Buckeyes Sweep Bulldogs in The Plains
By: Seth Lee
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THE PLAINS, Ohio (WOUB) — The Athens Bulldogs (5-11, 2-6) hosted their rival, the Nelsonville-York Buckeyes (9-8, 4-4). The last time these two met in The Plains it wouldn’t be decided until double overtime. The Buckeyes would win a thriller off a Cam Sullivan buzzer beater. In Nelsonville early this year, the Buckeyes would end up on top 64-57. Gavin Lavy led the way with 23 points in the first matchup.
McAfee Gym was rocking with Athens’ students in blackout and NY’s Patriotic theme. Both sides packed the house for the storied rivalry.
The game started with the Buckeyes dominating in the paint through Sullivan as the Bulldogs top Center Zach Mullins was declared out pregame. Neither team would give an inch to the other and the first quarter would end 17-15 in favor of Athens.
The second quarter was much like the first with the Bulldogs shooting the lights out from deep and the Buckeyes finding success in the paint.
Cam Sullivan led the Buckeyes at the break with 12 points and 4 rebounds. Wren Ballew and Collin Chapman would headline the bulldog attack with 11 points each. Ballew was 3 for 4 from three-point range and Chapman was shooting 50% from the field at the break. Athens would take their lead into halftime up 30-25. After a quick teacher appreciation halftime ceremony and performances from both cheerleading squads the action returned.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth shootout. Both teams went on runs scoring up to 9 or 8 before being held scoreless by the other. NY stated with a 9-0 run and Athens answered right back with an 8-0 run of their own. Athens barely held their lead going into the fourth 44-42.
The fourth quarter was when the stars came out in a big fashion. Chapman was electric from deep, scoring 11 points in the final quarter. Weston Wheatley scored 10 of his 12 in the fourth to match Chapman. The Bulldogs would fall at home 65-58.
Cam Sullivan led the way for the Buckeyes, being a force to be reckon with underneath with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Grant Elliott and Weston Wheatley were right behind him with 13 and 12 respectively, and Champ Schultz rounded out the squad with 8. Elliott and Schultz ended with 7 assists each and Elliot also had 4 steals.
The Bulldogs leaned on the offense of Collin Chapman, who ended with 29 on the night, Wren Ballew followed him with 11 and Quinn Gassaway and Hayden Hughes ended with 6 each.
The Buckeyes will go to Vinton County on February 7 as Athens will look to flip its luck in Waterford on February 7, as well.