New Lex flexes muscle in 2nd stanza to blow past Meadowbrook for 65-29 win
BYESVILLE − A young Meadowbrook squad put its best foot forward in the opening quarter of Friday's MVL matchup with New Lexington.
Sophomore Colton Delancey canned a pair of free throws to close out the first eight minutes of play, to pull the Colts within 14-9 heading to the second period.
Delancey finished with four points in the frame, while fellow sophomore Justice Huey drilled a 3-pointer to lead the young Colts' strong first-quarter effort.
Problem was the more experienced and talented Panthers took their game to the next level in the second stanza.
New Lex took the upper hand and coasted to a lopsided 65-29 victory to move to 15-3 overall and 9-3 in the MVL.
"Biggest thing tonight was we played our style of basketball in the first quarter," Meadowbrook head man Teryn Jarrett explained. "We pushed tempo, got into offensive action, defended and rebounded the ball well.
"That first quarter is a glimpse of what we can be on a consistent basis," Jarrett added. "We just have to keep working to get there. We are just not ready yet to answer when a team comes back hard at us like New Lex did in that second quarter."
New Lex got rolling in that second quarter, posting a huge 18-3 scoring edge to seize the upper hand at 32-12 at the halftime break. Sophomore Bentley Hanson was the driving force for the Panthers, pumping in nine points in the period to lead the charge.
"That 18-3 second quarter was needed, because we didn't come out very well in that first quarter," New Lex head coach Jeremy Duerr offered. "It was a weird night with a two-quarter JV game, so I think it took us a while to settle into the game tonight.
"It was just kind of a calm environment in that second quarter, not very much excitement in the air," Duerr continued. "But our guys settled in during the second quarter, defended a little harder. They did what we were trying to do offensively and kind of separated ourselves and got a comfortable lead going into halftime."
New Lex then extended the lead out to 49-24 heading to the fourth quarter, thanks to a 17-12 third-quarter scoring edge over Meadowbrook.
Sophomore Isaiah Stephens drilled a pair of triples en route to a eight-point quarter to lead the visitors' effort. Senior Dayne Singleton came off the bench to tally four points in the frame for the Colts.
In the fourth quarter, the Panthers closed out the MVL road win with a 17-6 scoring advantage to end the game under an OHSSA running clock format.
"As always, I thought our guys had fight in them until the final possession and I'll always commend them for that," Jarrett said of his Colts' squad that slips to 0-17 overall and 0-12 in MVL play. "We have two winnable ones next week in Coshocton and Crooksville. It could be a huge week for us."
New Lex placed three players in double figures, paced by senior Lukas Ratliff and Hanson with 15 points each, while Stephens added 14 for the winners. Seniors Ryan Hobbs finished with seven, and Isaac Dick chipped in with six markers for the winners.
Delancey tallied nine points to lead the Colts, with Singleton adding five and senior Easton Eibel contributed four points.
New Lexington took an 18-12 win in a two quarter JV game, with Talon Schwerdeman leading the way with eight points. Gunner Davis paced the Colts with six points.
NEXT −Meadowbrook travels to Coshocton on Tuesday, while New Lexington will pay a visit to Crooksville.
Tuscarawas Central Catholic 59, Buckeye Trail 48
NEW PHILADELPHIA −Host Tuscarawas Central Catholic got a big night from Jordan Cherry who exploded for 32 points to hand Buckeye Trail a tough 59-48 Inter-Valley Conference road setback Friday night.
Kayden Crosier added 14 points for the Saints who improve to 5-5 in IVC play and 6-9 overall with the upset victory.
Senior Garrett Burga paced the Trail with 20 points, while senior Isaac Beaver added nine points of a trio of triples. Junior Charlie Parry added seven points and Koen Eagon finished with four markers.
Buckeye Trail falls to 10-6 overall and 6-3 in the IVC with the defeat.
NEXT −Buckeye Trail travels to Strasburg on Tuesday, with JV action starting at 6 p.m.
John Glenn 70, Philo 49
DUNCAN FALLS −Seniors Bexlee Woodard made three of his five 3s and Kaiden Walls scored eight of his 12 points in a 25-9 first quarter, sparking John Glenn to a 70-49 Big School Division win over host Philo Friday night.
Woodard finished with a team-high 17 points for John Glenn (10-7, 8-3 MVL), which led 39-21 at the half and 55-30 through three quarters.
Senior Nathan Walker added 13 points, Caleb Larrick chipped in nine and Noah Winland and Will Nicolozakes had seven points apiece for the winners.
Cade Searls paced Philo (4-12, 4-8 MVL) with 15 points, Drew Wright tallied eight counters and Demetrius Strickland had seven points.
NEXT − John Glenn will host River on Tuesday, with JV action getting underway at 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Buckeye Trail 43, East Canton 21
CANTON − Buckeye Trail picked up an Inter-Valley Conference road win on Thursday, rolling past host East Canton by a 43-21 final score.
A trio of seniors led the way for Trail, paced by Josie Creighton with a game-high 18 points, followed by Kaydence Starr with 11 and Emma Smith with nine markers.
Audrey Wade led East Canton (5-14, 3-7 IVC) with 10 points.
Buckeye Trail improves to 7-3 in IVC play and 11-6 overall with the IVC road victory.
NEXT −Buckeye Trail will host Barnesville on Monday at 6 p.m.
kstutton1@gannett.com; @KSuttonDJSports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: New Lex flexes muscle in 2nd stanza to blow past Meadowbrook for 65-29 win
