NAPPANEE – Other than scoring just four points in the third quarter and struggling to rebound the ball, the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings gave the top-ranked NorthWood Panthers a run for their money Saturday night. In the championship game of Class 3A Sectional 21 at NorthWood High School, Valley fell 60-50, as the Vikings’ season came to an end with a 12-13 record. Valley trailed 18-14 after one quarter of play and just 28-27 at halftime. In the pivotal third quarter, the Panthers, who improved to 23-2 on the season, outscored Valley 15-4 to take a 45-31 advantage into the final frame. NorthWood dominated Valley on the boards 31-10, including a 10-2 advantage on the offensive glass, as the Panthers secured their third-straight sectional title. The Panthers also helped their cause by making 11 of 19 three-point attempts and 17 of 20 attempts at the free throw line. Saturday’s 10-point loss left Valley coach Bill Patrick with just his fourth losing season in his 47-season Hall of Fame career. Patrick, who turned 79 Sunday, has a career record of 756-304, which includes a mark of 278-124 in 18 seasons at Valley. Braxton Linville, a Grace College recruit, led NorthWood with 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Vincent Miranda and Dakiyron Fox chipped in with 14 and 11 points, respectively, in the win. Neil Clampitt paced Valley with 17 points, while Alec Craig and Gavin Bussard finished with 12 and 10, respectively. NorthWood, coached by former Warsaw assistant Aaron Wolfe, will play Angola (25-2) in the first semifinal game Saturday in the Marion Regional. The second semifinal there will feature Columbia City (20-6) and Marion (19-7).
NORTHWOOD 60, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 50 NW 18 10 15 17 – 60 TV 14 13 4 19 – 50 NorthWood – Braxton Linville 7-10 7-8 25, Luke Zurcher 1-3 0-0 3, Vincent Miranda 5-11 2-2 14, Chad Sellers 0-0 3-3 3, Dakiyron Fox 3-5 5-7 11, Caleb Lung 0-1 0-0 0, Trey Billinski 2-3 0-0 4, Brayton Yoder 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-33 17-20 60. Valley – Brandon Webster 2-6 1-2 7, Trevor Neeley 0-1 0-0 0, DJ Heckman 0-0 0-0 0, Alec Craig 4-9 1-3 12, Jake Gearhardt 0-0 0-0 0, Gavin Bussard 3-3 4-4 10, Neil Clampitt 6-12 1-3 17, Jarod Duzenbery 2-6 0-1 4, Bryce Webster 0-0 0-0 0, Dakota Parker 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Morrison 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-37 7-13 50. Three-pointers – NorthWood 11 (Linville 3, Miranda 3, Fox 3, Billinski 2), Valley 8 (Bussard 3, Clampitt 2, Duzenbery 2, Craig); Rebounds – NorthWood 31 (Linville 9), Valley 10 (Bussard 3); Turnovers – NorthWood 14, Valley 6; Fouls – NorthWood 13, Valley 15; Fouled out – none; Records: NorthWood 23-2, Valley 12-13
