Alliance, OH - Winter break is coming to an end, and with the turning of the calendar comes a premium of conference hoops action. In the Eastern Buckeye Conference, it can't get much more gridlocked than it was as the Friday night slate got underway. Each of the 6 boys teams sported 1-1 conference records as they began the 2025 portion of their schedules.
For the West Branch Warriors and Alliance Aviators, they squared off at Harry Fails Gymnasium inside Alliance High School. The Aviators, limping their way to the end of the 2024 calendar year with a 3-game losing streak, looked to get back to their winning ways in their first action since a December 21 loss to Jackson. The Warriors entered the night 3-4, with their 3 victories coming away from the friendly confines of the West Branch Fieldhouse.
The game started out as tightly contested as the two teams are in the conference standings. The Aviators held a slight advantage 14-12 after 1 quarter of play. It was clear taht both teams were coming off of an extended lay off as neither offense seemed to get into much of a groove in the first 8 minutes.
Zach Coffee scores at the end of the 1st quarter to trim the Aviator advantage to 14-12.
The Warriors put together a nice 2nd quarter led by Senior Wing Cooper Anderson who deposited 7 in the frame for a first half game high 11, leading the visitors to the half with a 29-26 advantage.
A switch was flipped in the 3rd quarter by Coach Chet Harper's Aviators as they boat raced their way to a 44-31 advantage, outscoring the Warriors 18-2 in the 3rd on the back of JR Jackson's 8 for the quarter. Cole Pasco and Cam Burton chipped in 6 and 4 apiece to account for the Aviators scoring in the period.
Cole Pasco hits the jumper as the 3rd quarter clock expires, extending the Aviators lead to 44-31.
The Warriors tried to work their way back into the game, but the closest they got was 50-40 with 3:05 remaining. JR Jackson iced the game from the charity stripe, bringing his scoring total to a game high 23, 14 of which came after the halftime break. The victory brings the Aviators record to 4-3 (2-1 in EBC) while the loss drops the Warriors to 3-5 (1-2 in EBC). Alliance heads to Canton to face off with McKinley tomorrow evening, while the Warriors travel to Canfield to take on the Cardinals.
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