By Rob Kiser Sports Writer
WEST MILTON – Milton-Union gave Ohio’s No. 4-ranked Division IV boys basketball team, Tri-Village, a good game Saturday, but the Patriots showed why they are so highly regarded, winning 80-68
“I was really impressed with Milton-Union,” Tri-Village coach Lee Falknor said. “I expected them to play us tough. When you are ranked and unbeaten, other teams are going to play their best against you. They want to be the one that ends the streak. We like that…it makes us play better.”
In the end, Tri-Village, 13-0 and ranked behind St. Henry, Columbus Wehrle and Fort Loramie in the Associated Press ratings, used a formula that has become familiar in rolling up 36 consecutive regular season victories. The Patriots opened a little lead in the fourth quarter, then hit 15 of 18 free throws down the stretch.
Nate Lindamood, who scored 26 points, was 6-for-6 during that stretch, while Shane Bietry was for 4-for-5.
“That is what you have to do,” Falknor said. “You have to hit the free throws. This was a good win for us. We are an experienced team…playing on the road does not bother us as much.”
For the first three quarters, the game was evenly played. The Patriots opened a 20-17 first quarter lead before the Bulldogs rallied to even it at 36 at halftime.
The Bulldogs, from the Southwestern Rivers Conference outrebounded Tri-Village and guard Byron Shaurer had 14 points in the first half.
While the 6-foot-5-senior Scoob Cook had picked up three fouls in the first half for the Patriots, he came back strong in the second half, scoring 11 of his 22 points without picking up another foul.
Consecutive 3-point plays by Bietry and Cook in the third quarter gave Tri-Village a 48-41 lead and the Bulldogs could never get closer than three points the rest of the way.
For the game, the Patriots were 25 of 58 from the floor for 43 percent and 28 of 35 from the line for 80 percent. Milton-Union was 26 of 74 from the field for 35 percent and 10 of 23 from the line for 44 percent. The Bulldogs outrebounded Tri-Village 48-43.
Bietry and Lee Brandon scored 11 points each. Cook pulled down 13 rebounds and Randy Ward added nine. Shaurer led Milton-Union with 24 points, while Jason Abshire netted 16 and Chad Sass 10.
The Milton Union junior varsity won 56-51. Ryan Baker led the Patriots with 14 points, while Dallas Jenkins and Mike Bennett each scored 10.
Tri-Village will host Ansonia on Friday. Saturday, the Patriots play Brookville at 11a.m. in the Ervin J. Nutter Center on the Wright State University campus.
Scoring by Quarters
Tri-Village 20 16 20 24 – 80
Milton Union 17 19 16 16 – 68
Tri-Village
Lindamood - 26
Brandon - 11
Ward - 6
Cook - 22
Bietry - 11
Lewis - 4
Fisherback - 0
Totals - 80
Milton Union
Shaurer - 24
Abshire - 16
Magel - 11
Sass - 10
Moore - 7
Thompson - 0
Ashline - 0
Magato - 0
Totals - 68
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