NEW WASHINGTON — All’s well that ends well certainly applied here Friday night.

Favored Colonel Crawford (9-3, 6-1) had to withstand a furious start and a strong effort by Ohio 602 rival Buckeye Central in posting a 48-32 win in a physical boys’ Northern 10 Athletic Conference game.

The hosts were less than hospitable in the first half, going up 11-6 before the Eagles answered to take a 19-18 halftime lead.

“Buckeye always gives you their best,” Colonel Crawford head coach David Sheldon said. “I’m so proud because last year we brought a regional final team over here and we won by 12. I knew because they are patient offensively. We didn’t shoot it well…just didn’t make shots.”

Buckeye Central (4-9, 1-7) took the early lead as Tyler Sanderson and Drew Rose, a pair of seniors, gave their team a 4-0 advantage.

Sanderson led his team with 13 points and 9 rebounds, and Rose added 7.

But Crawford’s one-two punch of Jacob Maddy (22 points and 14 boards) and Braxton Baker (9 points and 6 rebounds) was enough to carry the team.

“We said, hey we gotta throw it inside,” Sheldon said. “You’ve got to recognize when something’s not going well. In the first half they hurt us on the O-glass. Second half we did a better job.”

The Eagles won the third quarter 11-7, despite the Bucks’ Heath Jensen draining a deep 3 to make it 30-25 entering the final 8 minutes.

Buckeye Central head coach Tom Howell was pleased with his team’s start.

“We made some shots. I thought we played pretty hard the entire game. We did what we wanted to do defensively, except for rebounds.”

Actually, the Eagles held a slight edge, 35-32, in that category.

“We got some offensive rebounds (15) but couldn’t get points out of it and they did,” Howell said.

“We doubled Maddy, and he did a good job of finding the people we were doubling off. We didn’t rotate a few times. It’s not easy playing those guys; they’re physical, athletic kids.”

A close game didn’t come as a surprise to Sheldon.

“Every time it’s a battle. Against Buckeye you don’t have as many possessions as you do in other games because of their patience. So, if you look at points per possession, it’s a big thing.

“I thought Jacob Maddy was outstanding. He’s the best back-to-the-basket player in this league,” Sheldon said. “The thing he’s done so good is when he’s doubled, he sees guys open, like Ethan Holt. He’s a great passer.”

Holt provided a spark with 12 points and 2 rebounds, getting open cutting to the basket.

“Ethan, the last 2 weeks, has just thrived in his role,” Sheldon said of his 6-foot senior. “We always have defined roles and our kids accept that. And Ethan has succeeded beyond expectations. He’s doing a great job of getting it to the rim and also defending at the other end.”

Holt knows he needs to be ready as the flow of the game changes.

“Just learning how to play through our stars, Braxton and Jacob. They are both really good passers as well as scorers. So, when someone doubles them, I know I can get open,” he said.

“We have changed our style. Last year we had a lot of good guards. This year, we’re hitting the paint and having Jacob in the middle makes a big difference.”

The Bucks were without senior Stephen Sostakowski due to a foot injury.

“Manny Mullins did a heck of a job on Braxton. We told him starting Tuesday that you’re going to guard him,” Howell said. “Our best defensive player is lost for the season. Manny took the challenge and played physical and took him out of his rhythm a little.”

Sanderson had a solid game, despite nursing an injury of his own.

“Tyler’s playing on about 1.25 legs, you know. As long as he can take the pain. I keep asking him, seeing him out there limping,” Howell said. “I usually leave it up to him. He had a good first half … and he is rebounding and playing pretty well.”

The Eagles have 5 conference games on the road remaining.

“When you’re competing for a league championship, it’s a business trip every night in this league,” Sheldon said. “You’ve got to go on the road with a business-like approach.”

Crawford travels to Lucas in a non-league game Saturday.

“Looking for a great game tomorrow night. We’ve got nothing to lose playing, I think, the best team in the district tournament. They’ve got the most kids back of anyone in the D-IV tournament,” Sheldon said.

“Tough kids, a tough environment,” he said of playing Lucas in the Cub Cave. “This is an atmosphere. I’ve coached and played in that gym in the old NCC. These kids have never been in that gym.”

Playing against good non-league clubs like Lucas, Smithville and Lexington last year prepare his teams for the post-season, Sheldon said.

“We’ll see our mental and physical toughness tested at Lucas.”

Buckeye Central returns to action next Thursday when it hosts New Riegel, then visits Mohawk on Saturday.

“That’s not gonna be easy. New Riegel. They’re pretty good and they will give us some match-up problems,” Howell said.

“We’re in this situation every week, up a little bit or down a little bit. Sooner or later you gotta find a way. But we’ll keep working hard in practice and get a W.”

Box score

Colonel Crawford         6     13      11     18 — 48

Buckeye Central         11       7        4      10 — 32

Colonel Crawford (9-3, 6-1 N10): Shots 18-45; 3-pt. shots 2-8 (Braxton Baker, Derek Horsley); Free throws 10-14; Rebounds 35 (Jacob Maddy 14); Turnovers 5. Scoring: Ethan Holt 4 4 12, Derek Horsley 1 2 5, Braxton Baker 3 2 9, Jacob Maddy 9 4 22.

Buckeye Central (4-9, 1-7 N10): Shots 14-47; 3-pt. shots 2-12 (Drew Rose, Heath Jensen); Free throws 2-9; Rebounds 32 (Tyler Sanderson 9); Turnovers 6. Scoring: Drew Rose 3 0 7, Heath Jensen 1 0 3, Tyler Sanderson 6 1 13, Dom Dean 1 0 2, Jack Phillips 1 0 2, Manny Mullins 2 1 5.

JV: Colonel Crawford 48-14.