Akron Buchtel used 80% shooting in the second half to pull away from Chillicothe for a 68-50 victory in the Ironton Holiday Classic Friday night.
It was the Cavs (5-2) second consecutive loss.
The Cavs found out what it was like to have to play without MaLik London for the first time when the 6’8” center went down with an ankle injury in the 3rd quarter. London had leaped for his 6th blocked shot of the game and hit the deck
after landing awkwardly on his right foot. London returned to the game, but
simply wasn’t the same player.
The Cavs had already lost guard Adam Bixler when he landed on the foot of a Griffins player. Bixler had only been on the floor for about two minutes.
Chillicothe had taken an 18-17 lead before the end of the 1st quarter. Their first lead didn’t
come until the 1:09 mark in the period at 16-15 on a London dunk. The Cavs overcame a four point deficit.
It didn’t take long for Buchtel to retake the lead. Hot shooting Erron Cosey (17 points) showed he could score inside and outside. The 6’1” forward hit his first two baskets from the baseline, then moved out top to do the same.
The Griffins quickness forced the Cavs into turnovers and Buchtel had weak side rebounding which gave them second chances around the basket.
In the 3rd quarter, Buchtel drained 9 of their 10 shots to go ahead 59-36. In the 4th, the Griffins hit 7 of 10 shots from the field to keep the Cavs at bay.
Chillicothe was led in scoring by Zach Johnson’s 16 points and London’s 11.
The extent of the injuries to London and Bixler is unkown as the Cavs prepare for their next home game. Chillicothe will host Eastmoor Academy Wednesday and Fairfield Union Friday to close out 2011.
