Photo/KRISTIN MAZGAJ BELLAIRE’S Jaren Cash goes up for a rebound as Buckeye Local’s Ethan McHugh tries to swat the ball free during the first half of Friday’s game in Connorville. The Big Reds avenged an earlier setback with a 71-54 victory.

CONNORVILLE – It’s been a good week for J.R. Battista.

The passionate Bellaire High hoops coach guided his improving Big Reds to an impressive 71-54 win over a quality Buckeye Local quint Friday night, avenging an earlier loss to the Panthers. Just three days prior, Bellaire slipped past Harrison Central.

The two wins enabled the Bigs Reds to square their season’s mark after 10 games. The Panthers of Chris Heaton lost for just the third time in nine starts.

Bellaire rode the coattails of strong performances from a trio of performers. Owen Ward, Jaren Cash and David Zwack all sparkled for the hot-shooting Big Reds.

Ward led the winners with 23 points while Cash and Zwack checked in with 18 and 16 markers, respectively. Ward drained five treys and Zwack buried four. Battista’s boys meshed nine-of-15 tries from beyond the arc.

“We played very well tonight. We shot the ball well,” Battista said. “The first time we played them we missed a lot of shots. We were in a period where we had quarantine issues and didn’t practice much.

“I thought our pressure gave them some problems while we handled their press pretty well,” he added. “Cash did a nice job on the boards for us. We beat a good team tonight.”

Bellaire has little time to relish its latest triumph as the Big Reds welcome Monroe Central tonight.

Buckeye Local was once again led by its stellar senior tandem of Jake Mayle and Mason Brown. Mayle tallied 17 points while Brown added 15 counters. Brown was coming off a school record 40-point outing against Edison Tuesday. Mayle also grabbed eight rebounds while blocking a pair of shots.

“Bellaire is a quality team and playing well. They have a talented senior point guard in Zwack while Cash and Ward are nice players,” Buckeye Local head coach Chris Heaton offered. “We did not shoot the ball well and they did.

“It was just one of those nights. We didn’t do enough good things,” he added. “But we are still 6-3 and we will get ready to play Toronto Tuesday.”

Bellaire jumped out to a 17-12 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back. Cash (6) and Zwack (5) combined for 11 points to spark the strong eight-minute getaway for the Big Reds. Brown countered with five for the hosts.

Battista’s charges turned it up offensively in the second quarter, outpointing the Panthers 23-15 to stretch their advantage to 38-27 at intermission. Ward delivered seven points in the round while Cash chipped in with six lightings.

Bellaire opened the third quarter on a 10-5 run to build a 48-32 cushion. Zwack keyed the surge with five tallies. The visitors maintained a 51-38 upper hand after three rounds.

The Big Reds broke matters wide open on the strength of a 7-0 burst at the outset of the fourth frame for a 58-38 advantage. Ward donated five of those markers.

Buckeye Local was unable to pare the gap into single digits the balance of the contest.

Bellaire committed 11 turnovers, five more than Buckeye Local.

The Big Reds made it a clean sweep on the evening, taking a well-played reserve contest, 52-43. Mac Mac Pettigrew led the young Reds with 19 points while Mason Sochor added 15. Ryan Deitch produced 15 counters for the Panthers.

BELLAIRE (71) – Zwack 6, 0-0 16; Ward 9, 0-0 23; Cash 8, 2-5 18; Little 2, 1-2 5; Dowling 1, 0-0 2; Bellville 1, 1-1 3; Kesterson 2, 0-1 4. Totals 29, 4-9. BUCKEYE LOCAL (54) – Brown 6, 3-5 15; Mayle 6, 5-7 17; Taylor 1, 3-4 6; McHugh 3, 0-0 6; Best 1, 0-0 3; Grabits 2, 2-4 7; Zanes 0, 0-0 0; Deitch 0, 0-0. Totals 19, 13-20.

Three-point goals: Bellaire (9) – Ward (5), Zwack (4); Buckeye Local (3) – Grabits (1), Best (1), Taylor (1).