WABASH – With four players scoring in double figures, Tippecanoe Valley’s varsity boys basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak and gave hall of fame coach Bill Patrick his 750th career win. In a 58-52 win at Three Rivers Conference rival Wabash, Neil Clampitt scored a game-high 19 points, while Alec Craig chipped in with 16 points, and Brandon Webster and Jarod Duzenberry finished with 11 and 10, respectively. The Vikings, now 6-11 overall and 4-3 in the TRC, were 21 of 41 from the field overall and 10 of 13 from the free throw line. Wabash was 21 of 48 from the field overall and 6 of 9 at the free throw line, as the Apaches fell to 2-13 and 1-6. “We shot the ball well,” said Patrick. “We shot 51 percent from the field, and we shot 77 percent at the free throw line. All the games that we’ve shot 50 percent, we’ve won. The games we’ve shot 40 percent, we’ve been in the game. When we shoot below that, that’s when we struggle. We got off to a good start in the first quarter.” Valley led 15-8 after the first quarter, 22-20 at halftime and 42-37 heading into the final frame. Taylor Vigar led Wabash with 17 points, while Owen Yeadon and Luke Mattern scored 12 and nine, respectively. In his 47th season, all with the Whitko and Valley school corporations, Patrick has a coaching record of 750-302. Patrick is the winningest active coach in the state, and is third among coaches all-time. Jack Butcher won 806 games in his 45 year career, while Pat Rady won 761 games in 51 seasons. “It obviously means I’ve been around a long time and worked with a lot of kids,” Patrick said of the milestone. “The big thing is I’m proud to have been able to coach in two great communities, with Whitko and Valley. I’ve been able to work with some great kids and coaches along the way.” The Vikings will be in action again Tuesday when they travel to new Three Rivers Conference school Maconaquah.
