MORGANTOWN – The No. 12 Class AAAA Buckhannon-Upshur Buccaneers had trouble finding any offensive continuity in their disappointing 66-45 road setback to the University Hawks Friday night.
The Bucs shot just 33.3 percent from the field, making good on just 17 of their 51 attempts to go along with 19 turnovers.
The loss to their sectional foe also hurt the Bucs’ chances of hosting a sectional game as the Hawks are now 2-0 in sectional play with Bridgeport being 1-0. The Bucs are now 1-1 in sectional play but still have a game with Bridgeport this week to improve their lot.
The game started out well enough for the Bucs as an old-fashioned three-point play from Jaden Westfall gave them an early 6-4 lead.
A lay-up from Malaki Williams and two free throws from Jaden Westfall gave B-U a 10-7 lead with 3:41 left in the opening quarter, but University went on a 6-0 run for a 13-10 lead and the Bucs were never able to hold the lead again.
The Bucs went into the second quarter down 15-12.
Carter Zuliani started the second quarter with an underneath basket making it 15-14, but the Hawks went on an 8-2 run for a 23-16 advantage with 6:51 showing on the second-quarter clock.
Williams and Jaden Westfall put in consecutive baskets for the Bucs making it a 23-20 contest, but University nailed consecutive three-pointers for a 29-20 lead with 2:14 left in the half.
Buckhannon-Upshur went into the half down nine, at 33-24.
University scored the four first points of the third quarter building a 37-24 lead and never let the Bucs back into the game building up an 18-point lead late in quarter, at 49-31.
The closest the Bucs got in the final quarter was 15 points.
Jaden Westfall led the Bucs with 19 points and nine rebounds as he just missed out on a double-double.
James Fortney-Garbart paced all scorers for University with 23 points.
University improved to 7-7 on the year.
The Bucs dropped to 8-4 heading into their Saturday outing with the Grafton Bearcats.
They will be back in action Wednesday at Philip Barbour for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
The boxscore:
Buckhannon-Upshur 12 12 8 13 – 45
University 15 18 16 17 – 66
Buckhannon-Upshur 45
Jaden Westfall 7-14 4-6 19; Ian Strader 3-10 1-5 7; Jerin Westfall 2-9 0-0 5; Carter Zuliani 2-5 1-2 5; Malaki Williams 2-5 0-0 4; Nathaniel Ringer 1-1 1-2 3; Bryson Johnston 0-1 1-4 1; Landon Marple 0-3 1-2 1; Brody McDaniels 0-1 0-0 0; Jevon Westfall 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-51 9-21 45.
University 66
James Fortney-Garbart 9-11 5-6 23; John Coleman 5-8 2-2 12; Ethan Jackson 3-6 1-2 7; Carson Ford 2-3 1-2 7; Zach Demidiovich 2-4 1-4 6; Luke Hudson 2-7 0-0 5; Glenn Brown 0-1 4-4 4; Coen Henderson 0-2 1-2 1; Jack Byrer 0-2 1-2 1; Kaleil Lewis 0-1 0-0 0; Eli Karpinski 0-1 0-0 0; Noah Kleeh 0-0 0-0 0; Totals 23-46 16-24 66.
Three-point field goals – Buckhannon-Upshur: Jaden Westfall 1-2; Jerin Westfall 1-6; Marple 0-3; Strader 0-3; Jevon Westfall 0-1; Totals 2-15; University: Ford 2-3; Demidovich 1-2; Hudson 1-5; Coleman 0-1; Jackson 0-1; Karpinski 0-1. Totals 4-13.
Rebounds – Buckhannon-Upshur: Jaden Westfall 9; Zuliani 7; team 6; deadball 5; Ringer 3; Jerin Westfall 3; Williams 3; Jevon Williams 2; Johnston 1; Strader 1. Totals 40; University: deadball 5; Lewis 5; Jackson 5; Byrer 4; Coleman 4; Fortney-Garbart 4; Hudson 4; Henderson 3; Demidovich 2; Ford 1. Totals 37.
Assists – Buckhannon-Upshur: Strader 4; Jaden Westfall 2; Jerin Westfall 2; Johnston 1. Totals 9; University: Jackson 6; Fortney-Garbart 4; Coleman 2; Brown 1; Demidovich 1; Hudson 1. Totals 15.
Steals – Buckhannon-Upshur: Ringer 2; Jaden Westfall 2; Marple 1; Jerin Westfall 1; Jevon Westfall 1. Totals 7; University: Jackson 3; Brown 2; Demidovich 2 Fortney-Garbart 2; Hudson 1. 10.
Blocked shots – Buckhannon-Upshur: Strader 1; Wiliams 1. Totals 2; University: Hudson 2; Coleman 1; Demidovich 1. Totals 4.
Turnovers – Buckhannon-Upshur: 19; University: 10.
Fouls – Buckhannon-Upshur: 22; University: 19.
