COVINGTON — The Bradford basketball team won the Buccaneer Holiday Classic, defeating Covington 56-40 in the championship game Saturday.

And it was junior Owen Canan who was the Achilles heel for Covington. Canan scored a game-high 24 points and had a huge impact on defense where he was able to force several turnovers.

Bradford’s defense as a team was relentless, but Canan’s performance was phenomenal.

Still, the Buccaneers were able to get some open looks, but just couldn’t knock down as many shots as they were able to make 24 hours ago against Arcanum – especially from behind the three-point line. Last night Covington made 12 three-pointers, but tonight only three treys dropped through the net.

Another difference in the game was the conversions from the charity stripe. Bradford made 16 of 20 free throws, while the Buccaneers only converted on nine of 15 attempts.

Even with the shooting struggles, Covington was able to stay within striking distance heading into the final frame. The score was knotted at 12-12 after one and Bradford held a 31-25 lead at the break and a 41-35 lead after three.

The Buccs were able to cut the margin to 41-37 in the opening seconds of the fourth, but Bradford went on a rampage throughout the remainder of the game by outscoring Covington 15-3 down the stretch.

Britton Miller led the Buccs with 13 points and Brogen Angle scored 12.

Tanner Palsgrove added six points.

Landon Wills contributed with 15 points for Bradford, while Hudson Hill scored nine points and Dalton Branson added six points.

Covington drops its record to 3-5 on the season, while Bradford improves to 7-2.

Miami East 47,

Versailles 39

VERSAILLES — The Miami East boys basketball team won a defensive battle on the road Saturday night.

The Vikings led 14-8, 24-18 and 37-33 at the quarter breaks.

Jacob Roeth had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Ty Rohrer had 11 points, six rebounds and three steals and Devon Abshire had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Kaden Francis scored eight points off the bench and Kamden Wolfe added five points.

FRIDAY

Troy 59,

W. Carrollton 47

TROY — The Troy boys basketball team rallied after a slow start to get a MVL win Friday at the Trojan Activity Center.

The Trojans improved to 4-5 overall and 4-3 in the MVL.

Troy trailed 21-23 after one quarter, but outscored the Pirates 16-4 in the second quarter to take a 29-25 halftime lead.

Troy led 43-32 after three quarters and maintained the advantage the rest of the way.

Bryce Haught led Troy with 15 points and four assists and Kellen Miller scored 14 points and had nine rebounds.

Brady O’Leary netted 13 points and dished out six assists and Isaac Burns scored seven points.

Evan Kaiser added six points Aiden Luis had three assists.

WPTW HOLIDAY

Troy Christian 45,

Piqua 30

PIQUA — After a slow start, the Troy Christian boys basketball team recovered quickly and got a 45-30 win over host Piqua in the WPTW Holiday Classic consolation game at Garbry Gymnasium Friday afternoon.

The Eagles improved to 5-1 with the win, while the Indians dropped to 2-8 on the season.

Jace Weber had an early basket for Piqua and the game remained 2-0 until the 4:30 mark of the first quarter.

Troy Christian got on the board on a Riston Taylor free throw and two field goals by Parker Penrod and one Christian Brusman gave the Eagles a 7-2 lead going to the second quarter.

Zaydyn Allen had a basket early in the second quarter to get Piqua within 9-5.

But, Penrod hit three pointers and Ethan Grise added one as Troy Christian opened a 23-7 lead before a Jay Hancock free throw and 3-pointer by Tate Kuhlman close the lead to 23-11 at halftime.

The Indians could never get the deficit down to single digits in the second half, as Troy Christian led 32-22 after three quarter and increased its advantage in the final eight minutes.

Penrod led the Eagles with 19 points, four assists and four steals and Taylor scored 10 points.

Brusman added seven points and five rebounds and Ethan Grise scored five points.

Alex Free dished out six assists.

Kuhlman led Piqua with eight points and six rebounds..

Weber scored six points and Allen added five points.

Mickey Anderson had five rebounds and five steals.

Buccaneer Classic

Covington 82,

Arcanum 67

COVINGTON — Covington’s Brogen Angle had a record night as the Buccs won on the opening night of the Buccaneer Holiday Classic.

Angle scored 37 points and and hit seven 3-point field goals.

Covington made 12 as a team.

Bryson Hite added 13 points and Tanner Palsgrove and Britton Miller scored eight points each.

Sam Grabeman and Connor Humphrey added six points each.

Covington trailed 18-15 after one quarter, but led 37-32 at halftime and 57-51 after three quarters.

Bradford 65,

Houston 41

COVINGTON — The Bradford boys basketball team won on the opening day of the Buccaneer Holiday Classic.

The Railroaders led 16-13, 37-20 and 50-30 at the quarter breaks.

Hudson Hill led Bradford with 21 points.

Owen Canan scored 19 points and Landon Wills added 18 points.

Oakwood 68,

Milton-Union 45

OAKWOOD — The Milton-Union boys basketball team dropped a game on the road Friday night.

The Bulldogs trailed 12-7, 26-19 and 49-27 at the quarter breaks.

Braden Schaurer had 11 points and four assists for Milton-Union.

Zach Lovin scored eight points and Jacob Grube added six points.

Levi Brumbaugh and Gauge McGee both scored five points and Wyatt Kimmel had three assists.

Lehman Catholic 57,

Triad 53

SIDNEY — The Lehman Catholic boys basketball team held on for a home win Friday night.

The Cavalier led 15-9, 27-23 and 45-40 at the quarter breaks.

Donovan O’Leary led Lehman with 23 points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and five assists and Turner Lachey scored 17 points, hitting four of five shots from long range. Lachey and CJ Olding each had three assists.

Marietta 59,

Bethel 48

PLAIN CITY — The Bethel boys basketball team dropped a game at Jonathan Alder High School Friday.

The Bees trailed 16-10, 27-17 and 41-36 at the quarter breaks.

Mike Halleg led Bethel with 27 points and three assists.

Eli Lowery scored 11 points and Jonas Friend had three steals.

Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]