New Madison – Tri-Village High School

The Tri-Village High School boys basketball team showed just how devastating it can be Friday night during a Cross County Conference game against visiting Ansonia.

The Patriots led 40-35 early in the third quarter, before turning their defensive pressure up to a level Ansonia couldn’t handle.

That, combined with torrid shooting, allowed the Patriots to score 19 straight points. By the end of the quarter, Tri-Village led 61-38 and it was all but over.

“They kicked the stuffing out of us,” Ansonia coach Jeff McMillan said. “Tri-Village is an outstanding team. They only missed on shot until about the two or three minute mark. When they play like that and you turn the ball over like we were, you are in a heap of trouble.”

Nat Lindamood scored 12 of his 22 points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers, to help ignite the run. McMillan called two timeouts during the reign of baskets, but it did little good. While Tri-Village made 10 field goals, Ansonia got off just nine shots during the quarter.

“Our press did give them a lot of trouble,” Tri-Village coach Lee Falknor said. “I thought it would be a very tough game. They really hit the boards hard. We talked about what they were doing offensively at halftime. You are always making adjustments. Basketball is a game of adjustments.”

McMillan expected a great game in front of a gym full of fans.

“I am very disappointed,” McMillan said. “We finally have the program in position to be in the upper echelon. We felt like we could come in here and give them a battle, I am disappointed we didn’t play better for all the fans.”

The first half was closely contested throughout. Tri-Village led 22-16 at the end of the first quarter. The Patriots held a 38-31 lead at intermission.

“I didn’t feel real good about things at halftime,” McMillan said. “I felt like we could have easily been down 12 or 14 points. It’s not going to get any easier tomorrow. We host Mississinawa Valley, who we beat earlier this season. They will come after us.”

Balance was the word for Tri-Village, Lee Brandon came off the bench to score 18 points, while Randy Ward had 15, Scoob Cook 10, and Shane Bietry and Dirk Lewis eight each.

Ryan Baker led Ansonia with 13 points, with Darren Young adding 12, Doug Tobe 11, and Steve Shellhaas 10.

Tri-Village, 14-0 and 6-0 in Cross County Conference play, was 30 of 48 from the floor for 63 percent and 19 of 30 from the line for 63 percent. Ansonia, 8-6 overall and 4-2 in the CCC, was 19 of 42 from the floor for 45 percent and 12 of 17 from the line for 71 percent. Both teams had 27 rebounds.

Tri-Village return to action this morning, playing Brookville in the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University.

Tri-Village defeated Ansonia 64-60 in the junior varsity game. Dallas Jenkins led the Patriots with 18 points, Scott Blocher scored 15, Mac Wicker 11, and Jason Baker 10. Brent Bickel scored a game high 28 points for Ansonia, while Kevin Osterloh added 13.

Scoring by Quarters

Tri-Village 22 16 23 22 – 83
Union City 16 15 7 13 – 51

Tri-Village
Lindamood - 22
Brandon - 18
Ward - 15
Cook - 10
Bietry - 8
Lewis - 8
Fisherback - 2
Totals - 83

Ansonia
Baker - 13
Young - 12
Tobe - 11
Shellhaas - 10
Warvel - 2
Koverman - 2
Brandt - 1
Stammen - 0
Totals - 51