February 6, 2004 - Lewisburg

Tri-Village entered the game tonight against Tri-County North a team who has struggled all year long with a 2-7 conference record. It was Senior night and Tri-County wanted to give the home crowd something to cheer about and they almost pulled out an upset... but a pair of free throws by junior Josh Fisherback gave the Patriots the narrow win 46-44.

Tri-Village started the game with Corey Jay scoring a basket inside, he was fouled and converted for a three point play. Jay would score four more points for seven, senior Derek Ary had four, Josh Fisherback and Kyler Burns each connected for a trey and Sam Lindamood wtih two points... and Tri-Village was leading 19-8 in the opening quarter.

Tri-Village continued to frustrate the Panthers mixing their 1-3-1 zone with a trapping man defense but they put Tri-County North at the free throw line enabling them to stay in the game. With the lead 31-15 with three minutes left in the half Tri-Village went cold... and not until seven seconds left when Josh Bailey connected on a jumper did they score again... allowing the Panthers to close the gap 33-20.

The Patriots behind Burns and Lindamood layups to start the second half garnered their largest lead of the night at fifteen points 37-22... and it appeared the team was ready to coast home for the victory. Tri-County North wasn't ready to concede yet, the kids continued to play hard fighting their way back into the game down eight at 42-34 at the end of three.

In the final stanza things would heated up with Jay sitting on the bench with four fouls it left Panthers freshman Baumbarger to do damage on the inside scoring 14 points in the second half. After a Baumbarger basket at 4:45 and down 42-40 the Panthers stole the ball and fouled on the layup attempt went to the line for two free throws. Coach Falknor called a timeout to settle the boys but Tri-County nailed both free throws knotting the game 42-42 at 4:38. The quite crowd was now in the game, the atmosphere and momentum was now going the Panthers way.

Coach Falknor inserted Jay back into the game at 3:33 and immediately went inside and on two straight trips down the floor Jay was fouled... but after sitting for a while and being cold missed four straight free throws giving TCN opportunities to take the lead. The Patriot defense stiffened and a steal by Lindamood and a pass up court to Ary lead to a layup putting them back on top 44-42 at 2:40. Baumbarger wasn't finished again worming his way inside for a basket and it was tied again 44-44.

Tri-Village with possession of the basketball called a timeout with 44.8 seconds. Coach Falknor had his team run their offense looking for an easy lay-up but after not finding one called another timout with 18 seconds. The Patriots would resume play and with 4.4 seconds left found Josh Fisherback on the block where he was fouled. Fisherback calmly sank two of his biggest free throws of the year putting the Patriots up 46-44. The Panthers called a timeout with plenty of time to find a shot to tie or win. They worked their way down to within 30 feet... and the high arching shot bounced away off the back of the rim allowing the Patriots to escape with their fifth conference win.

The Patriots were lead tonight by Burns with 12 points, Jay 9 points and 11 rebounds despite foul trouble and Fisherback with 8 points, none bigger than the last two free throws.

Tri-Village evens their overall record at 9-9 and goes to 5-4 in the conference will return to action next Friday February 13 at home hosting Bethel on senior night.

In the junior varsity game Tri-Village won 47-37 led by Ryan Snyder with 16 points, Josh Pipenger 14 points and Daniel Foreman had 10 rebounds.

Box Score
Tri-Village
Ary - 7
Fisherback - 8
Bailey - 2
Foreman - 2
Burns - 12
Quinn - 0
Lindamood - 6
Jay - 9
Totals - 46

Tri-County North
Putnam - 3
Baumbarger - 20
Dunham - 5
Kovach - 3
Music - 3
Price - 8
Summers - 2
Totals - 44