by Gregg Meadows
Coach Todd McLoughlin’s TV boys basketball team is ready to put the last two weeks of hoops behind them, as the Scotties closed out the calendar year by dropping three of their last four games, and enter 2023 with a 6-4 record, after a 5-1 start.
Here’s a look at Tri-Valley’s last four games:
On Tuesday night, Dec. 27 on the road at non-conference foe Hilliard Bradley, the Scotties trailed just 9-8 after the first quarter, but the host Jaguars took control from the start of the second stanza on, outscoring the visiting black-and-gold over the last three quarters by a 37-16 margin to win going away with their 46-24 victory. Jayden Walker’s seven points and five from Erik Neal led Tri-Valley scorers. The Scotties also lost the junior varsity game by a 45-32 count and were led in scoring by Brady Kaufman’s nine points and eight from Ryan Lamonica.
On Tuesday night, Dec. 20 in Dresden at The Dawg House, Tri-Valley defeated the visiting Coshocton Redskins 64-20 as Terrell Darden led 11 different Scotties in the scorebook with 13 points, followed by nine from Erik Neal, eight apiece from Max Lyall and Nohah Nichols, and six counters from Kam Karns. TV won the JV contest 63-10 and were led in scoring by Keaton Hahn’s 15 points, 14 from Ryan Lamonica, and 10 from Derek Frueh. TV also won the freshman game 53-10 and were led in scoring by Jack Rapol’s 10, nine from Jason Shawger and eight counters from Oliver Lanning.
Back on Friday night, Dec. 17 in South Zanesville, the Scotties – unbeaten in MVL play so far for the 2022-23 season – hooked up with undefeated MVL Big School hoops rival Maysville on the Panthers home floor in front of a near sell-out crowd.
The game of conference unbeatens lived up to its billing, with the visiting Scotties taking a slim 15-12 lead at the first break, but the host Panthers would control the rest of the game, outscoring the Dawgs 18-8 in the second stanza to take a 30-23 lead at intermission, then maintain their advantage over the final two quarters for a big 57-46 win to stay unbeaten in MVL action, while handing Tri-Valley its first conference setback.
Max Lyall’s five first frame counters and four from Erik Neal staked the visitors to their lead after one period, but a trio of treys by the Panthers and five points from Panther standout Hayden Jarrett pushed Maysville past the Scotties, who never recovered, falling to 5-2 on the year.
Lyall’s 18’s points and 10 from Erik Neal were tops for the Scotties, while Hayden Jarrett’s 20, 16 from Alex Bobb, and 13 from Wesley Armstead led the balanced winners. The TV JV’s dropped a 41-34 decision to the Maysville reserves. Devin Crane’s eight points, and seven from Kam Karns led the Scotties. Jordyn Watson’s 17 were tops for the winners. The Scotties also dropped the freshman contest 52-44. Troy Patterson’s 16 points led the Scottie frosh.
Tri-Valley hit the road again just 24 hours later on Saturday night, Dec. 18, but met with same results – falling 47-31 to the host Tornadoes. Tri-Valley’s Terrell Darden was the lone Scottie in double figures with 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Tyler Stevenson’s game-high 22 points led the winners. The game was tied at 9-9 after one quarter before Dover took a 29-21 lead into the half and a 40-28 advantage after three quarters. The host Dover reserves also won 37-35. Keaton Hahn led the Tri-Valley JV’s with 22 points.
Tri-Valley looks to get back in the win column with their first game of the new year, on Friday, Jan. 6 at Morgan.
