
The Buchholz Bobcats entered Thursday night’s matchup against two-time defending state champion Williston in need of a win.
After a slow start, host Buchholz rallied and held off the Red Devils 53-51 at Bud Seymour Gymnasium.
Junior Evan Walker led Buchholz with 19 points and the Bobcats (13-10) ended a three-game losing streak.
Buchholz tried a different starting lineup, as seniors Mark Gelin and Lon’nard McFadden were in for the Bobcats. Williston (13-10) led by as many as 10 points in the opening quarter at 14-4, but Buchholz got right back in the game as Walker and junior Jamison McTureous picked up the offense.,
Walker scored seven points in the second quarter as Buchholz took its first lead at 25-24. Williston scored the final basket of the half for a one-point lead.
“I started with a different lineup,” Buchholz coach Elliot Harris said. “The continuity was just a little bit off and when you are used to playing with certain guys on the floor and where to get them the ball. We made some adjustments and threw some different lineups out there and were able to make some stops to turn the game around.”
The teams continued to see-saw back-and-forth in the third quarter. Williston moved out to a six-point lead but McTureous added six of his eight points in that period and Walker scored four points as the Bobcats once again evened the score at 39-all heading into the final period.
“He [Walker] had 18 rebounds against Hawthorne and he was our player of the game tonight,” Harris said. “That starts with our point guard. There were a lot of good passes from Lucas [Bhatia], and Evan is just an effort and energy guy who came through for us tonight.”
Buchholz moved ahead by as many as eight points at 49-41 in the final period, but Williston once again cut into that deficit. Walker added six more points down the stretch and the Bobcats were able to do enough to pull off the win.
Junior De’Andre Harvey led Williston with 14 points. Senior Xavier Kirkpatrick added 13 points.
Buchholz had lost three in a row and four of five coming into this game and Harris realizes the end of the season slate has been difficult. Buchholz closes its regular season at Fleming Island (Orange Park) on Friday before traveling to Forest (Ocala) in the district tournament next Wednesday.
“We played kind of the same schedule last season,” Harris said. “I’m going to make sure I put my guys in a situation where they are battle-tested. We don’t faint when we see those guys.”