Peebles Holds Off Eastern Pike 56-54 for Boys D-VI Title
Article presented by The Outdoor Drama, Tecumseh! …
Eastern Pike’s chances at halftime weren’t ideal, trailing 32-22 to top-seeded Peebles in the Boys Division III District Final, but they made a run in the second half and led 52-49 with 1:20 remaining in the ballgame.
Peebles had just two turnovers in the first half while building the 10-point lead behind 15-points from Josh McClary. Coming out of the break, the Eagles forced Peebles into three consecutive miscues. Over the first 2:43 of the third period, Eastern trimmed the margin to 32-30 on Boston Webb’s three-pointer.
“We don’t turn the ball over much” said Peebles Coach Josh Arey. “Three consecutive turnovers – that’s just not us. But that’s a credit to their (Eastern’s) defense, as well.”
About the photo: Colyn Sims and his Peebles teammates present the 2026 District Championship trophy to the student section at The Convo.
Keegan Puckett gave the Indians a six-point lead on back-to-back baskets, but the boys from Beaver answered as Aiden Werner, Boston Webb and Carson Peters combined for a 7-0 run with Peters’ shot giving Eastern its first lead since the first period. Puckett had a put back to put the Tribe back on top through the third, 42-41.
There were nine lead changes throughout the game, five times in the final five minutes.
Peters knotted the game at 49 on a pair of free throws with 3:00 remaining. Werner and Webb each made one free throw apiece for a 52-49 edge for the Eagles. Bo Johnson closed the gap on a 10-footer in the paint. Following a time out, Eastern set up with all five players out of bounds along the baseline with 1:09 left. Cade Leist’s in-bounds pass reached Webb, but Peebles intercepted the ball. Johnson followed with a layup at 45-seconds to lift Peebles to a 53-52 lead. It was the final lead change.
“We were able to get the ball to Bo (Johnson), able to get the basketball to Josh (McClary) and they can do so much off the dribble. And they really dug us out of a hole and thank goodness they did, ‘cause I thought Eastern played a heck of a game.”
In a game determined by one possession, the numbers were nearly identical. Both teams had 10 turnovers. Peebles had a 30-26 rebound advantage. Both had six free throws each, four 3’s each while Eastern (17-8) shot 48% from the field to the Indians’ 46%.
Peebles (20-3) was led by McClary’s 19-points. Johnson followed with 18, Puckett 12, Colyn Sims 3 and 2-points each by Grady Knechtly and Ryan Paxton.
Eastern’s Webb led all scorers with 20, Werner and Eric Manley had 11 each. Manley added 14-rebunds. Peters and Leist had 6-points apiece to round out the Eagles’ scoring.
Pebbles will return to The Convo to face third-seeded Portsmouth West on Thursday at 8pm. The Senators dismantled the second seed, Lucasville Valley Sunday 56-27.
