MASSILLON — The Buckeye Central girls basketball team has again reached the Elite Eight of the Division IV state tournament, just as the Buckettes did last season when they advanced to the Final Four.
Coach Abram Kaple’s squad took control from the very beginning Thursday night to cruise to an impressive 41-20 regional semifinal blowout of Berlin Center Western Reserve at Massillon Perry High School.
Buckeye Central’s defense was dominant from the start, and fueled an 11-0 first-quarter lead. The Blue Devils showed some mettle by fighting back to within a 15-7 intermission margin.
But B.C. flexed its muscle to put the game away in the third period, rolling to a 30-11 bulge heading to the final quarter.
The Bucks got the better of the fourth-period scoring, finishing the game in style with a 11-9 edge.
Buckeye Central (23-3) will challenge New Middletown Springfield (23-3) in Saturday’s 7 p.m. regional championship game at Massillon Perry High School. The winner earns a ticket to the Final Four.
The Tigers beat up on Dalton in the other regional semifinal, 44-33.
Western Reserve finished its season at 17-9.
In recent action on Feb. 25, Berlin Center Western Reserve faced off against Kinsman Badger. For results, click here.
