Van Buren hangs on to top Pilots

VAN BUREN – There were a few times in Friday's Division VI sectional final where it looked like Van Buren was going to turn the game into a rout. It didn't turn out that way, but the Black Knights were able to hold on for a 53-46 win over Defiance Ayersville, and a ticket into next week's district semifinal. The Black Knights' seniors celebrated one last time on their home floor before turning their attention to Evergreen, which faces Van Buren Wednesday at Defiance. "I've been watching my brothers play on this court since I was in fourth grade, so it's good to get a win here, end it like that," said Van Buren senior Seth Gregory, who finished with eight points, "and hopefully we can make a deep run from there." Van Buren hit seven of their first eight field goal attempts, and led the Pilots 16-5 in the final half minute of the first quarter. But Ayersville answered behind the determined play of freshman Dane Ewers and sophomore Jeremiah Peake.It rallied to within 28-24 after two free throws by Peake with 3:42 left in the third. The Black Knights' Cole Bishop responded with a deep 3 from the right wing, and that sent Van Buren on a 10-0 run, punctuated by Brady Lance three-point play with 6:14 remaining in regulation. Van Buren led 38-24, and again appeared well on its way to a comfortable victory. But the Pilots weren't having it. They ran off a 14-4 spurt, crawling within 38-24 after a Ewers three-point play with 2:18 on the clock. "I couldn't be more proud of how we battled that whole game," Ayersville coach Logan Wolfrum said. "Van Buren's a very well-coached team. They have a great junior and senior class that's leading them. We battled our butts off; just didn't have a couple shots fall, but that's the game of basketball." Van Buren finished things out at the free throw line – it attempted 18 in the final quarter, making 11 – and improved to 16-6. "We kind of kept our composure at the end," said Van Buren coach Mark Bunn. "We hung in there and some of the older guys made some foul shots down the stretch that we needed." Brady Lance led the Black Knights with 11 points, while Bishop and Lucas Harrington registered nine each. It was a team effort, which Bunn said its something he's come to expect from his squad. "I've had seven different leading scorers (in games). We just spread the ball out," Bunn said. "We're very selfless in what we need to do. If Seth's getting face guarded, he's happy to set screens and open up other players, which is awesome." Ewers finished with 17 points and six boards for the Pirates, with Peake also coming up with 17 points. "It's not too often you talk to a coach and you have a freshman and a sophomore as the leaders of your team," Wolfrum said of Ewers and Peake. "So, they've been leaders all year, and we've been looking to them. We've put a lot of stuff on their shoulders, and they've handled it very well." The Pilots finished 8-14. The Black Knights' season continues. "This is amazing for these guys," Bunn said. "They bought into the program, they've just worked so hard during the offseason and during the regular season. Every practice they come in focused, and it's paying off." AYERSVILLE (8-14) Peake 3-9—17; Stambaugh 1-1—3; Dunn 3-0—9; Ewers 8-1—17. TOTALS: 15-36—11-16—46. VAN BUREN (16-7) Bishop 2-3—9; Gregory 2-2—8; Homan 4-0—9; Lance 2-7—11; Harrington 3-3—9; Martin 1-0—2; Rampe 2-1—5. TOTALS: 16-33—16-25—53. Ayersville 6 9 9 22 – 46 Van Buren 16 9 10 18 – 53 3-POINT GOALS: Ayersville 5-21 (Dunn 3, Peake 2); Van Buren 5-13 (Bishop 2, Gregory 2, Homan) REBOUNDS: Ayersville 22 (Ewers 6); Van Buren 30. TURNOVERS: Ayersville 11; Van Buren 12