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| Senior Mark Wheeler consoles Logan Brubaker and leads the Patriots one last time ending his career as a T-V Patriot. |
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Dayton – Ohio – March 9, 2007
The Tri-Village Patriots Boys Basketball Team was playing for a District Title for only the 5th time in the schools 34-year history after consolidation of Palestine, Hollansburg and New Madison.
The Patriots were taking on the Houston Wildcats who returned the nucleus of their regional finalist team from last year and knew they would have to play a near perfect game in order to advance to the regional semi-finals.
Perfection in the opening period wasn’t to be as Tri-Village was tight and unable to connect from the floor for the first six minutes of the game. By that time the Patriots had already spotted Houston a 13-0 lead behind the hot hand of Dan Estes putting TV in a position they had hoped to avoid.
Tri-Village finally got on the board with a Ryan Buck free throw to break the drought but Houston would drain a three at the buzzer to end the first quarter leading 16-1.
“Obviously the start we had didn’t allow us to play the way we wanted to play,” said Tri-Village coach Josh Sagester. “We can’t play the type of game we want to play, we can’t be patient and do the things we want by playing catch-up all night.”
In the second period Tri-Village would play Houston even 11-11 by getting some points inside from Ryan Buck, Kendall Stutz and Mark Wheeler to trail at the half 27-12.
After the half Tri-Village picked up the pace in the third period playing more aggressive defensively jumping the passing lanes creating a few steals that led to baskets by Logan Brubaker and Mark Wheeler.
Senior Mark Wheeler tried to will the team in the third as he scored 9 of his 11 points of the game and the Patriots had closed the deficit to nine points 36-27.
“After the first quarter I thought we battled and got back into the game to be trailing by just nine after being down fifteen points in the first period,” said coach Sagester.
In the final period the Patriots hovered around the nine-point deficit three times but was never able to get over the hump. “We knew if we had to get in an up-and-down game that we were going to be in trouble,” said Sagester. They (Houston) are a pretty good basketball team.” “Their experience and toughness showed tonight and the officials were letting them play and that’s okay… but they took advantage early on and it took us to long to adjust.”
Ironically the 15 points TV spotted Houston in the first period would eventually be the final deficit of the game as both teams played even 38-38 over the final three periods with Houston advancing to the regional semi-finals with a 54-39 victory earning back-to-back district titles.
Tri-Village tournament dreams of advancing to the sweet sixteen ended in disappointment… but along the way they captured the hearts of their school, communities and other fellow cross county conference teams.
“I’m not going to judge our season on tonight’s game,” said Sagester. “Just getting here was a pretty darn good feat, considering nobody really thought we had a chance after we lost six games in a row. It’s a credit to our kids for getting back on the horse and believing in what we’re teaching them and executing.”
Tri-Village has had many good basketball teams over the years many with go to players. Arguably this team may have accomplished more with less than any other team as they etched their piece of history as sectional champs and district runner-ups ending the season with a 14-10 record.
Mark Wheeler and Derrick Chowning ended their careers tonight and reflected on the feat they had accomplished along the way. “When you consider the fact we never won a game in the sixth-eighth grade and had very little varsity experience until last year, it makes this moment so special,” said Mark Wheeler.
“We never gave up,” said Derrick Chowning. “We kept working on our fundamentals, I worked harder on my inside post play and of course it didn’t hurt that I continued to grow,” added Chowning.
When asked about the dramatic turn around of the team after losing 6 games in row Mark Wheeler responded, “We (the team) got together talked and regrouped getting on the same page as the coach.” “Our team bought into the system and realized after the “St. Henry game that we could play a controlled game and give ourselves a chance to win, said Wheeler.”
The result was an 8 game winning streak while winning 9 out the last 11 games and an unbelievable finish to the season.
Scoring by Quarters
Tri-Village 01 11 18 15 – 39
Houston 16 11 09 18 – 54
Tri-Village
Wheeler 11
Greer 02
Brubaker 07
Chowning 02
Barger 00
West 02
Foreman 00
Pearson 00
Evans 00
Stutz 04
Fisherback 00
Buck 11
Totals 39
Houston
Ivanowicz 07
Schwable 19
Estes 15
Peoppelman 02
Hughes 02
Kiehl 04
Grillot 05
Totals 54
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| Senior Derrick Chowning battles for the last time a Patriot. |
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