Pirates Plunder Lucasville: Rucker, McGraw Fuel Offensive Explosion at Valley

LUCASVILLE, Ohio – In a highly anticipated Southern Ohio Conference (SOC) III showdown on Tuesday night, the Wheelersburg Pirates proved exactly why they remain unbeaten. Traveling to Lucasville with a perfect record on the line, the Pirates utilized a high-octane offensive attack and a suffocating interior defense to dismantle the Valley Indians, 72-51.

Wheelersburg's Braylon Rucker (left) drives to the rim with Valley's Blake Lundy (right) defending.

The victory moves Wheelersburg to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play, while the Indians, who entered the night with a stellar 6-1 mark, suffer their second consecutive loss following a narrow defeat at Portsmouth West last Friday.

Both teams traded blows early before senior Hunter Bivens knocked down a triple with five minutes left in the first quarter to give the Pirates a 7-4 lead. Valley later responded through Elliot Franke, whose three-pointer at the three-minute mark briefly cut the deficit to 8-7.

However, the momentum shifted permanently toward the visitors late in the period. After senior Landon McGraw drained a deep triple to make it 13-9, senior leader Braylon Rucker added a bucket, and sophomore Jack Doerr sank two free throws to cap a late run, giving Wheelersburg a 17-9 cushion heading into the second.

Braylon Rucker began to take over the game in the second quarter. The senior guard, who finished with a game-high 21 points, ignited a 7-0 burst to start the frame. With Brew Hanzel finding Xavier Miller for tough scores inside and Rucker hitting from deep, the lead ballooned to 24-9.

Valley’s Christian Copen attempted to keep the Indians afloat with several gritty finishes in the paint, but McGraw was relentless from the perimeter. McGraw’s second and third triples of the half stymied every Valley rally. By the time Rucker hit a floater, Wheelersburg had built a commanding 36-19 halftime lead.

The Indians didn't go quietly in their home gym. After Doerr opened the second half with a deep three, Valley sparked a furious 7-0 run. Blake Lundy and Jalen Dunham hit key buckets, and a Copen layup forced a Wheelersburg timeout with the score at 41-32.

The gap narrowed to just seven points at 47-40 late in the third following a Braxten Conaway three-pointer. With the Lucasville crowd sensing a comeback, Wheelersburg’s 6th man stepped up. 

Freshman Graer Woodward, who dominated the glass all night, converted a crucial layup and then drained a massive three-pointer after a long Pirates possession to push the lead back to 12. McGraw added a late trey to make it 55-40 entering the final frame.

Woodward, who finished with 11 points, a staggering 4 blocks, and a myriad of tough rebounds, anchored a defense that allowed Valley no second chances in the 4th. Rucker put the game out of reach with a three-point play, as the lead crossed the 20-point threshold.

Wheelersburg’s efficiency was the story of the night, as the Pirates shot a solid 48% from the field (28-58) and a lethal 36% from beyond the arc with nine made triples. They dominated the glass with 33 total rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end, while maintaining elite ball security with only seven turnovers. 

Senior Braylon Rucker led the charge with a commanding 21 points, supported by fellow senior Landon McGraw, who poured in 15. Freshman Graer Woodward made his presence felt on both ends, tallying 11 points and swatting away 4 shots.

Wheelersburg's Brew Hanzel puts up a layup in the Pirates win over the Valley Indians.

For the Valley Indians, the night was defined by grit, but they struggled with efficiency, shooting 34% from the floor (19-55). Despite the loss, they were sharp from the charity stripe, hitting 5-of-6 free throws, and nearly matched the Pirates on the boards with 28 rebounds.

Senior Christian Copen and junior Blake Lundy shared the team lead with 12 points apiece, while junior Jalen Dunham rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.

Both teams will quickly turn their attention to a busy Friday night of SOC III action on January 9th. The Wheelersburg Pirates will look to keep their perfect record intact as they travel to take on Minford. Meanwhile, the Valley Indians will hit the road to face off against Waverly, looking to snap their two-game skid and get back into the win column.