BUCYRUS (Crawford County Now) — Career-final home games are typically bittersweet. Ending with a win makes it a little sweeter.
Two Bucyrus seniors, Marissa Middleton and Malina Rowland, sprinkled some sugar on their careers with a 48-29 non-league win over Crestline Thursday night on Phil A. Joseph Court at Alex Kish Memorial Gymnasium.
“I’m super proud of the seniors,” Bucyrus coach Brian Seybert said of his four-year veteran. “Marissa played her heart out tonight. She always does — from the first day to the last day. I trust her as much as anybody in my family.”
Middleton led the Lady Red with 17 points, including a pair of 3-point shots in her final home appearance.
Seybert was equally grateful to have had Rowland, who transferred to Bucyrus two years ago.
“I hope Malina had a nice career that she wanted in her two years here,” Seybert said. “She’s a fun girl to be around, somebody who’s basketball savvy, good I.Q. She’ll be difficult to replace too.”
Bucyrus (3-19) took care of business early with the Lady Red forcing nine first-quarter Lady Bulldog turnovers to run out to a 19-5 by period’s end. Six different Bucyrus players scored in the frame.
“We knew coming in that they were going to press us,” Crestline coach Mickie Spears said. “Being a young team, some of the things we talk about goes on the floor differently than what it does when you’re having the timeout.”
Spears has no seniors on the roster and only one junior — Kori Nechovski — who did not play in this game due to illness.
“That was the main goal — just come out, force them into a little bit of turnovers, some quick decisions. I thought the press was very functional for that,” Seybert said. “Again, a fast start, 19-5 in that first quarter and we’ll take it. We just kind of maintained the rest of the way.”
To Seybert’s point, the Lady Red and Bulldogs each scored eight in the second quarter and Bucyrus added just five to the lead in the second half. Shooting was an issue, as the hosts hit just nine of 32 shots over the last three periods.
There were bright spots for Crestline (2-20) despite the loss, according to the coach.
“We have a very young team, and they played really good against these guys,” Spears said. “Things have changed, but my team has really improved from the first game of the season to the last game of the season.”
The future appears bright for Lady Bulldog sophomore Jocelyn Noblit, who led Crestline with 15 points, including three 3s. Classmate Amarie Silverwood also knocked down three 3s on her way to 11 points.
“That’s the thing we put emphasis on,” Spears said. “The other shooters have to step up to the plate. I thought Amarie did a good job of stepping up tonight and so did Kylie (Kelly) who also had 12 rebounds. But we need more. It can’t be just Noblit scoring all the points.”
Middleton’s 17 points led Bucyrus, while freshman post Savannah Clark added 12. Victoria Stang grabbed six boards.
Middleton summarized the season and her career.
“In the past four years, we never gave up in games,” Middleton said. “We just kept fighting to the end. That’s what I love about our team.”
Not surprisingly, Seybert noted that Middleton has expressed interest in coming back and helping the program in some capacity next year.
“It’s been fun. We had great leaders last year,” Rowland said. “Marissa and I just kind of took that (role) this year and we were trying to build the team. I think we ended well tonight.”
The Lady Red are young in their own right, with just one junior, Karlee Shull on the roster with the two seniors.
“We had a little more experience to get up in them, get a little pressure on them, to make some pressure decisions and be able to get some turnovers and some layups,” Seybert said.
“I’m really hoping that these girls stick together and come into our summer program,” Spears said. “There’s a lot of shootouts and a lot of open gyms I would like to hit with these girls. When you actually practice, it pays off.
“Next year, hopefully we’re going to have the same girls next year,” he added. “If they come out and put the effort in, we’ll improve.”
“Hopefully, we can carry this win and this momentum into the tournament,” Seybert said. “We’ll go up there and give it our best shot.”
Bucyrus plays its Division VI sectional final at No. 1 seed Margaretta on Saturday.
Crestline travels to Lucas in a Division VII sectional final.
Box score
Crestline 5 8 6 10 — 29
Bucyrus 19 8 9 12 — 48
Crestline (2-20): Shots 10-35; 3-pt. shots 6-16 (Jocelyn Noblit 3, Amarie Silverwood 3); Free throws 3-8; Rebounds 31 (Kylie Kelly 12); Turnovers 26. Scoring: Jocelyn Noblit 5 2 15, Amarie Silverwood 4 0 11, Kylie Kelly 0 1 1, Bridget Belcik 1 0 2.
Bucyrus (3-19): Shots 16-49; 3-pt. shots 7-17 (Malina Rowland 2, Marissa Middleton 2, Karlee Shull, Reese Garvin, Savannah Clark); Free throws 9-14; Rebounds 32 (Victoria Stang 6); Turnovers 17. Scoring: Karlee Shull 1 0 3, Reese Garvin 1 3 6, Victoria Stang 1 0 2, Marissa Middleton 6 3 17, Lillyan Butchko 1 0 2, Malina Rowland 2 0 6, Savannah Clark 4 3 12.