NEW MADISON – The Tri-Village boys basketball team officially opened a new era playing for the first time in the new Patriot Activity Center bringing closure to 30 years of wonderful memories and games played in what is now the old gymnasium and junior high court.
Coming off the first basketball league title in the new Western Ohio Athletic Conference and DIV State Runner-up, was a great to close the chapter on the old gymnasium
Gone from last year’s team is Layne Sarver, the WOAC & Ohio DIV Player of the Year and the school’s all-time leading scorer as he has moved on to play his College Basketball in Tennessee at Union University. Also graduating was Josh Scantland a WOAC 1st Team player who averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.
However, returning for WOAC Coach of the Year Josh Sagester is WOAC 1st team guard Wilson Suggs at 11.5 points per game last year, 2nd team forward Justin Finkbine 8 points, 3 steals and point guard Dalton Delong at 4.5 assist per game. These 3 seniors are ready to step forward to lead the team.
Additionally, Patriot seniors Logan Call, Seth Cook, Camden Cook and Austin Rismiller are all capable and ready to contribute as the team will have plenty of senior leadership and program experience.
Juniors poised to play are Tanner Printz, Braden Keating and Reed Wehr and freshman Trey Sagester rounds out the Varsity roster.
The Patriots were all but hospitable in their debut of the new gym drubbing Dayton Belmont by the score of 62-25 as they dropped in 10 triples with all 11 varsity player
s seeing time and 9 scoring in the game.
Tri-Village jumped out ahead in the opening frame 22-6 with Dalton Delong canning 2 triples, Wilson Suggs had 6 points going to the rim, Justin Finkbine was physical inside with 7 points and Trey Sagester knocked down his first career 3-ball in the PAC.
Those hoping to see a solid test for the Patriots with a Dayton City league team never materialized as Tri-Village added to their lead in the 2nd quarter going up 37-18 at the break.
Tri-Village continued to knock down the 3-ball in the 3rd quarter this time Wilson Suggs drained 2, Braden Keating & Trey Sagester each had 1 to extend the lead to 30 points 53-23.
In all Tri-Village was good for 10 triples for the game.
“We have players that have a special ability to knock it down from long range. Unlike last year, we have multiple players who can lead the team in scoring on any given night,” Coach Josh Sagester said.
The final stanza turned into a running clock and went quickly slowing the scoring as Tri-Village went on to claim a 62-25 non-conference win to go to 2-0 on the year.
The Patriots were led by Wilson Suggs with 17 points and Justin Finbkine with 10 all in the 1st half. Trey Sagester had 9 points on 3 triples.
“We’re a little different than last year where we had that one guy that was going for 20 or 30 a night. We’ve got multiple guys capable of getting hot and making a few shots and score in bunches,” Sagester said after the game.
A new chapter for Tri-Village boys Basketball in the PAC has begun and the 2022-23 season is off to a good start.
BOX SCORES:
Score By Quarters:
Belmont 06 12 05 02 – 25
Tri-Village 22 15 16 09 – 62
Individual Scoring:
Belmont: Calahan 4, Porter 7, Wells 2, Ogle 10, Jamison 2
TV: Sagester 9, Delong 6, Suggs 17, Call 2, Printz 6, Keating 8, Wehr 2, S. Cook 2, Finkbine 10
