CONNORVILLE – Winning seasons have been few and far between for Buckeye Local’s girls’ basketball program, however, head coach Bailey McBeth and the Lady Panthers are looking to turn those tables in 2023-24 and with a 3-0 start out of the gate they are definitely heading in the right direction.

Friday night McBeth’s crew helped with the dedication of the new basketball court and also had their way with debuting Shenandoah.

Seniors Brynn McKeever collected a game-high 23 points and added 12 rebounds while classmate Pam Kandrach also had a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 17 rebounds as Buckeye Local hit the glass hard while playing tough defense in pulling away late for a 39-31 victory over the Zeps on Kara Bright Court inside of Buckeye Local High School.

“We are off to a great start,” McBeth said. “This is the kind of start that teams dream of. We just need to keep our focus and continue to work hard every day.”

The theme of the game was on display early as both teams had trouble taking care of the basketball while Kandrach was dominating on the glass from start to finish. Buckeye Local finished with a 40-32 edge off the glass while both teams logged 23 turnovers.

Shenandoah’s first field goal did not come until the 2:20 mark of the opening quarter, from senior Kadence Noll, however, the Zeps still managed to hold a 4-2 lead on charity tosses. McKeever hit a field goal, and a late, long three-point goal just before the buzzer, but the visitors led 10-7 after a quarter.

While the turnovers continued in the second frame, a late Emily Moore hoop knotted the count at 16-16 heading to the locker room at the break.

The Panthers got a little separation in the third thanks to a 5-0 run that eventually led to a 27-21 upperhand with just eight minutes to play.

With the score sitting at 30-21, following a conventional three-point play from Kandrach, the Zeps got a triple from freshman Kendal Snyder and another Moore basket to pull to within four at 30-26. But Buckeye all but put the finishing touches on things with an 8-0 run, keyed by three consecutive McKeever baskets, two off of steals and the third on a putback, to provide the biggest lead of the night at 38-26.

“That is the kind of play we expect out of a pair of senior leaders,” McBeth said when asked about McKeever and Kandrach. “They are both nicked up, but play so hard and I could not be prouder of them and this team.

“Our biggest message at the half was to win rebounding and play great defense. We knew this was going to be a slugfest.”

Shenandoah head coach Sami Hull is aware that it may take time, but her Zeps will be fine in the long run.

“This is game three for them and just our first because of a late start due to volleyball,” Hull said. “Add to that that we lost our primary scorer over the last three seasons and there are things to work on.

“The pieces are there, we just have to figure out how to put them together. We also have two freshmen in the rotations that we have to get adjusted. This was a big atmosphere and Buckeye Local played well. We just have to know that one game does not define a season.”

Emmie House paced Shenandoah with seven points while Brylee May pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds.