Slow start dooms Vikes against Norse
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
HUNTINGTON - On Saturday, the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings were back into the regional tournament for the first time since 1988. Their opponent, the Northfield Norsemen, came into the game with a formidable 16-6 record and the experience of playing two games in Huntington North's arena just one week ago at the sectional.
The Vikings came in with confidence that they could knock off Northfield for the school's first regional victory. After all, the Norsemen defeated Valley by just two points on a last-second shot in the regular season.
But the Vikings could not contend with Northfield's two big men inside, Dewayne Krom and Bernie Schuck, as the Norsemen ended Valley's season with a 59-44 victory in the opening round of the regional.
Krom and Schuck stand 6-foot-8 and 6-4, respectively. The men that would guard those two, Jeff Brown and Nick Stutzman, are just 6-1 and 6-0. Northfield exploited that size advantage as Krom and Schuck combined for 34 points and 20 rebounds to keep Valley from ever really challenging.
The opening period was really the deciding quarter in the game. Northfield opened up a 14-point lead and led by 12 at the end of the quarter.
"We started the game out very tight," Valley head coach Gregg Sciarra said. "I don't think anybody on the team was ready to handle the crowd or the atmosphere. We were playing scared. We didn't get loose until a little bit into the second quarter."
Krom and Schuck scored 12 of Northfield's 16 points in the opening period, while Darren Parker and Brown missed all seven shots they attempted for Valley.
Brown hit a quick layup to open the second quarter to get to within 16-6, and then he hit another one with seven minutes to play to close to within nine points. Freshman Brandon Eaton added an offensive rebound and put-back, and Valley began to show signs of life trailing 17-10. But Northfield scored the next six points to start a 13-2 run and the Norsemen led 32-14 at the half.
Krom was 5 of 7 for 12 points and five rebounds in the first 16 minutes, while Schuck was 6 of 7 with 12 points and four rebounds.
In the third quarter, Valley scored the first seven points, all from Brown, but Northfield came back with seven straight points of their own to re-extend the lead. Andy Young knocked down a three-pointer late in the quarter to make the score 39-26 with eight minutes to play.
In the fourth quarter, Brown hit his last basket with 7:03 to play, a three-pointer, to get within 12 points. But the Vikings could get no closer as Northfield held on for the 59-44 victory.
Krom ended with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Schuck had 16 points and seven boards.
Brown led Valley with 18 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
A key to the game was shooting. The Vikings shot just 32 percent, but without Brown, Valley made just 10 out of 40 shots. On the other hand, Northfield shot an amazing 67 percent in the opening half and 54 percent for the game.
Valley was also cold from behind the three-point line. The Vikings made just one of 12 attempts in the opening three-quarters from that distance. Eric Love, who shot 51 percent from three-point range in the regular season, made just one of eight for the game.
"A lot of it was their defense," Sciarra said. "But for the most part, we just pressed too much."
Valley will lose four starters to graduation. Brown, Parker, Nick Stutzman, and Bryan Lenfestey have all gone through a roller-coaster season of suspensions, last-second wins and losses, and a 10-10 regular season record that was less than what was expected of this group.
"They are a great bunch of kids," Sciarra said. "Those guys deserved to be in the regionals. I'm very proud of all that they have accomplished. It's been a really good ride with these fellows, and I'll miss them dearly."
Even though Valley ended the season at 12-11, the record is deceiving.
"With the ups-and-downs of the season that we've had, we should have lost to South Bend Washington and Plymouth twice," Sciarra said. "If everything else goes right, we could have won the rest. They did well for the things they've been through." [[In-content Ad]]
HUNTINGTON - On Saturday, the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings were back into the regional tournament for the first time since 1988. Their opponent, the Northfield Norsemen, came into the game with a formidable 16-6 record and the experience of playing two games in Huntington North's arena just one week ago at the sectional.
The Vikings came in with confidence that they could knock off Northfield for the school's first regional victory. After all, the Norsemen defeated Valley by just two points on a last-second shot in the regular season.
But the Vikings could not contend with Northfield's two big men inside, Dewayne Krom and Bernie Schuck, as the Norsemen ended Valley's season with a 59-44 victory in the opening round of the regional.
Krom and Schuck stand 6-foot-8 and 6-4, respectively. The men that would guard those two, Jeff Brown and Nick Stutzman, are just 6-1 and 6-0. Northfield exploited that size advantage as Krom and Schuck combined for 34 points and 20 rebounds to keep Valley from ever really challenging.
The opening period was really the deciding quarter in the game. Northfield opened up a 14-point lead and led by 12 at the end of the quarter.
"We started the game out very tight," Valley head coach Gregg Sciarra said. "I don't think anybody on the team was ready to handle the crowd or the atmosphere. We were playing scared. We didn't get loose until a little bit into the second quarter."
Krom and Schuck scored 12 of Northfield's 16 points in the opening period, while Darren Parker and Brown missed all seven shots they attempted for Valley.
Brown hit a quick layup to open the second quarter to get to within 16-6, and then he hit another one with seven minutes to play to close to within nine points. Freshman Brandon Eaton added an offensive rebound and put-back, and Valley began to show signs of life trailing 17-10. But Northfield scored the next six points to start a 13-2 run and the Norsemen led 32-14 at the half.
Krom was 5 of 7 for 12 points and five rebounds in the first 16 minutes, while Schuck was 6 of 7 with 12 points and four rebounds.
In the third quarter, Valley scored the first seven points, all from Brown, but Northfield came back with seven straight points of their own to re-extend the lead. Andy Young knocked down a three-pointer late in the quarter to make the score 39-26 with eight minutes to play.
In the fourth quarter, Brown hit his last basket with 7:03 to play, a three-pointer, to get within 12 points. But the Vikings could get no closer as Northfield held on for the 59-44 victory.
Krom ended with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Schuck had 16 points and seven boards.
Brown led Valley with 18 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
A key to the game was shooting. The Vikings shot just 32 percent, but without Brown, Valley made just 10 out of 40 shots. On the other hand, Northfield shot an amazing 67 percent in the opening half and 54 percent for the game.
Valley was also cold from behind the three-point line. The Vikings made just one of 12 attempts in the opening three-quarters from that distance. Eric Love, who shot 51 percent from three-point range in the regular season, made just one of eight for the game.
"A lot of it was their defense," Sciarra said. "But for the most part, we just pressed too much."
Valley will lose four starters to graduation. Brown, Parker, Nick Stutzman, and Bryan Lenfestey have all gone through a roller-coaster season of suspensions, last-second wins and losses, and a 10-10 regular season record that was less than what was expected of this group.
"They are a great bunch of kids," Sciarra said. "Those guys deserved to be in the regionals. I'm very proud of all that they have accomplished. It's been a really good ride with these fellows, and I'll miss them dearly."
Even though Valley ended the season at 12-11, the record is deceiving.
"With the ups-and-downs of the season that we've had, we should have lost to South Bend Washington and Plymouth twice," Sciarra said. "If everything else goes right, we could have won the rest. They did well for the things they've been through." [[In-content Ad]]