Boys basketball: Missing Turner Dolata, Buckeye fights hard but loses to Strongsville

STRONGSVILLE — Derek Snyderburn had one of the more eventful days in his life Monday, setting up his future while living in the moment.The Buckeye senior committed to play football at Walsh University, where he will play outside linebacker, then hit the hardwood with the boys basketball team.Snyderburn scored 22 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, but the shorthanded Bucks dropped a 54-48 non-league contest to Strongsville.Buckeye (11-8) played without top scorer and rebounder Turner Dolata, whose right Achilles tendinitis flared up Friday at Westlake. His absence forced Snyderburn to shift to center."When Turner got hurt, I knew right away that my role changed and I had to step up," he said. "Strongsville didn't know me, so I tried to use that to my advantage as soon as we stepped onto the court."Snyderburn set the tone early and often with 10 points in the opening quarter and 16 in the first half. He provided more than half of the Bucks' offense as the teams went into the break tied at 28.The 6-foot-3 pivot also made the defensive play of the evening in the third period, swatting a layup attempt by Mustangs forward Abdul Awawda into the second row of the bleachers on the fly."Everything changed tonight because we're not used to playing without Turner, but Derek stepped up huge," Buckeye coach Jeremy Salmonski said. "It's hard to replace 19 points and 10 rebounds (Dolata's averages), but the entire team had a next-man up mentality."Senior guard Austin Hyre scored eight points and junior forward Zach Stough had seven points and six rebounds for the Bucks, who are one game out of first place in the Cleveland West Conference.Sophomore forward Mason Dolata added four points and four boards off the bench, giving Buckeye its final lead at 37-36 with a hoop late in the third."Mason, Zach and Cam (Stachowicz) — the younger guys — played a big part tonight, which could pay off in the tournament," Snyderburn said. "We'll know what to expect from them, if we need them in a tight game, and this should give them more confidence."Senior forward Matthew Heffke scored six of his game-best 24 points in the final three minutes, when Strongsville closed the victory with an 8-3 run. Neither squad led by more than six until the last 1:19, when the hosts went up nine.Mustangs sophomore guard Brandon Byers posted 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while senior center Harsh Patel made several defensive plays late and finished with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one point.There were 10 lead changes and six ties in the first three quarters before Strongsville (6-14), coached by former Brunswick assistant Ryan Kilbane, wore down the Bucks in the fourth."We played against a really good team and just came up a little short," Salmonski said. "I told the guys, "I don't necessarily believe in moral victories, but this is something we can build on,' going back into conference games to finish the regular season."Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on X.Strongsville 54, Buckeye 48BUCKEYE 16 12 9 11 — 48STRONGSVILLE 15 13 13 13 — 54Buckeye — Zach Stough 3-0-7, Jacob Snyderburn 1-0-3, Derek Snyderburn 8-6-22, Austin Hyre 4-0-8, Logan Brown 1-2-4, Mason Dolata 2-0-4, Cameron Stachewicz 0-0-0. TOTALS: 19-8-48.Strongsville — Matthew Heffke 9-5-24, Abdul Awawda 4-2-10, Harsh Patel 0-1-1, Brandon Byers 5-2-13, Shane McIntyre 2-0-6, Adrian Fuentes 0-0-0, Pavlo Kadras 0-0-0, Bryson Parrott 0-0-0, Brandon Studier 0-0-0. TOTALS: 20-10-54.3-point goals — J. Snyderburn, Stough, McIntyre 2, Heffke, Byers. Rebounds — Buckeye 29 (D. Synderburn 11), Strongsville 25 (Awawda, Byers 6). Assists — Buckeye 8 (J. Snyderburn, Hyre, Brown 2), Strongsville 12 (Byers 7). Records — Buckeye (11-8), Strongsville (7-13). Junior varsity — Strongsville 59, Buckeye 46 (B: Stachewicz 14).