SOUTH BEND — Stephen Akase was perfect, Blaine Sheetz was perfect — that duo combining for a dazzling 12-of-12 from the field — and yet even with that showing, it was still barely enough for Tippecanoe Valley to survive a chilling regular-season boys high school basketball finale with a 60-57 road win over South Bend Washington on Friday night at the Great Western Forum.
“We picked up a lot of great experience tonight in a very challenging atmosphere,” Valley coach Joe Luce said. “We’re gonna play some good teams in the sectional, but I don’t know that we’re going to face anybody that’s quite as tenacious defensively as that.”
Akase scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and got the putback bucket that gave the Vikings a 59-57 lead with 11 seconds to go. The junior finished 7-of-7 from the field and 6-of-8 at the line.
Sheetz added 13 points on 5-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 at the stripe to accompany a game-high six assists. Fellow senior Ian Cooksey also netted 13 points and led Valley with three steals.
“What a gutsy play by Akase at the end to go get that rebound,” Luce said.
It came off that one and only miss by Sheetz, a free throw.
Sheetz, though, made huge plays throughout and scored 11 of his points in the second half.
“Blaine’s had a senior year he’ll remember for the rest of his life,” Luce said. “He was the ultimate team player last year when we needed him to split time on the junior varsity, and then this year, he rarely comes off the floor. He’s truly come into his own and he gives us a chance to win every night.”
The Vikings closed the regular season 18-5, including wins in 12 of their final 13 games, the lone exception Tuesday’s 62-55 loss at 4A No. 8 Warsaw (22-4).
The Panthers (16-7) were without Steven Reynolds III — rated the No. 1 junior in the state by 247Sports — but super soph guards Da’Kori Parker (15) and Mike Stuckey (12) combined for 27 points.
Reynolds, who had never missed a game in his high school career, was nursing body soreness, according to his father, but is expected to be ready for postseason.
“You never want an advantage that’s because of an injury or whatever it might be, and he’s a really great player,” Luce said of Reynolds, who is averaging 24 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals to lead Washington in each,” but I also thought their kids on the floor stepped up tremendously. They were fluid, played together, and I’m so impressed with their coach (Ryan Varga).
“I don’t know if there’s a more perfect game plan against us than what they had,” Luce said. “They doubled Akase, chased Cooksey and made it hard for (point guard Davis) Cowan to get a catch. They sagged off our other guys, but we also had guys step up for us.”
Valley led 20-10 early in the second quarter, before the Panthers rallied to knot the game 25-25 at 1:15 left before halftime.
From that point onward, there were 10 lead changes and seven ties.
After the Akase basket that put the visitors up 59-57, Washington turned the ball over at 10.4 seconds to go on a long pass attempt and Akase made 1-of-2 free throws at 8.2 left for the final count.
A corner 3-point try by the Panthers to force overtime was way off the mark at 0.1.
The Vikings shot a sizzling 22-of-33 from the field for 67% with three 3-pointers to go with 13-of-20 at the line.
Washington hit 24-of-49 from the field for 49% with six triples, but got to the line just five times, converting three.
Valley committed 19 turnovers against the Panthers’ pressure, while Washington finished with 12.
The Vikings open Class 3A NorthWood Sectional play with a 6 p.m. game Tuesday against West Noble (8-14). The Panthers face 3A No. 2-rated South Bend St. Joseph on Wednesday at the Plymouth Sectional.