WEST ALEXANDRIA –- The 3-13, 2-6 Twin Valley South boys’ basketball team hosted 7-10, 3-6 Mississinawa Valley Tuesday night. The two teams were tied at the end of the 1st, 2nd & 4th quarter and needed overtime to decide the outcome. The Blackhawks held the Panthers scoreless in OT and were able to return to Darke County a 39-33 winner.
Mississinawa, who started three sophomores and two freshmen, battled South’s junior and senior-laden team, who had the advantage with their size and physicality, and found a way to win, which pleased coach the Blackhawks coach.
“This was one grinder, an ugly game on a Tuesday night, but it’s a victory and a road win too. That’s what we wanted … plus it’s a conference win as well, Mississinawa Valley coach Jeff Vaughn said after the game.
In the opening quarter, South would go up 5-3 on a triple from sophomore guard Trent Ray and left-handed fielder at the rim by senior Griffin Roell.
The Blackhawks, though, went on a 7-0 run to go in front 10-5 on a trey by freshman Cole McGlothlin, a bucket from sophomore Cing Scott, and two free throws by freshman Ben Hamilton.
South tied the game at 10-10 with a lay-up on a steal from senior Conner Mowell and a triple from senior point guard Mason Crews to end the opening quarter.
Offensive patience was center stage in the second quarter, with both teams defending well, and neither was in a hurry to force up bad shots, and the game remained deadlocked at the half 18 all.
The offensive production didn’t improve after the break … but the home team would hold a two-point lead, 26-24, at the end of the third period.
Mississinawa, on a short jumper by Scott and a lay-up from Hamilton, went up 28-27 to start the fourth quarter.
South’s Trent Ray then drained a trey from the corner, drew a foul, and converted a four-point play vaulting in front 31-28, and it appeared it might be the play to turn the game.
However, the Panthers didn’t take advantage, after running a lot of time off the clock on two straight possessions they would turn it over and had nothing to show for it.
Mississinawa used those miscues in their favor, with sophomore Caden Hanes getting one to go in from the corner to close the gap to 31-31.
Trent Ray added a bucket for South, and with the Hawks trailing 33-31, Cole McGlothin popped a short corner jumper tying the game at 33 to send the game to overtime.
McGlothin started the overtime period with an old-fashioned three-point play, giving Mississinawa momentum, and their defense did the rest by shutting out the Panthers in OT.
In fact, their defense closed out the game by holding South scoreless over the last four minutes of the 4th quarter as well to earn the 39-33 win on the road.
After the game, coach Vaughn noted McGlothin play down the stretch and his team’s defense, as well as his hanging tough when it mattered.
“Hats off to McGlothin. He goes in there, drives, and gets a big three-point play after he took a three, which was a little questionable. But hey, he made a play, and it’s why we got him in there right now,” Vaughn praised.
“The kids also stepped up defensively and really did a good job tonight; I mean, we held them scoreless in the overtime and held the Ray kid to just 8 points, and he’s averaging 16, so yeah, we did a good job,” Vaughn added.
Twin Valley South was led in scoring by Griffin Roell with 10 and Trent Ray with 8 points.
The Panthers fall to 3-14 overall and 2-7 in the conference, and they will play at Tri-Village Friday night.
Mississinawa Valley was led by Cing Scott with 13, and Cole McGlothin finished with 10 points, and Ben Hamilton had 11 rebounds.
The Hawks improved to 8-10 overall and 3-6 in the WOAC. Friday they will host Preble Shawnee on senior night.
