Marty Pallman
The Buchholz Bobcats turned up the defense early and often against rival Gainesville Friday night at Bud Seymour Gymnasium.
That was more than enough for the Bobcats to get a rare sweep against the Hurricanes.
Palmer Walton scored 17 points in the first half, including four 3-pointers, and Buchholz held Gainesville to three points in the second quarter as the host Bobcats took control early and cruised to a 61-47 win over the Hurricanes.
Buchholz (13-8), who beat GHS 50-41 at the Purple Palace on Dec. 8th, swept the season series for what is believed to be the first time in 16 years.
In head coach Elliot Harris’s first season at Buchholz he has already made some big strides, and beating Gainesville was one of the biggest humps to get over. Gainesville had won 31 of the last 37 meetings between the two city rivals.
The senior Walton set the tone in the first half. He knocked down four 3-pointers in a row at one point and scored 12 of the Bobcats’ 20 points in the second quarter. Walton finished with a game-high 23 points.
“Palmer is our best player,” Harris said. “He’s a scorer so you have to account for him or he will knock down shots.”
The score was tied 13-13 after the opening period. Then the second quarter started, and Buchholz took over with a stifling defense as the Bobcats outscored the Hurricanes 20-3 to take a 33-16 halftime lead.
“Our defense was pretty good in the first half,” Harris said. “They came out in the second quarter and set the tone along with Palmer’s big quarter.”
Buchholz extended the lead to 21 points and the closest the Hurricanes could get was 11 points on a couple of occasions.
The only other Buchholz player in double figures was sophomore Jamison McTureous with 10 points.
Cornelius White led Gainesville (12-10) with 13 points and Brendan Bloodworth added 12.
The two teams are following each other to Lakeland Shootout on Saturday. Buchholz will play Davenport while Gainesville takes on Lake Region (Eagle Lake).
“This team won 13 games all of last season,” Harris said. “We already have 13 wins this season. I’m just proud of the guys, they have gone through a lot and a few coaches as well.”
