February 18, 2004 - New Madison

Tri-Village finished the regular season tonight facing conference foe Twin Valley South. The Patriots used a very balanced offensive output and a tough team defense to pull out the close win... and took sole possession of 4th place in the conference at 7-4, 11-9 overall.

Kyler Burns got TV off to a 3-0 lead with a trey... but South answered with a two, a trey, then a free throw to jump ahead 6-3 at 4:24. The Patriots would get inside scoring from Corey Jay and six points from Sam Lindamood to try and keep pace with TVS... but South was able to hold a 16-11 lead after one.

Lindamood scrapped again for an inside two to start the second period followed by back to back baskets by Jay... and a 12 foot jumper by Josh Bailey tied it at 19-19 with 5:38 to play. Two Lindamood free throws and a stickback by Jay at 2:18 gave Tri-Village the lead back since the start of the game at 23-21. The Panthers tied the score again but two Bailey free throws with 7 second left gave the Pats a 25-23 halftime lead.

TVS started the third quarter tying the game again at 25 a piece. Jay nailed two free throws followed up by a steal and layup by Burns to lead 29-25 but South's Dale Spitler answered with a trey to cut it back to 29-28. Burns again stole the ball and drove in for lefthanded layup and was fouled converting the hard three pointer and a 32-28 lead causing South Coach Tony Ausperger to call a timeout. A set play for Bassler netted two points for TVS. Senior Derek Ary was fouled and sank 1 of 2 free throws but was able to recover the missed throw and scored to give TV a 35-30 lead at 4:06. Tri-Village Josh Fisherback scored two followed by a big three pointer from Ary and TV had the largest lead of the night for either team 40-32. With 1/2 second left on the clock TVS inbounded the ball to Spitler who was able to catch and shoot it all in one motion to keep them in the game with a big trey and cut the score down to 40-35.

In the final stanze TVS wasn't going to roll over and quit and by 4:23 tied the game at 44-44. Tri-Village used a timeout to steer the ship back on course. TV missed the front end of a one and bonus only to foul South who converted both free throws and regained the lead 46-44. Lindamood answered with two but South's Bassler scored inside and again lead 48-46 at 2:25 to play. Burns driving to the basket for a layup drew a block and sank two free throws to tie and then an Ary layup gave the Patriots the lead again 50-48 at 1:42. Two free throws by South tied it again but Jay would also drop two charity tosses to regain the lead 52-50 with 52 seconds left. The Panthers were unable to score after having a couple of good shots and TVS was forced to foul Burns who drained two from the line icing the game with 12 seconds left 54-50. Again South was unable to score giving the Patriots the hard fought victory.

This was a game that had 8 ties and 5 lead changes a game that could have gone either way. But the Patriots balance was the key as Sam Lindamood scored 6 points in the first period, Corey Jay 6 in the 2nd, Derek Ary 6 in the third and Kyler Burns 7 in the final period knocking down those important free throws.

The victory should give the Patriots confidence heading into the tournament facing Middletown Christian Saturday February 21st, 9pm at UD Arena. Tri-Village finished the season with four straight conference wins and a 7-4 record in 4th place behind winner Ansonia at 11-0, 2nd Covington 10-1 and 3rd National Trail 9-2.

Box Score
Tri-Village
Ary - 8
Fisherback - 4
Bailey - 5
Burns - 12
Quinn - 0
Lindamood - 12
Jay - 13
Totals - 54

Twin Valley South
Bassler - 10
Smith - 9
Spitler - 15
Marker - 2
Loxley - 2
Betzner - 2
Totals - 50