In the nightcap it would be the Tri-Village Patriots taking on the Franklin Monroe Jets for the second time in less than a week. TV jumped out to an early lead only to see FM battle back and lead for most of the game. The Patriots hung around and gutted it finally regaining the lead late in the 4th period and held on for the win 56-53 in an exciting second game.

Tri-Village started the game off with a quick 6-0 lead on free throws by Sam Lindamood and David Barger along with a basket inside. Franklin Monroe got on the board at the 5:06 mark on a Logan Halderman goal. The two teams trade baskets and at 3:04 T-V lead 8-4.

Then Tri-Village went on a 7 points run with David and Sam scoring again inside topped off by a Logan Brubaker trey and the lead was 15-4 at 1:25 to play in the first. Coach Mike Feitshans took a timeout to regroup. His troops responded by scoring the last 4 points including a basket at the buzzer to cut the lead to 15-9.

Franklin Monroe put the clamps on Sam in the 2nd quarter holding him scoreless. David Barger playing strong inside made two trips to the free throw line for four more points. Logan and Daniel Foreman both scored a basket but along the way the team forgot to take care of the basketball. Committing a number of turnovers the fortuitous Franklin Monroe Jets responded by and at the 2:01 mark took over the lead when Brett Robison hit a turnaround jumper 23-21.

When Zack Long scored at the buzzer (second time in the game for the Jets) FM would increase their lead to six points 28-22.

T-V continued to struggle somewhat in the third period handling the ball but offensively picked it up. The Brubaker brothers Logan & Taylor hit consecutive baskets to pull T-V within two 28-26.

Franklin Monroe was doing an effective job of moving the basketball and penetrating the lanes to find open shots and they were falling. Zack Long on a strong curl cut broke free and scored on a layup at the 1:27 mark to give FM a ten-point lead 43-33 and they finished the period up 45-37.

Tri-Village didn’t panic and slowly chipped away at the FM lead in the 4th period. Behind two Logan Brubaker jumpers and Mark Wheeler and Sam Lindamood baskets TV was down just three 48-45 with 3:45 to play.

The next two minutes would be critical in the game and senior Sam Lindamood stepped up to the challenge. He first drained a big three-ball to tie the game 48-48 and then followed that up with a jumper from 12’ with two players draped on him to give the Patriots the lead back 50-48 they lost back in the second quarter.

Logan Halderman answered with two inside and the score was tied again 50-50. Again Lindamood stepped forward this time a runner jumper off the block ant TV lead 52-50 at 1:20.

A free throw by Mark Hutchinson made it 52-51 until Daniel Foreman, who struggled much of the night, hit a big shot from the wing the lead was 54-51.

The Jets were unable to scored and fouled Mark Wheeler who calmly sank both tosses with 12 second to play. FM made a basket as time expired and the Patriots were glad to leave with a victory 56-53.

Good free throw shooting once again proved to be big for T-V as they went 15-19 from the line.

“I knew coming over here that Franklin Monroe would be hungry and ready to play us again,” said Coach Josh Sagester. “We are lucky to get the win tonight but I’m happy with the win.”

“I thought we played a great six minutes and then played 20 minutes of not so good basketball. Our kids gutted it out though they stuck with it and found a way to win, which is what good basketball teams do.”

“Give FM credit they fought hard and gave us a great game. I thought the difference was when we went to the 1-3-1 zone down the stretch. It was enough to get them out of sync and we took advantage of it.”

“Sam Lindamood really stepped forward and made some big shots when we needed it and then Daniel Foreman put the dagger in with his jumper with 45 seconds to play and Mark Wheeler hit the two free throws to seal it. “

“I really thought we got a nice game from our two sophomores. David Barger played strong inside and really picked us up in the first half. Logan Brubaker really played a solid game as well and we need that from those two guys.”

“We have achieved half our goal with the win tonight and now we need to come out tomorrow and try to complete it with a win in the championship game,” concluded Coach Sagester.

Tri-Village will now take on the Versailles Tigers for the championship tomorrow evening at 8pm while Arcanum & host FM will battle it out in the consolation game at 6:30pm.

Scoring by Quarter:
Tri-Village……….15…. 7….15…..19 – 56
Franklin Monroe….9…19….17……8 – 53

Tri-Village
T. Brubaker - 4
D. Foreman - 8
S. Lindamood - 19
D. Chowning - 0
M. Wheeler - 4
D. Barger - 10
L. Brubaker - 11
T. Greer - 0
Totals - 56

Franklin Monroe
B. Taylor - 7
L. Halderman - 11
G. Shellabarger - 6
Z. Long - 12
M. Hutchinson - 5
N. Welbaum - 0
B. Robison - 12
Totals - 53