NEW WASHINGTON — The Willard Flashes are long and athletic and a team that can score in bunches.
But it was their defense that was the difference in the game Saturday night.
The Flashes went to man and zone full-court pressure in the second half and forced Buckeye Central into 10 turnovers in the second half in a 64-56 win over the Bucks.
The win improved the Flashes’ overall record to 5-2. Buckeye Central fell to 1-7.
Willard coach Joe Bedingfield said that he went to the pressure more to pick up the pace of the game.
“We wanted to try and pick it up a little bit,” Bedingfield said. “I thought we came out a little sluggish. After last night’s game, we had a big win at Oak Harbor, and I thought Buckeye Central played very well in the first half. (BC was) getting good looks and we just wanted to try and get something in transition.”
The Flashes entered the final period holding a tenuous four-point lead, 43-39, and led just 51-48 with 4:39 left on a Brady Biglin 3 for BC.
But the pressure began to take its toll as Willard scored 13 points in the final 4:19 of the game to pull away to an 11-point lead, 64-53, with 22 seconds left.
Buckeye Central coach Eric Picklesimer said that the pressure was successful at times.
“We turned it over twice in the first half and in the second half, we turned it over 10 times. A couple of those were mental errors and we have some young players and they’re getting better every week,” Picklesimer said. “Our point guard has never seen that kind of size or speed before and their pressure did hurt us a little bit.”
The Flashes hurt the Bucks with their size and athleticism. The game was tied at 16-16 after one period, and Willard held a 32-29 lead at halftime.
BC never led in the game but tied the game at 32-32 on a Biglin 3 early in the third period, but the Flashes had that four-point lead entering the final period.
“Their athleticism gave us a problem the entire game,” Picklesimer said. “They’re big kids. They’re also strong. We are a little undersized, but for the first time this season we handled it pretty well.
“In the second half, their athleticism hurt us a couple of times and I just think, in a game like this, those things will happen.”
Biglin led all scorers with 26 points and guard Darren Wurm added 15 for the Bucks.
“(Biglin) played well last night,” Picklesimer said. “He knocks down the open shot and he’s attacking the rim really well.”
Willard had a three-pronged attack. Guard Cooper Parrott led the Flashes with 25 points and wing Terry Baldridge, Jr. added 16. Former Crestline star Devon Triplett scored 15.
Bedingfield said that he wants his team to have more balance.
“We do (have balance) at times,” Bedingfield said. “We try to balance our scoring and I think when we can play inside out, then it will free up Parrott and Devon (Triplett) to score.
“Sometimes, they try and do a little too much. I thought we did enough to get the victory.”
Bedingfield said that the Bucks played hard and well for the entire game.
Box score
Willard 16 16 11 21 — 64
Buckeye Central 16 13 10 17 — 56
Willard: (5-2): Shots 24-43; 3-pt. shots 4-7 (Cooper Parrott 2, Terry Baldridge, Trey Paxton); Free throws 12-16; Rebounds 27 (Micah Dawson 5); Turnovers 16. Scoring: Cooper Parrott 8 7 25, Terry Baldridge 7 1 16, Devon Triplett 6 3 15, Trey Paxton 2 0 5, Myles Pinkston 1 0 2, Micah Dawson 0 1 1.
Buckeye Central: (1-7): Shots 20-56; 3-pt. shots 9-25 (Brady Biglin 6, Nick Ramey 2, Darren Wurm); Free throws 7-14; Rebounds 33 (Mason Stahl 7); Turnovers 12. Scoring: Darren Wurm 4 3 12, Brady Biglin 9 2 26, Tyler Rose 1 2 4, Jake Heefner 3 0 6, Mason Stahl 1 0 2, Nick Ramey 2 0 6.
JV: Willard 43-31.