February 19, 2004 - Tipp City

Tri-Village drew the 4th seed in the 2004 Division IV Girls Basketball Tournament at Tipp City. Getting a seed indicates and rewards a team for a good season. That seed came at the expense of Twin Valley South who just missed the 4th seed and... tonight the Patriots were matched up against TVS team they played at home midway through the season and a narrow one point win 47-46. Knowing this, you knew is was going to be a great ball game.

Both teams opened play a bit flat being patient on offense measuring each other like two prize fighters. South got on the board first on a inside basket at 5:51 but... the Patriots went on a 9-0 run over the next 3:45 with Samantha Coomer scoring four points, Olivia Frazier a three and Burns two. The Patriots switched from a man defense to a 1-3-1 zone but it didn't stop the Panthers as they went on their own run scoring six straight and down 9-8. An offensive rebound and putback by Mary Skidmore gave TV an 11-8 lead after one.

In the second period both teams traded baskets throughout but when Heather Deaton scored two off a rebound inside giving TV a 18-12 lead South called a timeout. Over the next 3:00 minutes they would go on a 9-2 run taking back the lead the opened the game with 21-20 to end the first half. The Patriots had a momentarily lapse over the last three minutes mishandling the basketball and getting outhustled by South.

The Lady Panthers opening the third quarter just as they ended the second and scored seven straight points a 16-2 run over the last half of the 2nd quarter and the opening minutes of the third. Trailing 27-20, Coach Maples called timeout with 5:34 to stop the momentum. Not to be outdone, the Lady Patriots responded with their own 12-2 run to finish the 3rd quarter up 32-29. Olivia Frazier came to life in the 3rd driving to the basket, knocking down short jumpers with 8 points and a key 3 point basket by Burns regained the lead for TV at 1:34.

With the momentum shifting back and forth between the two teams it was anybody's guess going into the final stanza who would pull ahead. South scored a basket to start and trailed one. But over the next four minutes the Lady Patriots picked up their intensity, particularly Senior Mattie Burns, she seemingly willed the Patriots. Diving for loose balls, playing aggressive on defense and... the real momentum builder knocking down two straight 3 balls giving the Patriots a 40-31 lead causing South to take a timeout at (3:47). South out of the time out set-up an out of bounds play to free up a shooter knocking down a trey cutting off the TV momentum. A Frazier jumper and a layup by Deaton off a Burns steal gave the Patriots their largest lead 44-34 with 2:10 to play. South drained a shot from behind the arch at 1:02 to pull within seven 44-37 but the Lady Patriots would go on to post a first round win 46-37.

This was a good win for Tri-Village facing a tough opponent for the second time this year. They will go on to face Bethel in a second round game on Tuesday, Febuary 24, 8pm at Tipp City.

Go Lady Patriots.   

TV Patriots
Burns - 11
Deaton – 8
Coomer – 6
Moore – 0
Frazier – 17
Skidmore  - 4
Burkhart – 0
Totals - 46

Twin Valley South
Durkle – 4
Lipps – 2
Moleski – 7
Moore – 6
McMurray – 14
Davies – 4
Totals - 37 

Score by quarters:
Tri-Village – 11 – 20 – 32 – 46
TV South – 8 – 21 – 29 - 37