COWBOYS HANG THEIR HATS ON A GREAT RUN

CANTON, Ohio –

Chaney falls short for the third year in a row in the regional semifinals.

After capturing their fourth straight district titlelast Saturday, the Chaney Cowboys (19-9) were looking to make their first appearance in the regional title game of the past four years. In 2020, Chaney’s season was cut short before their matchup with Akron St. Vincent-St Mary, while 2021 and 2022 would see losses in the semis to Gilmour Academy and the aforementioned Saint V’s Irish.

With the Irish moved to Division I, the Cowboys were tasked with yet another Akron school in the Buchtel Griffins (20-6). A battle of Youngstown vs Akron, both teams traded blows throughout the opening parts of the first, seeing multiple lead changes and ties. Buchtel would close the quarter however on a 9-0 run to take a 17-8 lead into the second.

The Griffins would extend their lead to double digits before Chaney would score their initial basket of the second period. The two teams would trade runs and Buchtel would take an eleven point lead into the break. Chaney shot just 30% from the field in the first half, while allowing Buchtel to shoot at a 42% clip.

Clifton Scott and Lewis Febres would leas the Cowboys charge back into the ballgame with a strong third quarter push. The junior and senior would combine for ten points in the third, while Scott’s glass cleaning and Febres’ defense would cut the Buchtel lead to just five heading into the final act.

In the fourth, Chaney was able to knot the game up at 44 but were never able to take the lead. Struggles at the free throw line and turnovers would end the Chaney comeback bid short, while Buchtel would shoot 80% from the charity stripe to put the game on ice.

TOP PERFORMERS –

CHANEY:

Jason Hewlett – 19 points, 9 rebounds

Clifton Scott – 12 points, 10 rebounds

Josiah Gonzalez – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

BUCHTEL:

Marcel Boyce Jr. – 23 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists

Khoi Thurmon – 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

WHAT’S NEXT –

Buchtel: The Griffins will faceeoff in the Regional final with the 2022 state runners up, the Gilmour Academy Lancers. Gilmour Academy secured their spot in the final with an overtime win against Cleveland Glenville, 64-56. The game will tip at 1:30 pm at the Canton Civic Center.

*Contributed By YSN’s Jamie Thomson