Greenville cheerleading coordinator Tiffany Labig and her staff, along with the Green Wave high school cheer squad, hosted almost 100 elementary school future yell leaders during halftime of the junior varsity game against Tipp City Friday night in the GHS gymnasium. In a tremendous display of cuteness and enthusiasm the group entertained a packed house, bringing warmth, sunshine, and lollipops to the fans of high school basketball in the Treaty City.
Little did anyone know that the cold, harsh winds of January were about to descend during the varsity contest with the Red Devils. Tipp came to town leading the Miami Division of the Miami Valley League with an 8-1 record, fresh off of an important mid-season victory over Vandalia-Butler a few nights earlier.
The Wave jumped off to a quick 7-3 lead with baskets from Layne Hocker, Chace Drew, and Jack Chick before the Devils started to get into their rhythm. Juniors Preston Zumwalt and Jackson Davis combined for a total of nine points to go along with another nine from seniors Caden Turner and Maddox Sivon as the first quarter ended with Tipp ahead by a 18-10 count and the first hints of a cold front about to strike the Wave.
Zumwalt, averaging slightly over five points per game, connected on three three-point bombs against the Greenville zone defense in the second stanza and Sivon and senior pivot Jackson Smith controlled the glass at both ends of the court as the Red Devils opened up a 43-18 halftime lead.
The third quarter saw the Wave offense come to a grinding halt as they turned ice cold from the field while the Devils continued to frolic, completely dominating the period by shutting out the Green and White by an 18-0 count to hold a 61-18 lead as the running clock rule came into play.
Both benches saw plenty of action in the fourth quarter as the temperature continued to fall both outside and inside the gym for the Wave as Tipp continued its run, holding Greenville to but a single basket by junior Josh Baker for a final score of 81-20, outscoring the Wave an almost unbelievable 38-2 in the second half.
Zumwalt paced Coach Brock Moon’s team with 22 points while Davis added 14 and Sivon 10 as nine Devils scored. Tipp next entertains Troy as their record is now 9-2 overall and 9-1 in the MVL.
In losing for the second time this season to Tipp, scoring an identical 20 points in the first encounter with the Devils, the Wave fall to 2-11, 2-8 in league play. Things don’t get any easier as Butler comes to town Tuesday evening, smarting from a loss to West Carrollton last night. With predicted wind chills in the single digits Wave fans can only hope for a thaw in the offense.
