Buckeye Trail coasts past Newcomerstown for key IVC win

OLD WASHINGTON −Host Buckeye Trail entered Tuesday night's Inter-Valley Conference matchup with Newcomerstown with a pair of reasons why collecting a victory was a priority.

First, the Warriors were looking to halt a two-game losing streak due to players injury/illness issues depleting their roster. That resulted in a pair of tough losses to strong Union Local and Martins Ferry squads.

Secondly, Trail was celebrating Senior Night festivities and wanted to secure a victory for their eight seniors with a home court victory.

Buckeye Trail was able to secure both objectives, thanks to a lopsided 72-47 victory to improve to 8-2 in IVC play along with a sparkling 14-4 overall mark.

Warriors hit with more injuries in the victory

Just trying to get back to full strength after the recent injury/illness problems, one low point to the otherwise successful evening was Trail losing two more key players to injury during Tuesday's Senior Night win.

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Both junior Mason McQuain and sophomore Kyer Eagon suffered ankle injuries and were forced to leave the game. Both were being evaluated after the game to determine the extent of their injuries.

Thankfully, Warriors' head coach Gregg Strasser's season long game plan of playing his entire 15-man roster paid huge dividends.

Going deeper into his rotation was not an issue. Players such as juniors Austin Hastings, Jace Hickman and Blake Wayble were able to contribute by having that confidence that comes with playing experience.

"It's unfortunate we had some sickness going on along with a few injuries and were just starting to get healthy," Strasser said. "Then tonight we had Mason and Kyer go down tonight, I'm just hoping they will be alright and not out long."

"But we had some other guys step up and fill their shoes, played big roles and helped us get the job done tonight," Strasser said. "With the style with playing with running all the guys in and using our bench all year like we do. It helped us keep the pressure and pace up with those guys who stepped in were ready for that opportunity."

Warriors in control from start to finish

Buckeye Trail never trailed after the opening few minutes in the first quarter, leading 19-12 heading to the second stanza. The Warriors extended the lead out to 35-23 at the halftime break with a 16-11 second quarter scoring edge.

Trail put the game away with a huge 25-11 scoring advantage in the third quarter to push the lead out to a comfortable 60-39. The Warriors shot a sizzling 11-for-15 effort from the charity stripe in the frame.

Junior Travis Dodd led Buckeye Trail with a game high 20 point night, while Parry finished with another double-double effort of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Geisey chipped in with 10 points, with Rome just missing double figures with nine for the winners.

"Travis was just consistent all night for us," Strasser said. "He scored inside and out and played great defense all night. Travis really had a big night. And then Charlie was just Charlie with another double-double game. We know what we are getting from him every night."

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Newcomerstown (3-10 IVC, 5-14) was paced by Gavin Smith with 14 points, and Javyn Lafferty contributed 13 markers.

A proper sendoff to a special group of seniors

Seniors Janson Alloway, Gavin Rome, Koen Eagon, Charlie Parry, Jett Geisey, Brady Hastings, Wyatt Tank and Donovan Geiger were recognized prior to the game in a brief ceremony for their contributions to the Buckeye Trail boys basketball program.

"These seniors are just a very special group," Strasser said. "They all play very hard and always give great effort. And are such an unselfish group, being willing to sacrifice playing time to allow us to go to this plan of playing everybody was huge. Just says a lot about this group of young men, to buy into the plan for the good of the team."

Next game

Buckeye Trail will play host to Union Local on Friday night, while Newcomerstown will conclude the regular season by hosting Beallsville a week from Friday.

KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Buckeye Trail basketball leans on deep roster to roll to IVC win