CAMDEN – The Tri-Village boys’ basketball team defeated Preble Shawnee 67-43 to go undefeated, 11-0, in the WOAC and win their second League Championship in the first four years of the conference.
When these two teams play, you can expect a good crowd and an environment with lots of energy.
The Patriots defeated the Arrows in 2022 to win the first league title … but Preble Shawnee has won the last two meetings and back-to-back league titles in 2023 and 2024 by defeating Tri-Village at the end of the season.
Tri-Village jumped out to a 19-8 first-quarter lead, 27-18 at the break, 46-27 heading into the final frame, and then took home the win 67-43.
“The last couple of years our kids came into this big environment where we haven’t been successful, tonight we were able to go get one to win the league championship outright,” Tri-Village coach Josh Sagester said.
The Patriots were able to do that by getting solid performances from all five starters and good contributions from the bench as well.
In the opening quarter, all five starters scored, led by Kasyn Hollinger with 5, Dom Black, Noah Finkbine, and Griffin Richards with four each, and Griffin Richards had 2 points to jump in front 19-8.
Preble Shawnee nailed a couple of long balls from Layne Lovely and Brayden Robinette and the duo duplicated that effort in the 2nd quarter. Robinette would lead all scorers at the break with 10 points and Lovely with 6.
Tri-Village scoring pace slowed in the 2nd quarter and their face guarding and sending a double team at Sagester when he touched the ball.
But the Patriots forced a couple of turnovers to generate offense with a lay-up from Bedinghaus off a steal and then a highlight steal and dunk from Noah Finkbine charged up the Patriots in the 2nd quarter.
Tri-Village was up 27-18 at the half and was led by Finkbine 8 and Hollinger 7 points.
The offense would come back for TV in the 3rd quarter as Sagester was able to break free for a couple of looks for 7 of their 19 points.
The Arrows ironically never scored a field goal in the third frame but would go a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line with Robinette connecting on seven of them but trailed heading into the final stanza 46-27.
Preble Shawnee drained three – triples to cut into the lead early in the 4th quarter, but Tri-Village was able to recover and went to claim the win 67-43.
It was senior night several Arrow players: Brayden Robinette, Isaac Blankenship, Lane Lovely, Kaden Taylor, Reese Smith and Carson Hollon.
Robinette led all scorers in the game with 19 points. The Arrows fell to 13-9 overall and 8-3 in the WOAC to finish in 3rd place. They will play in the OHSAA DV next Saturday February 22nd at Miami East in a match-up with Bethel.
Tri-Village coach Josh Sagester was pleased with his team and his kids for playing well in a tough environment.
“Kasyn Hollinger gave us a yeoman’s effort tonight on defense holding Brody Morton to just 1 point, a kid who averages 13. He hit a couple of bigs shots early and finished around the rim for 10 points, what a great game. He’s a pogram kid who understand scouting report and executed,” Sagester praised.
The Patriots Dom Black would experience foul trouble and eventually fouled out of the game, but the Patriots had guys step up.
“We had kids step up that gave us some really good minutes. Hayden Hunt, Carson Bedinghaus and Brecken Gray who came in and hit a big shot,” Gray commented.
“Everyone gave good contributions tonight and you need that when they are boxing Trey … who did a good job of being patient, then in the second half letting the game come to him and he made some big shots for us,” Sagester explained.
Tri-Village had balanced scoring Trey Sagester 16, Noah Finkbine 14, Kasyn Hollinger 10, Dom Black & Griffin Richards 9 points each in the win.
The Patriots stand at 19-2 overall and will travel to Fort Recovery Saturday to close out the regular season.
