NORTH ROBINSON — Braxton Baker has averaged 17 points per game so far this season.

On Saturday, Baker surpassed his average before the first quarter was over.

Baker scored 20 points in the first quarter on his way to a Colonel Crawford single-game record 45 as the Eagles routed Bucyrus, 75-26, in a Northern 10 Athletic Conference game at Mac Morrison Gymnasium.

The previous record of 44 was set by Jake Hessey in 2004.

“It’s a credit to everybody on the team. They were getting it to him,” Colonel Crawford coach David Sheldon said. “They knew he was feeling it. Braxton’s the next one in line (at Colonel Crawford) who lives the game of basketball.”

Bucyrus coach Scott Gifford was duly impressed but felt that Baker’s explosion was the product of the improvement the Eagles had made in this young season.

“They’ve improved so much in the last week-and-a-half,” Gifford said. “I think it’s a combination of them going a little bit deeper in the playoffs in football and a late start with their basketball program. They’re getting their basketball legs under them; they’re getting their basketball confidence back.

“We didn’t have anybody (to guard) Baker,” Gifford said. “They’ve made tremendous strides and that’s a tribute, obviously, to Coach Sheldon. And you’ve got (Jacob) Maddy. Not many teams can guard (both) of them.”

Maddy supported Baker with 13 points and 13 rebounds, seven of which were on the offensive end.

The pair of seniors led Colonel Crawford (4-0, 2-0 N10) to a 34-7 advantage in the first quarter.

“What a great start. That’s what I was most proud of,” Sheldon said. “These are the kind of games that scare you as a coach. You have to get off to a good start. You can’t let them hang around.”

The defense was nearly as impressive, holding Bucyrus’ leading scorer, Malachi Bayless, to seven points. Blayne Barto also had seven.

“Trevor Vogt and everybody (who guarded him) did an outstanding job on Malachi,” Sheldon said. “Malachi is really good. We did a great job of limiting him all night.”

Gifford was concerned with the number of turnovers his team had committed int their first three games, so the emphasis was on improvement in ball handling.

“Our focus this week was on fundamentals, lowering turnovers, which we did,” Gifford said. “The work we put in showed tonight — it didn’t show in the score, but turnovers were lower. And we actually shot the ball at a higher percentage.”

But with the Eagles hitting 31 of their 51 shots and holding a 37-13 rebounding advantage, the improvements by Bucyrus (1-3, 0-2) were not apparent.

“We’re fortunate to have good size. We fly,” Sheldon said. “We talk about even on the offensive end, that’s a pass. Go get it off the glass. We’re physical at all five positions, which makes a big difference when you’re rebounding the basketball.”

Gifford realizes that his team is a work-in-progress.

“We just got killed on the boards and we have to defend better,” Gifford admitted. “Baby steps — we’ll get it. It’s a building year for us. They’ve got to learn my system; I’ve got to learn them. The goal is to obviously win some games this year. Maybe next year is a little bit of a payback tour.”

While the win was the most important thing, Sheldon was able to bask in the new scoring record as well.

“The record he gets is Jake Hessey, one of my all-time favorites,” Sheldon said. “Jake was an unbelievable player back in the day. What people don’t realize is the amount of time (Braxton) spends in the gym when no one (else) is in the gym. That’s what it takes.”

Sheldon said that the Eagles will have to get back on the horse on Monday.

“We’ve got a heck of stretch next week with Carey and Seneca East,” Sheldon said. “And then the next week with Ashland Crestview, which will probably win the Firelands Conference and Wynford.”

Colonel Crawford also won the junior varsity game, 49-39. Payne DeGray led the Eagles with 15 points and Kaden Bruner added 13.

Chris Neale had 12 for the Redmen and Georgie Floyd finished with 11.

Box score

Bucyrus                       7      12         2        5 — 26

Colonel Crawford   34      23      15        3 — 75

Bucyrus (1-3, 0-2 N10): Shots 11-36; 3-pt. shots 3-11 (Malachi Bayless, Blayne Barto, Tyson O’Brien); Free throws 1-4; Rebounds 13 (Noah Burke 3); Turnovers 14. Scoring: Tyson O’Brien 1 0 3, Blayne Barto 3 0 7, Noah Burke 3 0 6, Kam Lewis 1 0 2, Malachi Bayless 3 0 7, Tyrone Mass 0 1 1.

Colonel Crawford (4-0, 2-0 N10): Shots 31-51; 3-pt. shots 4-10 (Braxton Baker 4); Free throws 9-12; Rebounds 37 (Jacob Maddy 13); Turnovers 3. Scoring: Gabe Thew 1 0 2, Trevor Vogt 1 0 2, Ethan Holt 2 0 4, Derek Horsley 1 0 2, Braxton Baker 19 3 45, Jacob Maddy 5 3 13, Ryan McMichael 1 2 4, Payne DeGray 1 1 3.

JV: Colonel Crawford 49-39.