January 16, 2004 - Union City

The Patriots took on Mississinawa Valley tonight in a Cross County Conference game. The Blackhawks have a reputation of playing tough defense... and have been close in many games in pulling off the upset. Tri-Village was equally up for the challenge playing a very solid game on defense as well. This was an exciting game, neither team was able to establish a large lead... but in the end Tri-Village would win the defensive battle 48-44 to even their record on the year at 6-6 and 3-3 in the conference.

Mississinawa jumped out to a 4-0 lead when Kyle Evans scored two baskets on the inside as TV tried to figure out how to break down the MV defense. The Patriots got on the board with a bucket by Corey Jay at 4:48 and he followed that up with another tying the score 4-4. The blackhawks regained the lead 8-4, two free throws by Sam Lindamood at 2:46 made the score 8-6 but both defenses stiffened with neither teams scoring the rest of the way.

In the second period Derek Ary tied the game at 8-8 and then Ryan Snyder's bucket at 6:35 gave Tri-Village their first lead of the game at 10-8. Both teams would trade free throws and baskets tying the game at 14-14 at 4:34. Two free throws by MV gave them a 16-14 lead with 2:50 to play... but a quick trey by Burns gave them the lead right back at 17-14. A Burns steal and breakaway lay-up at the end of the second period extended the Patriots lead to 20-16 at the half.

Travis Brunk started the third quarter with two free throws but Kyler Burns answered with his second three pointer of the game. Blackhawk's guard Kyle Linder was quick to answer back nailing one of his five three's on the night and it looked like the offenses were heating up. MV tied the game again at 5:04 on another inside basket by Evans and the score was 23-23. Josh Bailey, Derek Ary and Kyler Burns scored baskets to increase their lead to 29-26. With the score 31-28 and time running out in the third period Kyler Burns would hit his third and most important 3 pointer on the night from 23' at the buzzer giving Tri-Village a 34-28 lead.

In the fourth quarter MV would get a quick 3 by Brunk and again here come the Blackhawks. Tri-Village got scores from Josh Fisherback and Ary to extend their lead to 38-32...but Linder dropped in a three to bring them back again 38-35. A Burns oop pass to Jay for an easy two along with a stickback off a free throw and TV lead 42-37 with 2:13 to play. The Blackhawks Linder threw up a trey from 22' to bring the score to 43-40 at 1:10 but Mississinawa would be forced to foul. Tri-Village would get two free throws on two trips opening the door again for MV. They scored 2 in the paint bringing the score to 45-42 with 38 seconds to play. Burns sank two free thows with 32 seconds left increasing the lead to 47-42. The next 26 seconds was the most important of the game as the Patriots would play a stifling denial defense not allowing MV to get a a shot from behind the arch and they had to settle for a two on the inside by Michael Leeper with 6.4 seconds to play. With the score 47-44 the Blackhawks immediately fouled Lindamood on the inbounds pass and he would make 1 of 2 free throws putting the game away 48-44.

This was a hard fought game with both teams hustling and neither team able to establish a large lead in the game see sawing back and forth. In the second half Tri-Village looked like they would pull away but Mississinawa would answer every charge. This is a good win for the Patriots but they will have little time to enjoy it as they travel tomorrow night to take on the giants of St. Henry.

In the junior varsity contest Tri-Village lost a heartbreaker by two after having lead the entire game.

Go Patriots!

If you are interested in any of the photos from the website they can be purchased at Stockton Studios.

Box Score
Tri-Village
Ary - 9
Fisherback - 3
Bailey - 2
Burns - 16
Quinn - 0
Lindamood - 3
Jay - 13
Snyder - 2
Brant - 0
Totals - 48

Mississinawa Valley
Brunk - 9
Linder - 19
Rogers - 2
Evans - 7
Leeper - 2
Stetser - 5
Totals - 44