told the team that we need to see more consistency. We see flashes of good things and bright spots, but we need to do it more consistent."
Michael Allan led Indian Creek with a game-high 18 points, none of which came in the third quarter. He was followed closely by Austin Judson, who drained three 3-pointers to finish with 17 points.
"Those guys put a lot of time in the gym in," Dunlevy said. "The results show like they did (Friday)."
Derrick Eakle finished with 16 points, while Brennon Norris had seven, all in the first quarter, and a game-high six assists.
The Panthers youth showed during the big Indian Creek run as Buckeye Local turned the ball over 10 times in the opening eight minutes.
The Redskins, on the other hand, turned the ball over just nine times in the game.
"We work on (not turning the ball over) every day in practice," Dunlevy said. "We had a ton (against Harrison Central Dec. 28). We are working on it and hopefully we continue to improve."
A bright spot for Heaton's club was four different players (Stevie Roberts, Cameron Grabits, Jake Mayle and Mason Brown) hitting shots from beyond the arc.
"We have kids that can shoot the basketball," he said. "We have gotten better at shooting the ball as the season has gone on. We have to find more ways to get them open."
He was also happy with how his club kept playing hard despite the score.
"That's one thing we are trying to instill in them," Heaton said. "No matter what the score is, we have to play hard. We're trying to mold them not just into good basketball players, but good young men. A never-quit attitude can go a long way in life."
Both teams stay in Buckeye 8 action for their next games. Indian Creek plays Tuesday at St. Clairsville. The Panthers host Edison, also on Tuesday.
GAME NOTES
¯ Indian Creek won the jayvee game, 49-24.
(Grimm can be reached at agrimm@heraldstaronline.com)
Indian Creek 66, Buckeye Local 29
Buckeye Local 6-5-11-7 -- 29
Indian Creek 25-13-22-6 -- 66
BUCKEYE LOCAL (1-10): Long 0 2-2 2; Pielech 1 1-2 3; Moffo 0 0-0 0; Mayle 1 0-0 3; Mayle 1 0-0 3; Roberts 1 0-0 3; Grabits 1 1-2 4; Zanes 1 1-1 3; Watt 0 0-0 0; Brown 2 0-0 5; L. Darrah 0 2-2 2; H. Darrah 1 2-4 4. TOTALS: 9 9-13 29.
INDIAN CREEK (6-3): Kuczykowski 1 0-0 2; McClurg 0 0-2 0; Allen 7 4-6 18; Norris 3 0-1 7; Eakle 6 3-5 16; Mamula 0 0-0 0; Judson 7 0-0 17; Wright 1 0-0 2; Vandine 2 0-0 4; Morris 0 0-0 0; Hilderbrand 0 0-0 0; Ade 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 28 7-14 66.
3-POINT GOALS: Buckeye Local 4 (Roberts, Grabits, Mayle, Brown); Indian Creek 5 (Judson 3, Norris, Eakle). ASSISTS: Buckeye Local 6 (Grabits 2, H. Darrah 2); Indian Creek 18 (Norris 6). REBOUNDS: Buckeye Local 14 (Moffo 5); Indian Creek 23 (Mamula 5).