WILLARD — The Buckeye Central girls basketball team won its sixth straight district championship on Saturday, dismissing Seneca East 52-21 in the Division IV Willard District final.
The Buckettes were led by senior point guard Emily Siesel, the reigning District 6 Player of the Year, and three-time All-Ohio selection Claudia Pifher. In this game, Pifher eclipsed 1,540 points, the previous school scoring record owned by Dan Thallman.
B.C. dominated the contest from the opening tip. The top-seed roared to a 19-1 advantage on the way to a 24-3 first-quarter bulge. The lead grew to 40-7 at halftime, and it was 45-13 heading to the final eight minutes.
Coach Abram Kaple’s club improved to 24-1 with this victory. Buckeye Central’s lone loss this season was to undefeated Division II District champion Shelby, 71-55 on Jan. 4. Since then the Buckettes have ripped off 14 straight victories.
Next, B.C. challenges New Middletown Springfield (21-4), which defeated Maplewood 36-31 to claim the Mineral Ridge District championship.
The Buckettes and Tigers will tangle at the Massillon Perry regional on Thursday at 6 p.m.
It’s a venue Buckeye Central knows well. The six consecutive Sweet 16 appearances is a school record.
Second-seeded Seneca East finished the season at 20-4.
