by Gregg Meadows
Coach Todd McLoughin enters his 15th season at the helm of Tri-Valley boys basketball with a talented team returning, despite the loss of seven seniors off last year’s team, which finished the 2021-22 season with a 20-win season, going 20-6 overall, and earning the school’s 20th Muskingum Valley League boys hoops title with an overall 14-1 conference record.
In post season play last year, the Scotties captured a Sectional title on their home ‘Dawg Pound’ floor – then a hard-earned 47-38 District semi-final win over East Liverpool – before being bumped off the tourney trail 78-68 by the Meadowbrook Colts in overtime at a jam-packed Coshocton High School in the District title contest.
The seven players lost to graduation included starters Ty Smith, Jalen-Goins Chandler and Luke Lyall, and regulars Alex Williams and Drew Burkhart.
However, three key contributors return this season for the Scotties – Sophomore guard Max Lyall leads the way after averaging 9.5 points per game, while junior Erik Neal and senior Aaron Frueh return to bang the boards underneath and score from close range. Neal contributed 8.2 points and Frueh scored 4.9 points. Senior guard Jayden Walker, junior guard Terrel Darden and sophomore forward Noah Nichols will see plenty of action this season as well for the Scotties.
Tri-Valley opened their 2022-23 season on Tuesday night, Nov. 30 on the road at non-conference foe Dublin Scioto, who rallied in the second half to hand the visiting Scotties a 49-44 defeat.
Tri-Valley led at the first break against the host Irish, jumping out to a 13-10 lead, thanks to five points apiece from starters Max Lyall and Terrell Darden. Lyall and Darden combined for six more second period points, as the visiting black and gold took a 24-18 lead to the halftime lockerroom.
But Dublin Scioto owned the second half of play, outscoring the Scotties 16-10 in the third quarter to tie the contest at 34-34 heading into the fourth quarter, then surge ahead for the final 49-44 win.
Lyall led the Scotties in scoring with 13 points, followed by Terrell Darden with 12 and six points each from Jayden Walker and Noah Nichols. James Maholm led the winning Irish with 15 points.
Coach Chris Garber’s TV junior varsity squad took home a win with a 44-34 victory over the Dublin Scioto reserves. The Scotties led at every break in the win and were led in scoring by freshman Ryan Lamonica’s 16 points, 10 from Devin Crane, and nine points from Kade Hindel.
The Scotties are back in action this Friday, Dec. 2 in the home opener vs. Crooksville in Dresden at The Dawg House.
PHOTO BY Gregg Meadows
CAPTION: (L-R) Front row: Keaton Hahn, Jack Winland, Brady Kaufman, Kam Karns, Kyler Brennen, Trey Goins-Chandler, Jayden Walker, and Devin Crane. Back row: Mgr. Ty Garber, Assistant Coach Ben Kennedy, Assistant Coach Chris Garber, Terrell Darden, Erik Neal, Aaron Frueh, Nohah Nichols, Max Lyall, Head Coach Todd McLoughlin, and Freshman Coach Davis Keel.