Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
ATHENS — Playing a familiar opponent can be a Catch-22.
On one hand, you know their strengths and weaknesses. But on the other hand, they know yours as well.
Luckily for North Adams, none of that mattered considering how red-hot the Devils were from all areas of the floor on Sunday.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
North Adams (20-5) shot just under 50 percent and canned six first-half 3-point field goals, powering a 65-45 victory over Peebles in a Division VI district final.
“Just extremely proud of these guys,” North Adams coach Austin McCormick said. “We talked about being tough and being physical, and we had to go execute. One of our greatest strengths is our experience. We have guys who have been here before. Peebles is extremely well-coached and it’s tough to see the same team three times. But I’m just extremely proud of the way we executed.”
After 13 years without a district title, the Green Devils are heading to the Sweet 16 for a third straight season — the first season under McCormick.
“I’m just extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to coach in a program like this,” McCormick said. “I coached under [former North Adams Coach [Nathan] Copas and he helped me tremendously, putting me in a spot to be successful. It’s just all about these kids and trying to continue that winning tradition.”
NA’s Konnor Rogers came out firing and connected on a pair of quick 3’s, scoring eight of the Green Devils’ opening 12 points to give them a 12-7 lead.
After a bucket from Breestin Schweickart, Carson Osborne buried a triple from the left wing to beat the buzzer, closing out the first quarter on an 8-0 run for a 17-7 advantage.
Already with a double-digit advantage, the Green Devils were ready to put the game out of reach as Schweickart, Osborne, Jayce Rothwell and Carson Davis all scored as part of a 9-2 run, stretching the lead to 26-11 midway through the second and coasting throughout the rest of the night.
Peebles (11-13) never could recover.
“The guys that have been playing here at the Convo, this is their sixth game here,” McCormick said. “So they’re used to the shooting background. They shot it extremely well tonight and they controlled the things they could control. And they did it for 32 minutes.”
Schweickart finished with a game-high 29 points and seven rebounds for North Adams, followed by 13 points from Konnor Rogers and 11 points from Osborne.
While Peebles’ season comes to an end, North Adams returns to action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in a Division VI regional semifinal at Ohio Dominican University. The Devils will meet with Woodsfield Monroe Central, who won an East District title to advance.
“We’re taking it one day at a time, as far as practice and preparation,” McCormick said. “And we’re just going to go out and play our game. We don’t have to do anything special. We just have to go be us. It’s about taking that next step and continuing the process, going and surviving and advancing for another 32 minutes.”
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