Dying too soon

Former University of Findlay basketball player and McComb assistant basketball coach Des Buford died last weekend.
I only met Des once and he was a nice enough guy. Anyway St. Michael the Arcangel church was packed with mourners for his funeral.
Courier Sports Editor Larry Alter wrote a nice column about Des that ran in Tuesday’s newspaper.
Des was just 40 and there have been too many athletes dying too young around here recently with the Bluffton University baseball tragedy and the kid from Tiffin University passing away from the accident at the corner of State Route 53 and County Road 38 recently.
Prayers to all their family and friends and may they rest in peace.
Here was Larry’s column about Des. Being a basketball coach in the BVC I’m sure others out there may have a story to share also …

Last Friday morning I got a call from Mark Heiman. He wanted to know if I had heard anything about the death of Des Buford.
I wasn’t sure I was hearing him right.
“Des Buford from the university?” I asked.
Mark said he had heard the news from a couple of friends who are associated with the University of Findlay.
I was shocked, like I’m sure so many others were as they too learned of Des’ untimely death.
I hadn’t talked with Des recently, but I saw him at the UF playoff games in March, bouncing along with his son at his side, enjoying the game he loved so much.
And as usual where ever Des was, Treyjon wasn’t far behind, a basketball tucked under his arm.
Des joined the Oiler “basketball family” in 1985 as Ron Niekamp’s first recruit.
Although he didn’t have any official capacity in recent years, Des was always associated with the men’s program if nothing more than a fan.
He served as assistant coach to Niekamp from 1991-1998. Des handled recruiting and aided in practices and game strategy. He also coordinated administration of academic tutoring, contributing to a 90-95 percent graduation rate in the men’s program.
“I’ve known Des Buford as a player, assistant basketball coach and colleague for the past 22 years,” Niekamp stated in an email circulated on the University of Findlay campus Monday by Dave Emsweller, Vice President for Student Services.
“More recently, Des has served as a mentor for several basketball players.
“Being the very first player that I recruited to Findlay, Des will always be remembered for the kind, gentle and caring person that he was. I always felt that he was a shining example of what all our student-athletes could strive to become.”
I got to know Des during his playing days when he developed his skills first as a member of the junior varsity team and then as a varsity player for two seasons.
He wasn’t about scoring, although he could do that, too. Oh, he scored 275 points in his career, 206 of those coming during the 1988-89 season when he was captain of an Oilers’ squad which went 23-6 on the year and advanced to the NAIA District 22 finals.
But he also had 66 rebounds, 67 assists and 32 steals.
And that’s how I remember Des as a playmaker.
He was one of those players who loved to handle the ball and challenge defenses with his pin-point passing and the ability to take an opponent to the basket.
Those talents led to a .593 shooting percentage from the field and a .742 mark at the free throw line as a senior.
During his career he played alongside Aaron Roth and became an assistant to Roth at McComb, serving the past eight years in that capacity.
Des earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1990. Nine years later, he was awarded a master of business administration degree. Along the way, he worked in admissions, served as executive director of minority student services and became director of intercultural student services in 2004. He also advised the Black Student Union.
Basketball, though, is how I will remember Des.
He always greeted me with a handshake and & “Hey, LA, what’s up?”

NOTEWORTHY:
TOMORROW: It’s track time! Four area invites are on tap for Saturday. We’ll talk about ‘em.

Tuesday's Baseball Scores
Findlay 3, Napoleon 2
Findlay 011 000 1 — 3 6 1
Napoleon 010 000 1 — 2 8 1
WP — Mowery (1-0). LP — Keller. top hitters: (Fin) Corbin 2-1B, Mowery 2B, RBI; Bowersox 2B, RBI; Elchert 1B, RBI. (Napo) Gilson 2-1B.
records: Napoleon 1-5 overall, 0-2 GBC.

VAN BUREN 5, PATRICK HENRY 4
Patrick Henry 200 100 100 — 4 6 1
Van Buren 200 200 001 — 5 7 4
WP — Marshall (2-1). LP — Reese. top hitters: (VB) Mason Frazier 2B, 1B, RBI; Grant 2-1B. (PH) Botjer 2-1B, 3B, 3 RBI.
records: Van Buren 4-3.

