Streaking Aves ground Xenia

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XENIA — Visiting Vandalia Butler hit on scoring runs whenever the host Xenia Buccaneers would try to keep Tuesday night’s boys high school basketball game close, and the Aviators gradually pulled away for a 57-43 win.

Butler junior guard Tyler Montague scored a quiet 18 points top lead all scorers. He’s the Miami Valley League’s second leading scorer with a 16.3 points-per-game average, and made his 18-point night look easy. Teammate Cooper Justice finished with 10 points, Quinton Hall scored nine points, and two other Butler players scored two points each in the win.

Butler, now 12-9 overall and 10-7 in the MVL Miami division and in a tie for second place, has now won three of its last four games, and five of its last seven. The Aviators wrap up their regular season against Miami division winners Tippecanoe on Friday, Feb. 14.

The Aviators held a 15-12 lead after one quarter of play, and reeled off an 11-2 run to close out the half. That run, with scores from Montague, 6-foot-6 center Connor Buchanan, Justice and Matthew Beverly established a 31-20 Butler lead at the break.

A Dylan Hoosier jump shot with 5:37 to play in the third pulled the Bucs within nine points at 35-26, but an 8-1 Aves mini run put Butler back out in front 43-27.

For Xenia (4-16, 3-14 MVL Valley), Shawn Thigpen led the team in scoring with nine points. Hoosier and Matthew Caupp both finished with six points, Cameron McFarland scored five points, Isaiah Hoyt, Kevin Johnson and Gavin Earhart each scored four points, Zack Gaither scored three, and Alex Sparks added two.

Vandalia outscored Xenia from behind the 3-point arc, 12 points to three. The Aves also shot better from the free-throw line. Vandalia converted 9 of 11 free throws (45 percent). Xenia hit six of 17 tries (26 percent).

The Buccaneers will conclude the regular season with a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday, Feb. 14 against MVL and county foe Fairborn at the Baker Middle School gymnasium, in Fairborn.

The varsity game didn’t get under way until after 8 p.m., due to a single overtime freshman game, double overtime junior varsity contest, and a brief recognition of 10 Xenia High School winter sports senior athletes and cheerleaders.

Xenia players Cameron McFarland, Alex Sparks and Gavin Gerhardt were among those recognized.

In the JV contest, the Buccaneers’ Kenji Ward hit a pair of free throws with 8.1 seconds left to give Xenia a 69-67 double-overtime win.

Those two winning points were the only points Ward scored in the game.

Junior guard Kevin Johnson (25) puts up a shot, during first-half action against visiting Butler, Feb. 11 at Xenia High. Butler won the boys high school varsity basketball game, 57-43.
https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2020/02/web1_JohnsonShotB4_PS.jpgJunior guard Kevin Johnson (25) puts up a shot, during first-half action against visiting Butler, Feb. 11 at Xenia High. Butler won the boys high school varsity basketball game, 57-43. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Xenia’s scoring leader, Dylan Hoosier (4), is fouled by Vandalia Butler players Nick Smith (11) and Tyler Montague (3) in the first half of Tuesday night’s Miami Valley League divisional crossover game at Xenia High.
https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2020/02/web1_HoosierB11B3_PS.jpgXenia’s scoring leader, Dylan Hoosier (4), is fouled by Vandalia Butler players Nick Smith (11) and Tyler Montague (3) in the first half of Tuesday night’s Miami Valley League divisional crossover game at Xenia High. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Buccaneers freshman Shawn Thigpen led Xenia is scoring with nine points, in Tuesdays’ home loss against Vandalia Butler.
https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2020/02/web1_thigpenFT_PS.jpgBuccaneers freshman Shawn Thigpen led Xenia is scoring with nine points, in Tuesdays’ home loss against Vandalia Butler. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Junior forward Zack Gaither (3) puts up a three-point shot from the left side of the arc as Butler senior Nick Smith closes in to defend, Feb. 11, at Xenia High School.
https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2020/02/web1_Xenia3B11_PS.jpgJunior forward Zack Gaither (3) puts up a three-point shot from the left side of the arc as Butler senior Nick Smith closes in to defend, Feb. 11, at Xenia High School. John Bombatch | Greene County News

By John Bombatch

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Contact John Bombatch at 937-372-4444, Ext. 2123.

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