Travis Beck (14) finishes off a fast break with a basket in Pettisville’s BBC victory at Hilltop.– photo by Mary Huber
The Pettisville boys basketball team finished a fourgame road trip with a 54-40 Buckeye Border Conference victory at Hilltop, Thursday, Jan. 5.
The Birds (3-4, 3-0 BBC) started the game with a 6- 0 run on baskets by Aaron Bruner, David Reyes, and Aaron King.
With Pettisville leading 10-6, Hilltop’s Tyler Harris hit his first of two threepointers to pull the Cadets within one, 10-9.
Pettisville’s Josh Borton hit one of two foul shots to close out the first period with an 11-9 advantage.
The Birds outscored the Cadets 10-6 in the first seven minutes of the second period to up the difference to 21-13.
Harris stole the ball, drove for a layup and was fouled with 1:04 left in the first half. He converted the conventional three to get Hilltop within five, 21-16.
It took eight minutes before the Cadets would score again.
Pettisville went on a 16- 0 run over the final minute of the first half and the first seven minutes of the third period to sprint out to a 37- 16 lead. Zach Pursel scored four straight baskets during the run; he finished with 16 points to lead PHS.
Reyes was also in double figures, with 14.
Brandon Willis finally broke the drought for Hilltop with a basket and 1:04 left in the third. The Cadets (1-7, 0-3 BBC) went on a 7- 2 run in the final minute to pull within 16, 39-23.
Pettisville led by as many as 23 in the fourth before winning 54-40.
Payne Sentle was Hilltop’s only scorer in double figures, with 20.
The Birds were 21-45 from the field for 47% and 12-14 from the foul line for 86%. Hilltop was 14-47 from the field for 30% and 10-15 from the foul line for 67%.
PHS won the rebounding battle 30-22.
BOX SCORE
PETTISVILLE (54) – Rufenacht 4, Beck 2, Valdez 3, Reyes 14, Bruner 4, King 6, Pursel 16, Borton 5. Totals 21-12-54.
HILLTOP (40) – Miller 4, Grime 2, Harris 6, Sentle 20, Smith 1, Towns 2, Willis 2, Wagner 3. Totals 14-10-40.
| PHS | 11 | 12 | 16 | 15 | – | 54 |
| HHS | 9 | 7 | 7 | 17 | – | 40 |
Reserve: Pettisville won 44-20.
Leave a Reply