Van Buren (12-7, 8-2 BVC) was ready for North Baltimore (14-4, 7-2 BVC), with the muscle and the hustle, in their key Blanchard Valley Conference game Friday, at VB.
The Black Knights out-sized and out-shot the Tigers from the opening tip, with VB opening a 24 – 12 lead at the end of one quarter, then cruising to a 70 – 39 BVC win, moving VB into 2nd place, dropping NB in to 3rd.
Tyler Durfey led scoring for NB with 17 points, Brady Rader hit for 13 points, with 3 steals and grabbed 8 rebounds. Noah Cotterman had 3 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Levi Gazarek, Julian Hagemyer and Adam Flores had 2 points each.
Van Buren was led by Ayers, Stevenson, Kramer and Iliff.
NB plays tonight in a non-league game at Upper Scioto Valley, then games Monday (New Riegel and Tuesday (Hopewell, BVC) and Senior Night with Vanlue Friday.