Sam Lindamood scored the first four points of the opening quarter for Tri-Village but was countered by a Dusty Kimmel three point play on a bucket and a foul and a Darrin Rhoades trey outside and T-V trailed 6-4 at 5:01.

Daniel Foreman then stepped forward scoring 8 points in the remainder of the quarter to keep T-V close but trailing 15-12.

Mark Wheeler opened the second quarter with a lay-up and then Covington ran off 6 straight points causing Coach Josh Sagester to take a timeout to regroup.

With the Buccs keying on Lindamood and Foreman T-V worked deliberately on offense to get a good look and Wheeler got one from 15 to break the run.

The Patriots employing a triangle and two defense slowed Covington enough to keep them close. Derrick Chowning would come up with two big plays near the end of the first half with timely stick-backs to pull the PATS within one 23-22.

In the third quarter the Patriots would fall on hard times. Although they were getting some good looks at the basket the shots weren’t falling. Covington held T-V to just 6 points as they opened up a 38-28 lead.

In the final stanza seniors Sam Lindamood and Daniel Foreman tried to push the ball to get back into the game. When Lindamood hit a three-ball at the three-minute mark T-V got within 7 points 45-38.

But the deficit created in the third would be too much to overcome and T-V had to abandoned their deliberate style of play to try and make up ground. The Buccs would close out the game at the free throw line and go on to claim a 51-44 win to remain undefeated in the conference while T-V falls to 7-1 in the conference and 9-5 overall.

“I’m really proud of our kids tonight, said Coach Josh Sagester. Our kids worked hard and executed our game plan well. It got a little physical in the third period and we fell on some hard times with our shots not falling. Our kids didn’t quit and continued to battle till the end. “

Coach Sagester added; “to beat good teams like Covington you have get some breaks and play almost perfect. The league race isn’t over and if the Buccs go 11-0 then they deserve the title but if they falter anything can happen.”

Sam Lindamood led all scorers with 22 points while Daniel Foreman contributed 12.

Tri-Village out-rebounded the Buccs 26-23 but committed 10 turnovers compared to 6 for the Buccs.

Scoring by quarters
Tri-Village 12 10 6 19 – 47
Covington 15 8 15 15 – 53

Tri-Village
T. Brubaker - 2
D. Foreman - 12
S. Lindamood - 22
D. Chowning - 4
M. Wheeler - 5
D. Barger - 0
L. Brubaker - 2
T. Greer - 0
Totals - 47

Covington
Studebaker - 4
Rhoades - 18
Mohler - 5
Canan - 14
Kimmel - 11
Meyer - 1
Totals - 53