Valley In The Midst Of Another Fine Season
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
This year coach Patrick may be right.
By no means did his team come into this season with the cupboard bare.[[In-content Ad]]Valley returned seniors Kevin Kindig and Adam Nelson, all-area selections this year, and Jerrod Parker.
The Vikings also saw junior Chad Hoffer move into the starting lineup after being one of the team's leading scorers and sixth man last season.
What the Vikings did lose was co-area players of the year David Lash and Shane Drudge to graduation.
That talented duo led Valley to a regional appearance before bowing out to eventual 3A state runner-up Jay County.
There were some questions about this year's Valley team but with early wins against Warsaw and 2A state-ranked John Glenn, the critics we're silenced.
Once again Patrick, who has a career record of 639-219 in 38 years without a losing season, fielded a team that could play and play well.
Now the challenge for Patrick and Co. is to pick up another sectional title at Fort Wayne Wayne.
The VIkings drew a bye and will play Peru Friday night.
Valley beat the Tigers in Peru 49-42 earlier in the season.
Patrick knows that if any team in the Wayne Sectional is gunning for his team it's Peru.
The Tigers are led by former Patrick assistant Eric Thompson.
"There's no question of all the teams in the sectional, the one team that would like to beat us more than any other is Peru. They're a solid, talented basketball team," said Patrick.
And while Valley is probably the favorite at the Wayne Sectional, they didn't achieve that moniker without some hard times this year.
Valley's first loss of the season came to a tough Plymouth squad on the night the Pilgrims honored their 1982 State Championship team.
Patrick said the 58-48 loss might have been his team's worst game of the year.
And while Valley only lost by 10 points the score is deceiving as Plymouth was in control the entire game.
Valley's next defeat came at the hands of Three Rivers Conference rival Rochester in the Winning Edge Holiday Tournament at Valley.
The Vikings squandered a fourth quarter lead and eventually fell 58-56.
The Vikings seemed primed for revenge in TRC play but fate stepped in.
The night of Jan. 5, after a 58-40 home win over Northfield, Patrick was involved in an auto accident that left him in the with several injuries.
While Patrick was at the Jan. 12 game at Rochester he didn't sit on the bench and the emotions of that week showed on the faces of his team.
The Vikings, especially the seniors, were still reeling from the death of a Valley student earlier in the year from an auto accident.\
Valley was too keyed up in the rematch with Rochester and was down 22-2 before coming back and falling 51-47.
The Vikings did end up sharing the TRC crown with Rochester after the Zebras fell to Northfield.
That honor was cold comfort for Valley and Patrick.
Adding fuel to their fire were the quotes of Rochester players saying they were the real TRC champs because they beat Valley.
That motivation, said Patrick, has carried over for the rest of the season.
While Valley won't get another crack at the Zebras, the Vikings can show how good of a team they are by making a run in the state tournament.
The key to that will be the play of Hoffer.
Hoffer led the team in scoring this year at 13.2 points per game and also added 4.9 assists, 2.5 steals and a 75.0 percent average from the foul line.
"Chad had to play a little out of position this year," said Patrick of Hoffer. "His natural position is that of a swing player but we've had him at point guard and guarding the other team's point guard."
Hoffer is no stranger to playing out of position. A wide receiver his freshmen and sophomore year, Hoffer played quarterback for coach Jeff Shriver's football team this past fall.
Complimenting Hoffer is Kindig who Patrick said may be the most underated player in the area.
Kindig averaged 11.3 points per game shooting 54.5 percent from the field and adding 8.2 rebounds to go along with 3.9 assists.
Nelson is third on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game while Shane Salyer and Steve Tillman, both juniors, average 9.7 and 7.7 points per game respectivley.
The Vikings have been balanced this year and on any given night somebody can step up to lead the charge.
Valley will need everyone to step up if the Vikings want to add another sectional title and more to the trophy case at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Valley takes on Peru (11-9) Friday night.
The Tigers have won five of their last seven games to end the regular season.
Continued From Page 5
play but fate stepped in.
The night of Jan. 5, after a 58-40 home win over Northfield, Patrick was involved in an auto accident that left him in the hospital with several injuries.
