Tipp City – February 8, 2005
Tri-Village opened tournament play facing a familiar foe having just played Mississinawa Valley 5 days ago. Going in they knew it was going to be a physical game, one in which the Blackhawk’s wouldn’t give up so easily. Fortunately for TV the second time wasn’t a charm, as the Lady Patriots would record a 57-45 win to advance to the second round of the tournament.

In the first meeting senior Mary Skidmore played a career game scoring 16 points and she was quick to get out of the gate scoring the first two baskets of the game. Karli Dill exploded for 3 treys in 4 minutes and Tri-Village established a 14-4 lead. It would soar to 20-6 at 1:15 but two quick treys by Kayla Neargarder closed the gap to 20-12 to end the quarter.

Neargarder opened the second period with another three before TV answered the 9-point run when Olivia Frazier canned a12 footer. They then used their inside game with Tina Allison and Heather Deaton to expand their lead to 32-21 at the half.

The Patriots would maintain their 11-point lead in the third period with Heather Deaton leading the way inside again with 5 points.

Mississinawa Valley would show grit and stubborn determination in the final stanza with tough defense using full court pressure and doubling up when they could. The strategy allowed them to get as close as 49-40. With aggressive play comes fouls and they would send the Patriots to the free throw line, and Brennan Moore would sink 8 of 9 down the stretch securing a solid 56-43 victory.

“We knew Mississinawa was going to be a tough team to play the second time around,” said Coach Maples. “Truthfully the difference in the game was getting off to such a fast start.” “Karli hit the shots early and Brennan finished it off with solid free throw shooting at the end.” “Slow starts and poor free throw shooting has been our achilles heels but… tonight we excelled and we are going to the next round and that is what is important.

“I wish we could have gotten off to a good start,” commented Coach Hanes at MV. “I was happy with the second half.” “Our pressure was good up and down the floor, we can’t ask anything more of the girls, they busted it all the way, all ballgame long but we just didn’t get any breaks.” “You hate to see it end and call it quits but it is, what it is.” “We’re happy with what we see coming back and we’ll just build from there for next year.”

Heather Deaton paced Tri-Village with 15 points and Brennan Moore scored 14 with 10 free throws. The win advances the Lady Patriots to a second round game on Saturday at Tipp City’s old High School gym for a 5pm match-up with the Bethel Bees.

All Patriot fans please make the trip to Tipp and support our Lady Patriots.

Scoring
3-Pointers – MV – 4 (Neargarder) TV – 3 (Dill)

Tri-Village…………..20…32…42…57
Mississinawa Valley.12…21…31…45

Tri-Village
Dill – 10
Deaton – 15
Moore – 14
Skidmore – 5
Frazier – 7
Allison – 6
Totals – 57

Mississinawa Valley
Harrod – 4
Bateman – 10
Livingston – 3
Neargarder – 18
Gelhaus – 10
Totals – 45