ONTARIO — Colonel Crawford had to come from behind, but the Eagles did just that to dismiss upset-minded Western Reserve 51-46 in Wednesday night’s Division VI district semifinal at Ontario High School.
Junior Brayden Holt, the Northern 10 Player of the Year, led top-seeded C.C. with 20 points. Sophomore John DeGray contributed 12 points and sophomore Parker Weithman had 11.
(Photos by Tom Theodore)
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Colonel Crawford coach Dave Sheldon shouts instructions to his team. Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore
But it was the Eagles’ defense that finally turned the tide, especially in the fourth quarter.
Seniors Hayden Keith and Tyler Wood each scored eight points for WR. The sixth-seeded Roughriders put eight players in the scoring column, but none cracked double figures.
Western Reserve edged in front 15-13 after the first quarter, and opened a 27-20 halftime bulge. But the Eagles began to take flight in the second half.
Coach Dave Sheldon’s team roared back to tie the game at 39-39 heading to the final eight minutes. C.C. took control early in the fourth period to grab a 45-40 advantage and tightened a defensive vice for a 12-7 scoring margin in the stanza.
Western Reserve closed the campaign with an 8-13 mark.
Colonel Crawford will play second-seeded Crestview on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ontario High School for the district championship and a trip to the Bowling Green Regional.
The Northern 10 regular-season champions are now 22-1, and riding a 22-game winning streak.
The Cougars (17-6) handed the Eagles their lone loss of the year in the season opener, 56-48 on Nov. 30 in Olivesburg. Crestview reached the district finals by putting away Seneca East 52-40 in the other district semifinal.