By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
For three quarters the Buckeye Central Bucks looked as if they were going to be moving on to the district semifinals in Willard. The fourth quarter and the Norwalk St. Paul Flyers, however, stood in their way.
The Bucks hustled their way to a 14-13 lead to end the first. The Bucks’ press continued into the second quarter as they again outscored the Flyers 11-7 to take a 25-20 lead into the half behind Jacob Shade’s 14 first quarter points. Shade would score just two second half points to finish the game with 16.
The Flyers cut into the Bucks’ lead to start the second half, gaining three points back in the third to trail 36-34 going into the final stanza. The Flyers’ engines were running on all cylinders in the fourth as they outscored the Bucks 19-9 to close out the game and the Bucks season with a 53-45 victory.
The Flyers were led by Brandon McCall’s 18 points, Paul Pearce added another 16, and Dylan Furlong contributed 11 to the St. Paul victory.
The Flyers will take on the Colonel Crawford Eagles in the Division IV boys district semifinals in Willard on March 7 at 6:15 p.m.
The Bucks were led by Shade’s 16 points and Dalton Sheaffer’s 11.
With the loss Buckeye closes out their season with a 10-14 record.
PHOTO GALLERY: Buckeye Central vs Norwalk St. Paul