By Drew Terhall
Dailyadvocate.com
FORT LORAMIE — Within the MLK Traditional at Fort Loramie, the Tri-Village boys basketball crew pulled away with a 52-40 win over Marion Native on Jan. 14.
Head coach Josh Sagester stated they have been lucky sufficient to be invited by Fort Loramie to take part on this occasion full of nice basketball groups. The Patriots have been capable of go up in opposition to a troublesome crew that have been taller than them within the paint.
“We’re very fortunate for the chance. What a recreation, thought our children performed actually laborious at present and rather well. Executed the defensive recreation plan actually to a tee. Anytime you play twin towers, 6’10 and 6’8, it’s not simple. The youngsters battled all night time,” Sagester stated.
The distinction in top wasn’t an enormous challenge for Tri-Village. Senior Jayden Hollinger and freshman Dom Black each have been capable of be bodily and never let 6’8 junior Austin Niekamp or 6’10 senior Jack Knapke. Sophomore Noah Finkbine, listed at 6’3, got here within the second half and was additionally capable of not let the scale distinction turn out to be an element.
Sagester stated all three did an amazing job of their submit protection as everybody was capable of play their roles nicely on this recreation.
After each groups acquired off to a sluggish begin offensively, Tri-Village acquired out to a 22-17 lead at halftime. The protection for the Patriots created the turnovers wanted to exit and rating in transition. The surface pictures for Marion Native stored them within the recreation as they made 4 threes within the first half.
Momentum was on the Patriots aspect to start out the second half as they acquired out to a double-digit lead through the third quarter. The protection continued to frustrate the Flyers because the offense was capable of get clear cuts to the rim and scored inside.
However because the third quarter was closing and at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Marion Native fought again. Sagester stated he felt the crew was a run away from sealing the sport earlier than Marion Native fought again.
“They didn’t go away and not using a battle. I believed at that time limit, if we might get a few stops and a pair scores that may make it 20 and it in all probability can be over and we’d be on our method,” Sagester stated.
The Patriots did that through the fourth quarter. Senior Braden Keating and sophomore Trey Sagester made again to again threes to increase their lead, 43-34, and stopped the Flyers’ momentum.
Sagester stated whereas they acquired contributions from everybody within the recreation, Keating and Trey have been capable of step up and hit some massive time pictures all recreation lengthy.
Tri-Village was capable of drain the clock in the direction of the tip of the sport and made their free throws to return away with the win.
Keating was named the MVP of the sport as he led the crew with 20 factors with 4 made threes. Trey Sagester was the one different Patriot in double figures with 15 factors.
For Marion Native, Niekamp and Knapke each had 13 factors.
The Patriots are actually 12-1 on the season with a 6-0 WOAC document. Sagester has stated earlier than after the Dixie recreation these non-conference video games not solely assist put together his crew for a event run, however give them one of the best seed doable within the MaxPreps RPI.
“That’s my job as a coach to place our-self able to who we play to get higher,” Sagester stated.
Marion Native is presently the third seed of their part in Division IV.
The Patriots will host Nationwide Path on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. after which hit the highway to tackle Smithville on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
Contact Day by day Advocate sports activities editor Drew Terhall at [email protected]