NEW WASHINGTON — The Carey Lady Blue Devils can be a very frustrating team to play against, especially their defenses.

The Devils are a team that shows great patience on offense and a team that can apply solid pressure on defense. It’s a team that can limit offensive possessions and, as a result, shots.

Carey simply dominated Buckeye Central in the first three periods, permitting just nine points. The Buckettes did come back in the fourth period and actually cut the lead to nine midway through the period. But the Devils came away with a 37-24 win.

Buckeye Central coach Phil Loy said that, despite having to battle against Carey’s great offensive patience, the defense was the difference in the game.

“Their defensive pressure, when they want to turn it up, is second to none in our league,” Loy said. “We’ve got a lot of good teams in our league that can really pressure you. These guys are right there.

“They’re so athletic,” Loy added. “In the first half, they created so many problems for us. Obviously, we didn’t make some shots. We just couldn’t do anything tonight. Their full court and half court pressure just destroyed us. We couldn’t settle down. You can talk about it all you want, you can work on it all you want, but until you actually physically see it, on the Friday night lights, when there are people here, all of a sudden, we’re doing uncharacteristic things that we don’t normally do.”

Carey coach Keith O’Flaherty agreed with his coaching counterpart.

“We played a really nice game defensively,” O’Flaherty said. “Especially only letting them score six points in the first half. We had them locked down pretty good. We didn’t let their shooters open.”

How good was the Devils’ defense? The Buckettes managed just five shots in the first quarter, 12 for the half and 17 after three periods, making just three. As a result, Carey led 11-1 after the first period, 19-6 at the break and held a 25-9 lead entering the final period.

Carey held the basketball for long periods of time, running its offense to perfection as the Buckettes played hard as well.

“Offensively, we were patient,” O’Flaherty said. “When we’re patient, we get good looks. These girls work hard, make smart decisions out there and that got us the win today.”

“They’re showing more and more patience offensively as the year goes on,” Loy said of the Devils. “They couldn’t care less if they take two minutes off the clock but they’re going to get the shot they want. That’s great to be able to do that. You have to be able to handle pressure; you have to have guards who can handle the ball, and, obviously, you gotta have discipline. They do a really good job of that.”

Carey guard Rachel Reinhart led the Devils with 12 points, as they held a 16-point lead entering the fourth period. But BC came back strong in the final frame.

Buckettes guard Nevaeh Metzger scored the first five points of the period to cut the deficit to 27-14, but a Reinhart three and an Emily Brodman free throw increased the lead back to 31-18 with 3:21 left.

Jenna Cianflone drained a three to get it back within 10, 31-21, but BC could get no closer.

Metzger, playing her final home game, led the Buckettes with nine and junior Aleyse Siefert added eight.

“In the second half, I thought our defensive pressure stepped up,” Loy said. “I thought we rebounded better. The intensity was there. We sold out more in that second half than we did in the first half.”

O’Flaherty felt that his team still needs to get into the paint more.

“I’d like to see us attack the basket a little bit more,” O’Flaherty said. “I told them after the game, and at halftime, too, we need to do a little more of an attack. Try to get into the paint more and some kickouts there. We run through our offense and stay patient; we’re setting decent screens and we’re getting people open and get into a good flow.”

Box score

Carey                         11         8          6        12 — 37

Buckeye Central         1         5          3        15 — 24

Carey (13-6, 9-4 N10): Shots 13-29; 3-pt. shots 4 (Rachel Reinhart 2, McKinnley Kessler, Raigan Kessler); Free throws 7-10; Rebounds 21; Turnovers 13. Scoring: McKinnley Kessler 1 1 4, Raigan Kessler 1 0 3, Rachel Reinhart 4 2 12, Bella Phoenix 2 2 6, Riley Yost 1 0 2, Emily Brodman 4 2 10.

Buckeye Central (8-12, 3-10 N10): Shots 9-27; 3-pt. shots 3 (Aleyse Siefert 2, Jenna Cianflone); Free throws 3-6; Rebounds 9; Turnovers 12. Scoring: Jenna Cianflone, 1 0 3, Aleyse Siefert 3 0 8, Grace Collene 1 0 2, Harper Kantzer 1 0 2, Nevaeh Metzger 3 3 9.

JV: Colonel Crawford 38-33 (OT).