Columbus Grove 13, Pandora-Gilboa 3
Columbus Grove 030 64 — 13 9 3
Pandora-Gilboa 000 30 — 3 1 5
WP — Osterhage. LP — Balski (1-1). top hitters: (CG) N. Schroeder 1B, 2B, 3 RBIs; Neu 2B, RBIs; M. Schroeder 2-1B. (P-G) Hazelton 1B, 2-RBIs.
records: Columbus Grove 1-6 overall 1-1 Putnam Coutny League, Pandora-Gilboa 1-3, 1-1.

Hopewell-Loudon 11, Carey 1
Carey 000 10 — 1 3 2
Hopewell-Loudon 091 01 — 11 11 0
WP — Schalk (1-0). LP — Harrold (1-2). top hitters: (H-L) Yost 2B, 1B, RBI; Britton 2-1B, 2 RBI; Clouse 2-1B; Brown 2 RBI; Chapman 1B, 2 RBI. (Car) Thompson 1B; Geisey 1B; Dyer 1B.
records: Hopewell-Loudon 4-0 overall, 1-0 Midland Athletic League.

Hardin Northern 10, Waynesfield 4
Waynesfield 310 000 0 — 4 5 6
Hardin Northern 132 112 x — 10 7 4
WP — Hall (2-0). LP — Shaner. top hitters: (HN) Price 2-1B, Ruhlen 2-1B. (Way) Polhamus 2B.
records: Hardin Northern 2-5.

KALIDA 12, LIMA TEMPLE CHRISTIAN 1
Lima Temple 100 000 0 — 1 5 3
Kalida 620 002 2 — 12 14 2
WP — Berheide (1-0). LP — Hochstettler. top hitters: (Kal) Birkemeier 2B, 1B, RBI; Guisinger HR, 1B, 4 RBI; Maag HR, 1B, 4 RBI; Rampe 2B, 1B. (LTC) Patrick 2-1B.
records: Kalida 3-1.

miller city 10, mccomb 0
McComb 000 00 — 0 3 1
Miller City 090 1x — 10 4 1
WP — Meyer. LP — Cramer. top hitters: (McC) Williams 2B. (MC) Erford 2-1B, 2 RBI.
records: Miller City 4-3.

NEW RIEGEL 8, ARCADIA 4
Arcadia 110 002 0 — 4 6 2
New Riegel 030 032 x — 8 8 4
WP — Lucius (1-0). LP — Fleegle. top hitters: (Arc) Ridenour 1B, 2B; Pina & Lynch 1B, RBI; (NR) Williams 1B, 2B, 2 RBI; Scherger 2B, 3 RBI; Lucius 1B, RBI.
records: Arcadia 4-3, New Riegel 5-4.

oTTAWA-gLANDORF 7, kENTON 3
Kenton 003 000 0 — 3 5 2
Ottawa-Glandorf 040 030 x — 7 6 3
WP — Maag (1-1). LP — Wyden. top hitters: (Ken) Clapfaddle 2-1B; Kleinfelter 2B. (O-G) Leatherman 2-1B, 2B; Myer 1B.
records: Kenton 0-2 Western Buckeye League; Ottawa-Glandorf 6-1 overall, 1-0 WBL.

CRESTLINE 11, RIVERDALE 2
Crestline 420 211 1 — 11 14 2
Riverdale 100 100 0 — 2 7 6
LP — Draper. top hitters: (Riv) Moore 2-1B; Draper 2-1B, RBI; .

NORTH BALTIMORE 10, LEIPSIC 3
Leipsic 010 200 0 — 3 7 5
North Baltimore 003 205 x — 10 7 2
WP — Routzon (2-0). LP — Moran. top hitters: (Leip) Goodwin 1B, RBI. (NB) Smith 2-1B, 2 RBI; Engard 2-1B; Wymer 1B, RBI.
records: North Baltimore 2-4.

Fostoria Senior 2, Tiffin Columbian 1
Fostoria Senior 000 002 0 — 2 7 2
Tiffin 000 000 1 — 1 4 1
WP — Hyde (2-1). LP — Smith. top hitters: (Fos) Bulkowski 2B, 2 RBI; Muñoz 2-1B; (TC) Hurd 2-1B.
records: Fostoria Senior 3-3 overall, 2-1 Northern Ohio League; Tiffin Columbian 3-5, 0-3.

findlay jv 16, napoleon 0
Napoleon 000 00 — 0 1 3
Findlay 1(14)1 0x — 16 13 1
WP — Roberts (2-0). LP — Beiswanger. top hitters: (Fin) Paul 1B, 2B, 4 RBI; Craft 2-1B, 2 RBI; Gilts 2-1B, 2 RBI.
records: Findlay JV 3-2.

