MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Buckhannon-Upshur and University’s boys basketball programs met in their first game this season when the Hawks blew past the Buccaneers, 68-48.
The Bucs, however, got the last laugh in a do-or-die sectional semifinal game Tuesday night.
No. 3 seed Buckhannon-Upshur outscored No. 2 University 8-3 in overtime to capture a 60-55 victory, snap a six-game losing streak and advance to Thursday’s sectional title game at Bridgeport.
“We had a great couple of practices leading into tonight,” Bucs’ first-year head coach Jason Westfall said. “We tried to keep our turnovers down to be within striking distance, which was our motto. Unfortunately, we did not do an excellent job of keeping those down. However, we stayed within striking distance. That was due to our defense and changing things around.
“[University] is a well-coached team. We have lost every which way this season. We did not get overwhelmed by their change in strategy.”
The Buccaneers (7-16) went into the final quarter trailing 41-35. However, after University (13-9) led 48-41, the Hawks didn’t score again until the late stages of regulation.
Buckhannon-Upshur took advantage of University’s cold shooting with a 9-0 run that lasted 4:05 and ended with a layup from Carter Zuliani with 40 seconds left to give the visitors a 50-48 advantage.
“That run gave us confidence,” Westfall said. “The last time we played them, we were down 20 in the fourth quarter. We were gaining momentum and gaining confidence without even realizing it. We practiced a lot of situational scenarios. We stayed with one another. I saw players I have not seen this season play, amongst others. I am not saying we are selfish, but we did not know how to win often. We did not have that map to win. However, it was good to win the right way tonight.”
University got to the free-throw line late and regained a two-point lead after both Rafael Barcinas and Demarcus Bandy made two foul shots over a span of 13 seconds, leaving B-U facing a 52-50 deficit with 11 seconds remaining.
The Buccaneers had multiple opportunities as time was winding down, but it was not until a follow-up from Zuliani that they tied it at 52 as time expired.
Zuliani finished with 13 points, including 11 after halftime.
“He is only a baby since he is a sophomore,” Westfall noted. “He is only scratching the surface, and he is a monster. People have to play him physically since Carter loves contact. We keep coaching and developing him, and he gets better each game. We are excited about his future.”
End of regulation:
University – 53 vs Buckhannon-Upshur – 53 @MetroNewsPrep #WVPrepBB
BU’s Carter Zuliani hits the game-tying basket to tie it at 53. pic.twitter.com/cPZ1KyeLBy
— Taylor Kennedy (@Taylor_Kennedy7) March 1, 2023
The game was tied at 55 in overtime, but the Buccaneers scored the final five points on free throws, getting two from Zuliani, two from Zach Calef-Boring and one from Bryson Johnson, while holding UHS scoreless during that stretch.
Throughout much of the game, University’s full-court man-to-man pressure caused havoc and led to 20 Bucs’ turnovers over the first three quarters, including eight in the third.
“[The third quarter] was echoing what we started from the beginning,” Westfall said. “We knew they would come out and try to steamroll us with their pressure. It did not look pretty, but we stayed with it. We adjusted personnel and so many things, and I give credit for their pressure, but I also give some to our guys. We were doing press breakers we never did before. We were trying everything. After everything that ugliness, we did not get overwhelmed.”
Buckhannon-Upshur freshman Jerin Westfall led the Buccaneers with 15 points, including three three-pointers.
“He is a freshman, so it is simply basketball for him right now,” Westfall noted. “I was not too happy with his performance defensively. He is my youngest son, so he hears all the coaches talk about what we need to do and battle at.”
As it prepares to play Bridgeport, Westfall hopes to see his team maintain the survive and advance mentality now that it has two guaranteed contests left.
“We have one guy with experience, then a few with little experience,” Westfall noted. “This victory springboards us, and it validates the work they have put in this season. Everybody puts in work, but we see a lot of success. For us to have success is good for our community, program, and team. We try and let it overwhelm us, but it permeates.”
James Fortney-Garbert led UHS with 21 points and Barcinas scored 11, including making 6-of-7 free throws. Landon Cool added 10 points in the loss to give the Hawks three players in double figures.