Tri-Village: A Win away from a State Title
By Don McDermott – Sports Editor
COLUMBUS – In the ultimate game – played for a state championship – the two best teams should be opponents.
And that is the way it will be Saturday morning when undefeated Tri-Village (27-0) battles St. Henry (25-1) for the Ohio Division IV boys basketball state title. Tip-off in St. John Arena on the Ohio State University campus is at 11:30 a.m.
Tri-Village thrashed tournament favorite Columbus Wehrle 77-71 with a stunning display of offensive wizardry, after St. Henry had squashed overmatched Kirtland 59-43 in the first game of the Division IV Final Four.
But not even the Patriots’ impressive victory against Wehrle – a team seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive state championship – generated any respect from the media. One writer referred to Tri-Village as “Tri-Valley” in the post game conference with Patriots coach Lee Falknor.
He didn’t blink an eye. Rather, Falknor talked about the Patriots, who had broken the game open in the third quarter when they fired in 11 of 12 field goal attempts to overcome a 32-31 deficit to roll to a 56-43 advantage heading into the final period.
“We have risen to the occasion all season, because the boys believe in themselves and each other,” said Falknor. “No one’s going to rattle them.”
Asked if the Patriots had played their best game, Falknor responded. “We’re always trying to improve…but yes, this is one of the best…if not the best…games we have played this season.”
Falknor didn’t believe Wehrle – coming off two overwhelming victories in the Zanesville regional and desiring a state championship as a fitting farewell to its existence as a school in Columbus diocese – had take his club for granted.
“I think Wehrle showed a lot of confidence…with the talent they have and with the championships they’ve won,” said Falknor. “But today, we played unselfish basketball offensively, we took the ball to them. We wanted to get them in foul trouble so we could get to the line.
“We got plenty of layups because we passed the ball so well. “And,” said Falknor, “we’re a team on a mission, too. We wanted to play St. Henry, and the only way to do that was go through Columbus Wehrle.
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” said Falknor, “but we want the question of who’s best – Tri-Village or St. Henry – settled on the basketball court. No matter what happens, the question is answered.”
Tri-Village put on a passing and shooting clinic against the Wolverines, who were caught flat-footed on so many occasions, it was like they were painted to the St. John Arena hardwood.
The Patriots fired in 30 of 44 field goal attempts, and amazingly (for Tri-Village) shot from 3-point range just three times. From the line, the Patriots were 16 for 21, including 13-for-15 in the second half.
Shane Bietry’s only 3-point attempt was good early in the third quarter to begin the Patriots’ breakout; the 5-foot-10 senior guard would finish with 21 points, six assists, and five rebounds in a spectacular clutch performance.
But Chuck Kemper, the Wehrle coach, had a different perspective. “The big guy (Scoob Cook, Tri-Village’s 6-6 senior center) is big…and played bigger then we thought he could,” said Kemper. “He hurt us…hurt us bad.” Cook finished with 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the field, and he had eight rebound for the Patriots, who outboarded Wehrle 33-29, despite the presence of 6-6 Chuck Perry and 6-5 Jeff Stanley inside.
Perry finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Stanley, forced outside by the Patriots’ defensive pressure, had 12 points and seven rebounds.
Nate Lindamood named to the Associated Press Division IV all State team Thursday, scored 14 points, while Randy Ward scored 11 points in just 12 minutes. Ward a 6-2 senior forward, was 5-for-5 off some nifty baseline drives. Dirk Lewis had four points, six assists, and six rebounds in workmanlike effort that required him to handle the basketball against Wehrle’s full-court pressure defenses.
“Wehrle had to be favored…I don’t think anybody could deny that,” said Falknor, “but was our victory an upset? No. Did Wehrle overlook us? No.”
Unsaid…Tri-Village was clearly the best team, and now a lot of other questions will be answered Saturday.
Scoring by Quarters
Tri-Village 15 16 25 21 – 77
Wehrle 14 16 13 28 – 71
Tri-Village
Lindamood - 14
Brandon - 8
Ward - 11
Cook - 17
Bietry - 21
Lewis - 4
Fisherback - 2
Totals - 77
Wehrle
Garnes - 2
Hollman - 26
Perry - 14
Belchers - 11
Stanley - 12
Smith - 3
Hudson - 3
Totals - 71
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| 1990-91 State Runner-up 27-1 |
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