PIQUA – The Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks lost a 66-37 OHSAA DVII tournament game to the Jackson Center Tigers, an experienced, big, physical team, in Thursday night action.
“I am super proud of my kids,” said Mississinawa Valley coach Jeff Vaughn. “We won 11 games. People thought maybe five if that so there is nothing to hang our heads on. The kids played hard, and that is all I can ask for.”
“Our kids battled. We have a bunch of young kids that are trying to battle,” Vaughn added. “They (Jackson Center) are men; we need to be men by next year.”
The Tigers took the opening quarter 13-6 with MV sophomore Cing Scott scoring 4 points and 6’6” freshman Ben Hamilton chipped in a basket.
“From where Cing started the year and where he finished, he’s grown immensely,” Vaughn stated. “Cing has the I lean on him a lot and he leans on me. We have a good relationship so his future is bright.”
The second quarter of the night saw the Hawks’ sophomore Elliott Seubert and Hamilton each go 2-2 at the free-throw line. Scott drained a 3-pointer, and sophomore Jaxin Beanblossom added a bucket, sending the teams to the break with Jackson Center leading 27-15.
Period No. 3 proved to be the largest output of the game, with the Tigers taking the quarter 23-12 to lead 50-27 with one period to play. Third quarter scoring came from two MV freshman, Cole McGlothlin with 6 points on two 3-pointers, and Hamilton with three buckets for 6 points.
“Cole McGlothin stepped up during the year,” Vaughn said. “He played JV. Caden Hanes has been solid all year. Now we just have to get him to be a little bit of a scorer.”
“Ben Hamilton is probably getting outweighed by one hundred and fifty pounds,” Coach Vaughn said of his center. “He still battled, he gives it everything he can.
The final period went to Jackson Center 16-10 to advance in tournament play with a 29-point win. Scott led the MV fourth with 6 points.
MV seniors No. 14 Ethan Grow and No. 35 Nick Ward played their final basketball for the Blackhawks. The duo was a welcome addition to the program, although they did not see an abundance of playing time on the court.
“I have a lot of respect for those two kids because it’s not easy,” said Coach Vaughn. “I told the guys it’s a lot bigger than just basketball; it’s life, and those are two selfless kids for whom I would do anything. They showed their character and I never heard one time of them complaining about not playing. They came every day and did their job, and I know it wasn’t easy. Ethan Grow gave us great minutes when Ben was out this year. Nick practiced hard. “Both are great kids, and it’s bigger than basketball. I told them we’re family now for life. I’ll do whatever I can to help them in any way.”
BOXSCORE:
JACKSON CENTER 66, Mississinawa Valley 37
JACKSON CENTER – L. Heitkamp 15, P. Serr 15, R. Platfoot 13, C. Klopfenstein 12, B. Serr 3, A. Fark 3, D. Reese 3, T. Woolley 2 – TOTALS 19 4-8 8 66
MISSISSINAWA VALLEY – C. Scott 13, B. Hamilton 12, C. McGlothlin 6, J. Beanblossom 3, E. Seubert 2, N. Ward 1 – TOTALS 10 8-13 3 37
3-POINTERS
Jackson Center 8 (P. Serr 3, L. Heitkamp 2, B. Serr 1, A. Fark 1, D. Reese 1)
Mississinawa Valley 3 (McGlothlin 2, Scott 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
13-14-23-16 66 Jackson Center
06-09-12-10 37 Mississinawa Valley