OTHER SCORES
Ashland 7, Lexington 3
Bellevue 3, Galion 1
Bucyrus 12, Ontario 10
Elida 1, Lima Shawnee 0
Fremont Ross 6, Marion Harding 2
Lucas 9, Colonel Crawford 8
Monroeville 9, Bettsville 4
New London 2, Ashland Mapleton 1
Northwood 10, Danbury 0
Perrysburg 12, Toledo Bowsher 4
Port Clinton 10, Fremont St. Joseph 9
Sandusky 8, Lima Senior 4
Shelby 6, Norwalk 0
Swanton 5, Otsego 2
Willard 5, Upper Sandusky 0
Wynford 11, Buckeye Central 7
Montpelier 10, North Central 0
Ottawa Hills 20, Maumee Valley Country Day 0
Woodmore 22, Toledo Scott 2
Defiance 8, Wapakoneta 0
Delta 7, Evergreen 2
Toledo Libbey 16, Toledo Woodward 0
Stryker 9, Archbold 5
Archbold 8, Hilltop 7
Toledo Christian 10, Gibsonburg 1
Columbus Watterson 4, Sylvania Southview 1
Eastridge Fla. 8, Sylvania Southview 4
Toledo Whitmer 7, Bryan 3
RS Central, NC 4, Toledo St. Francis 2
Toledo St. Francis 7, Facquier, Va. 1
Victor N.Y. 14, Toledo St. Francis 6
Coldwater 4, Fort Recovery 0
St. Marys Memorial 13, Celina 3
Lima Bath 2, Van Wert 1
Defiance 8, Wapakoneta 0
Ottoville 6, Delphos Jefferson 4
Mansfield Madison 13, Mansfield Senior 0
W. Holmes 5, Clear Fork 3


Tuesday's Softball Scores
napoleon 2, findlay 0
Findlay 000 000 0 — 0 4 0
Napoleon 000 110 x — 2 8 0
WP — Hall. LP — Gilliland (2-4). top hitters: (Fin) Henry 2B; Gilliland 2B. (Nap) Busch 2-1B; Meyer 2-1B.
records: Findlay 3-6 overall, 1-1 Greater Buckeye Conference; Napoleon 5-4, 2-0.

Ada 9, Pandora-Gilboa 4
Pandora-Gilboa 101 110 0 — 4 7 5
Ada 351 000 x — 9 7 2
WP — Sybert (1-1). LP — Basinger. top hitters: (Ada) Jenkins 2B, 1B, RBI; Gossman 2-1B, RBI; Sybert 3B, 1B, 3 RBI. (P-G) Lovell 2-1B; C. Watkins 2B, 1B; Estrada 1B, RBI; J. Watkins 2B, RBI.
records: Ada 1-5, Pandora-Gilboa 2-2.

carey 9, hopewell-loudon 0
Carey 101 200 5 — 9 11 3
Hopewell-Loudon 000 000 0 — 0 3 1
WP — Nalle (4-0). LP — Dull (1-1). top hitters: (Car) Holsinger 2B, 2-1B, RBI; Kemerley 2B, 1B, 2 RBI; Harley 2B, RBI. (H-L) Smith 2-1B.
records: Carey 6-1 overall, 2-0; Midland Athletic League; Hopwell-Loudon 1-2, 0-1.

Elmwood 13, Oak Harbor 3
Oak Harbor 102 000 — 3 6 3
Elmwood 112 405 — 13 13 1
WP — Dauterman (3-1). LP — Weber. top hitters: (Elm) Morgart 4-1B; Green 2B, 1B; Chapman 2B; Dauterman 2-1B.
records: Elmwood 5-1.

Hardin Northern 11, Waynesfield 0
Waynesfield Goshen 000 00 — 0 0 3
Hardin Northern 164 0x — 11 10 0
WP — Messmer (5-4). LP — Wireman. top hitters: (HN) Poe 2B, 3B, 5 RBI; Messmer 1B, 2B, RBI; Parsons 1B, 2 RBI.
records: Hardin Northern 6-4.