While Patrick was at the Jan. 12 game at Rochester he didn't sit on the bench and the emotions of that week showed on the faces of his team.
The Vikings, especially the seniors, were still reeling from the death of a Valley student earlier in the year from an auto accident.
Valley was too keyed up in the rematch with Rochester and was down 22-2 before coming back and falling 51-47.
The Vikings did end up sharing the TRC crown with Rochester after the Zebras fell to Northfield.
That honor was cold comfort for Valley and Patrick.
Adding fuel to their fire were the quotes of Rochester players saying they were the real TRC champs because they beat Valley.
That motivation, said Patrick, has carried over for the rest of the season.
While Valley won't get another crack at the Zebras, the Vikings can show how good of a team they are by making a run in the state tournament.
The key to that will be the play of Hoffer.
Hoffer led the team in scoring this year at 13.2 points per game and also added 4.9 assists, 2.5 steals and a 75.0 percent average from the foul line.
"Chad had to play a little out of position this year," said Patrick of Hoffer. "His natural position is that of a swing player but we've had him at point guard and guarding the other team's point guard."
Hoffer is no stranger to playing out of position. A wide receiver his freshmen and sophomore year, Hoffer played quarterback for coach Jeff Shriver's football team this past fall.
Complimenting Hoffer is Kindig who Patrick said may be the most underated player in the area.
Kindig averaged 11.3 points per game shooting 54.5 percent from the field and adding 8.2 rebounds to go along with 3.9 assists.
Nelson is third on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game while Shane Salyer and Steve Tillman, both juniors, average 9.7 and 7.7 points per game respectively
The Vikings have been balanced this year and on any given night somebody can step up to lead the charge.
Valley will need everyone to step up if the Vikings want to add another sectional title and more to the trophy case at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Valley takes on Peru (11-9) Friday night.
The Tigers have won five of their last seven games to end the regular season.
In his ninth season at Valley, Patrick has guided the Vikings to three sectional championships (2000, 2005, 2006) and one regional championship (2000). Along the way, the Vikings have posted an impressive 161-39 record.
Overall, in his 38th year, Patrick is 639-219.
This year coach Patrick may be right.
By no means did his team come into this season with the cupboard bare.[[In-content Ad]]Valley returned seniors Kevin Kindig and Adam Nelson, all-area selections this year, and Jerrod Parker.
The Vikings also saw junior Chad Hoffer move into the starting lineup after being one of the team's leading scorers and sixth man last season.
What the Vikings did lose was co-area players of the year David Lash and Shane Drudge to graduation.
That talented duo led Valley to a regional appearance before bowing out to eventual 3A state runner-up Jay County.
There were some questions about this year's Valley team but with early wins against Warsaw and 2A state-ranked John Glenn, the critics we're silenced.
Once again Patrick, who has a career record of 639-219 in 38 years without a losing season, fielded a team that could play and play well.
Now the challenge for Patrick and Co. is to pick up another sectional title at Fort Wayne Wayne.
The VIkings drew a bye and will play Peru Friday night.
Valley beat the Tigers in Peru 49-42 earlier in the season.
Patrick knows that if any team in the Wayne Sectional is gunning for his team it's Peru.
The Tigers are led by former Patrick assistant Eric Thompson.
"There's no question of all the teams in the sectional, the one team that would like to beat us more than any other is Peru. They're a solid, talented basketball team," said Patrick.
And while Valley is probably the favorite at the Wayne Sectional, they didn't achieve that moniker without some hard times this year.
Valley's first loss of the season came to a tough Plymouth squad on the night the Pilgrims honored their 1982 State Championship team.
Patrick said the 58-48 loss might have been his team's worst game of the year.
And while Valley only lost by 10 points the score is deceiving as Plymouth was in control the entire game.
Valley's next defeat came at the hands of Three Rivers Conference rival Rochester in the Winning Edge Holiday Tournament at Valley.
The Vikings squandered a fourth quarter lead and eventually fell 58-56.
The Vikings seemed primed for revenge in TRC play but fate stepped in.
The night of Jan. 5, after a 58-40 home win over Northfield, Patrick was involved in an auto accident that left him in the with several injuries.
