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WOLFHURST -- Bridgeport celebrated senior night in grand fashion Tuesday night, posting a 61-53 triumph over Buckeye Local at John J. Havlicek Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs executed extremely efficiently from start to finish, while failing to crack when the Panthers made a late-game run.
"I am very happy for our seniors. It has been a tough season and, sometimes for seniors, it is hard to stay focused," Bulldog head coach Donnie Cash stated. "But. they have continued to work hard and show leadership. It is nice we could get them a win on senior night."
Bridgeport improved to 2-17. The Dogs will have a week off before they play an OVAC consolation game. That opponent will be determined today.
Buckeye Local, meanwhile, dropped to 6-13 and also will resume play next week in OVAC consolation action.
Cash received excellent performances from several players. Junior Cooper Dulesky pumped in a career-high 22 points, while classmate Riese O'Kernick delivered 21 tallies, including 10 in the climactic fourth frame.
"This is the first time we have played four complete quarters. We didn't go any long stretches without scoring," Cash said. "We also weathered the storm when Buckeye Local staged its rally in the fourth quarter.
"We really got contributions from everyone and didn't have any slip ups. It is nice having a week off coming off a win. We will enjoy this for a while and get back to work Thursday."
Buckeye Local placed three players in double digits, with junior Jake Mayle leading the way with 12 markers. Classmate Cameron Grabits and 6-foot-4 sophomore Luke Darrah evenly divided 20 markers.
"We missed a lot of easy shots. We left a lot of points on the table," Buckeye Local head coach Chris Heaton said.
"We made a nice run to cut it to 55-53 but just couldn't get over the hump. They spread the floor and we were in catch-up mode."
The teams battled to a 15-15 standoff after the first quarter. Darrah netted six for the Panthers in the opening frame, while O'Kernick produced seven for the Bulldogs.
Bridgeport found itself trailing 29-23 late in the second quarter. The hosts, however, ended the half on an 8-0 rush, capped by an Eric Williams layup just prior to the buzzer, enabling the Cashmen to take a 31-29 lead at intermission.
The contest remained tight throughout the third quarter with Bridgeport taking a 44-43 edge in the final chapter.
The Bulldogs started strong in the fourth, moving to a 53-45 advantage with just less than four minuets to play. The Panthers didn't go away, closing to within two at 55-53 with 2:50 remaining on a Jacob Moffo hoop.
The teams went on a turnover spree before Buckeye Local missed a layup that would have knotted affair with over a minute to play. The Dogs went into delay mode with senior P.J. Sauvageot running the show.
O'Kernick drained two charity tosses with 34.6 ticks left for a 57-53 Bulldog lead. Another Panther miss resulted in O'Kernick returning to the line with 15 seconds showing. He again meshed a pair for a 59-53 lead.
Junior Adam Sommer delivered the dagger with two more free throws with 11 seconds remaining, making it a 61-53 final.
Bridgeport committed 12 turnovers, while Buckeye Local had 10.
The Panthers prevailed in the reserve contest.
Bridgeport 61, Buckeye Local 53
Buckeye Local 15-14-14-10 -- 53
Bridgeport 15-16-13-17 --61
BUCKEYE LOCAL: Taylor 4, 1-2 9; McHugh 1, 1-1 3; Pielech 1, 0-0 2; Moffo 1, 0-0 2; Mayle 4, 3-5 12; Grabits 4, 0-2 10; Watt 0, 0-0 0; Best 0, 0-0 0; L. Darrah 5, 0-2 10; H. Darrah 2, 1-2 5. TOTALS: 22, 6-14: 53.
BRIDGEPORT: Dulesky 9, 4-4 22; Sommer 1, 2-2 4; O'Kernick 7, 6-8 21; Williams 1, 0-0 2; Griffith 0, 0-0 0; Gregorcic 3, 0-0 8; Sauvageot 0, 0-0 0; Shaheen 2, 0-2 4. TOTALS: 23, 12-16: 61.
3-POINT GOALS: Buckeye Local 5 (Mayle, Grabits 2); Bridgeport 3 (Gregorcic 2, O'Kernick).