Kalida 2, Continental 0
Continental 000 000 0 — 0 1 2
Kalida 000 101 x — 2 2 0
WP — Schnipke (1-2). LP — Hanefeld. top hitters: (Kal) Wilson 2B; Schnipke 1B. (Cont) Hauter 2B.
records: Kalida 1-2 overall, 1-1 Putnam County League; Continental 0-2, 0-1.

Miller City 7, Columbus Grove 1
Columbus Grove 100 000 0 — 1 6 4
Miller City 400 030 x — 7 9 4
WP — Brown (3-0). LP — Bartz (1-2). top hitters: (MC) Brown 2B, 1B, 2 RBI; Averesch 2-1B, 2 RBI; Wagner 2B, RBI; Franz 1B, RBI.
records: Miller City 4-0 overall, 2-0 Putnam County League; Columbus Grove 1-2, 0-1.

new riegel 9, arcadia 1
Arcadia 000 001 0 — 1 4 4
New Riegel 102 204 x — 9 9 1
WP — J. Mathias (4-2). LP — Conine (0-2). top hitters: (Arc) Johnson 2B, 1B; Holman 2B. (NR) Wagner 2B, 1B, RBI; J. Reinhart 1B, RBI; L. Mathias 2B, 3B, 3 RBI; Smith 1B, RBI; Hemminger 2B.
records: Arcadia 2-5, New Riegel 6-2.

riverdale 2, crestline 1
Crestline 000 010 0 — 1 3 0
Riverdale 000 002 x — 2 4 1
WP — Schoenberger. top hitters: (Riv) Ke. Kotterman 2B; Kr. Kotterman 3B, RBI; Wetherill 2-1B, RBI.
records: Riverdale 3-3 overall, 1-1 North Central Conference.

Willard 3, Upper Sandusky 2
Upper Sandusky 000 000 100 01 — 2 9 3
Willard 000 100 000 02 — 3 8 2
WP — Fluharty. LP — Jury (3-3). top hitters: (US) Jury 2-1B; Lucas 1B, 2-2B, RBI. (Wil) Dalton 1B, 2B; Clark 1B, 2-2B,, RBI.
records: Upper Sandusky 4-4 overall, 1-2 Northern Ohio League, Willard 3-2, 2-1.

Napoleon 14, Findlay 2
Napoleon 001 58 — 14 6 0
Findlay 000 20 — 2 4 2
WP — Lather. LP — Warnimont (1-3). top hitters: (Nap) Lamming 2-1B.
records: Findlay 4-5 overall, 0-2 GBC.

OTHER SCORES
Ashland 3, Lexington 1
Bucyrus 7, Ontario 5
Clear Fork 6, West Holmes 3
Colonel Crawford 11, Lucas 4
Convoy Crestview 2, Delphos Jefferson 0
Lake 6, Swanton 2
New London 9, Ashland Mapleton 2
Northwood 10, Danbury 0
Rossford 4, Toledo Start 2
Wynford 4, Buckeye Central 3
Lima Shawnee 6, Elida 0
Lima Bath 5, Van Wert 2
Lincolnview 12, Coldwater 2
St. Marys Memorial 4, Celina 0
Allen East 8, Lima Perry 6
Parkway 2, Minster 1
Ada 8, Pandora-Gilboa 4
New Bremen 11 Botkins 1
Wayne Trace 1, Antwerp 0
Marion Harding 5, Fremont Ross 3
Mansfield Madison 11, Mansfield Senior 4
Mansfield St. Peter's 16, Akron Elms 0
Clear Fork 6, West Holmes 3
Shelby 10, Norwalk 0
Louisa County, Va. 3, Toledo Notre Dame 1
Lake 6, Swanton 2
Rossford 4, Toledo Start 2
Gibsonburg 13, Toledo Christian 0
Woodmore 6, Old Fort 3
Liberty Center 7, Hilltop 4
Springfield 4, Archbold 3
Cardinal Stritch 9, Emmanuel Baptist 1
Anthony Wayne 5, Wauseon 3
Sylvania Southview 2, Toledo Whitmer 1
Sandusky 5, Eastern, N.J. 2
Sandusky 16, St John’s, Va. 1
Monroeville 27, Bettsville 4
Bellevue 12, Galion 0
Shelby 10, Norwalk 0
Fostoria 5, Tiffin Columbian 4