by Gregg Meadows
Coach Todd McLoughlin’s Tri-Valley boys basketball team eagerly awaits the upcoming post season after taking three of their last four games – with a rescheduled Feb. 17 regular season closer at Philo putting a cap on the 2022-23 regular season.
The hoop Scotties notched their 14th win of the year (TV currently sits at 14-7 overall and 12-3 in MVL play) with their 67-43 win over John Glenn, on Tuesday night Feb. 7 in Dresden at The Dawg House on Senior Night.
In a pre-game ceremony ahead of the TV vs JG varsity tip-off, Scottie senior players Aaron Frueh, Jayden Walker, and Jack Winland – along with senior cheerleader Aubrey Kaufman – were recognized and honored alongside their parents, for their contributions to their respective programs.
In the win over visiting John Glenn, the Scotties led at every break, jumping out to a 19-13 lead after one period, thanks to the hot hand of sophomore Max Lyall, who drained a trio of three-point bombs and added a two-pointer for 11 first frame points. In the second stanza it was TV junior forward Terrell Darden who took charge, with his pair of treys and two fielders for 10 points – which along with junior Erik Neal’s seven points – staked the home team to a 40-20 lead by halftime. Tri-Valley’s double-digit lead was never threatened in the second half, enrout to their 67-43 win.
Terrell Darden led the winners with 21 points, with Max Lyall close behind with 18 points, and Erik Neal’s 13 counters rounding out TV top scorers. Nathan Walker’s 13 points led the Muskies. TV also won the JV game by a 51-15 count thanks to Keaton Hahn’s 20 points and six apiece from Devin Crane and Brady Kaufman. The Scotties were beaten by John Glenn 30-25 in the freshman game. Troy Patterson’s 10 points led TV, while Copper Briggs’ eight were tops for the winning Muskies.
On Sunday, Feb. 5, the Division II East District tournament draw was held, with MVL champion Maysville earning the top spot over New Philadelphia. Carrollton was voted the third seed, while Tri-Valley picked up the fourth seed in the 21-team bracket. In the upper bracket, Tri-Valley (14-7) hosts No. 19 Rayland Buckeye Local (7-13) on Feb. 21, with the winner playing No. 17 Philo (4-16) on Feb. 25 for a Sectional title.
Back on Friday night, Feb. 3 at Sheridan, the Scotties were upset by the host Generals 56-51. Sheridan led at every break in the win, thanks in a big way to the 24-10 lead they jumped out to by first quarter’s end. The visiting Scotties cut the deficit to 35-26 by halftime, and trailed just 41-39 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Generals hung on for the win. Terrell Darden’s 13 points led TV, who also got 10 each from Max Lyall and Nohah Nichols, and nine from Erik Neal. Reed Coconis led SHS with 16 points. The Scotties won the JV game 57-55 in double overtime and were led by Brady Kaufman’s 14 points.TV lost the freshman game 42-30. Casen Baker and Max Burdine’s six points apiece led the Scottie frosh.
Back on Tuesday night, Jan. 31 in Dresden, TV nipped visiting West Muskingum 49-46 in a back and forth affair that went down to the wire. The host Scotties led 14-7 at the first break, but the hustling Tornadoes – who came into the Dawg House boasting 15 wins – rallied to lead 21-20 by halftime. The Scotties regained the lead – 35-32 – heading into the fourth quarter, and led 42-32 with 6:08 left in the game before WM came back again, cutting the deficit to a one possession difference late in the game before TV’s Brady Kaufman swished a pair of charity tosses, and a final Max Lyall free throw saw the hosts escape with the slim 49-46 win. Lyall’s 16 led the winners, who also got 10 from Jayden Walker, and a nine-point, 13-rebound performance from Nohah Nichols. Jack Porter led WM with 15 points. TV won the JV game 55-36, thanks to 17 from Ryan Lamonica, and the freshman game as well – 44-23 over Dover, thanks to Troy Patterson’s 14 points and eight from Casen Baker.
Back on Friday, Jan. 27, a standing room only crowd at The Dawg House saw the host Scotties beat state-ranked and previously unbeaten Maysville 54-52 in yet another nail-biter for the black and gold. Terrell Darden’s 18 points and 16 from Max Lyall led the winners; Hayden Jarrett’s 23 topped MHS. Maysville won the JV game 53-51 on a last-second Gator Nichols three-point shot. Kam Karns led the Scottie JVs with 15 points. TV lost the freshman game 52-49 despite 23 points from TV’s Troy Patterson.