While Patrick was at the Jan. 12 game at Rochester he didn't sit on the bench and the emotions of that week showed on the faces of his team.
The Vikings, especially the seniors, were still reeling from the death of a Valley student earlier in the year from an auto accident.\
Valley was too keyed up in the rematch with Rochester and was down 22-2 before coming back and falling 51-47.
The Vikings did end up sharing the TRC crown with Rochester after the Zebras fell to Northfield.
That honor was cold comfort for Valley and Patrick.
Adding fuel to their fire were the quotes of Rochester players saying they were the real TRC champs because they beat Valley.
That motivation, said Patrick, has carried over for the rest of the season.
While Valley won't get another crack at the Zebras, the Vikings can show how good of a team they are by making a run in the state tournament.
The key to that will be the play of Hoffer.
Hoffer led the team in scoring this year at 13.2 points per game and also added 4.9 assists, 2.5 steals and a 75.0 percent average from the foul line.
"Chad had to play a little out of position this year," said Patrick of Hoffer. "His natural position is that of a swing player but we've had him at point guard and guarding the other team's point guard."
Hoffer is no stranger to playing out of position. A wide receiver his freshmen and sophomore year, Hoffer played quarterback for coach Jeff Shriver's football team this past fall.
Complimenting Hoffer is Kindig who Patrick said may be the most underated player in the area.
Kindig averaged 11.3 points per game shooting 54.5 percent from the field and adding 8.2 rebounds to go along with 3.9 assists.
Nelson is third on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game while Shane Salyer and Steve Tillman, both juniors, average 9.7 and 7.7 points per game respectivley.
The Vikings have been balanced this year and on any given night somebody can step up to lead the charge.
Valley will need everyone to step up if the Vikings want to add another sectional title and more to the trophy case at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Valley takes on Peru (11-9) Friday night.
The Tigers have won five of their last seven games to end the regular season.
Continued From Page 5
play but fate stepped in.
The night of Jan. 5, after a 58-40 home win over Northfield, Patrick was involved in an auto accident that left him in the hospital with several injuries.
While Patrick was at the Jan. 12 game at Rochester he didn't sit on the bench and the emotions of that week showed on the faces of his team.
The Vikings, especially the seniors, were still reeling from the death of a Valley student earlier in the year from an auto accident.
Valley was too keyed up in the rematch with Rochester and was down 22-2 before coming back and falling 51-47.
The Vikings did end up sharing the TRC crown with Rochester after the Zebras fell to Northfield.
That honor was cold comfort for Valley and Patrick.
Adding fuel to their fire were the quotes of Rochester players saying they were the real TRC champs because they beat Valley.
That motivation, said Patrick, has carried over for the rest of the season.
While Valley won't get another crack at the Zebras, the Vikings can show how good of a team they are by making a run in the state tournament.
The key to that will be the play of Hoffer.
Hoffer led the team in scoring this year at 13.2 points per game and also added 4.9 assists, 2.5 steals and a 75.0 percent average from the foul line.
"Chad had to play a little out of position this year," said Patrick of Hoffer. "His natural position is that of a swing player but we've had him at point guard and guarding the other team's point guard."
Hoffer is no stranger to playing out of position. A wide receiver his freshmen and sophomore year, Hoffer played quarterback for coach Jeff Shriver's football team this past fall.
Complimenting Hoffer is Kindig who Patrick said may be the most underated player in the area.
Kindig averaged 11.3 points per game shooting 54.5 percent from the field and adding 8.2 rebounds to go along with 3.9 assists.
Nelson is third on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game while Shane Salyer and Steve Tillman, both juniors, average 9.7 and 7.7 points per game respectively
The Vikings have been balanced this year and on any given night somebody can step up to lead the charge.
Valley will need everyone to step up if the Vikings want to add another sectional title and more to the trophy case at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Valley takes on Peru (11-9) Friday night.
The Tigers have won five of their last seven games to end the regular season.
In his ninth season at Valley, Patrick has guided the Vikings to three sectional championships (2000, 2005, 2006) and one regional championship (2000). Along the way, the Vikings have posted an impressive 161-39 record.
Overall, in his 38th year, Patrick is 639-219.
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