AKRON — In its 38-year history, the Tippecanoe Valley boys basketball team has surpassed 100 points 12 times. The previous best of 118 points was broken by the end of the third quarter Friday night against the visiting Wabash Apaches. Winning the Three Rivers Conference game 146-56, the Vikings (14-2, 6-0 TRC) destroyed the team scoring mark and also saw junior Tanner Andrews’ match the single-game best of 51, set by 2003-graduate Trey Eaton. Andrews accomplished the feat while playing just 22 minutes of the 32-minute game. Contacted late Friday night at his home, Valley coach Bill Patrick admitted the game was something he hadn’t seen in 43-plus years of coaching high school basketball. “It was definitely different,” said Patrick, who picked up his 707th career win. “People enjoyed it.” Valley’s previous high-point total was a 118-87 victory over Rochester during the 1989-90 season, when Bob DuBois’ squad surpassed the century mark four times. Ironically, four of Valley’s 100-point games have come against Wabash, including 106-78 in 1987-88, 105-57 in 1988-89 and 102-78 in 1990-91. Playing their second game after two starters, junior Robby Groom and junior Logan Britton, left the team, the Vikings capitalized on a blitzkreig-style of play by the Wabash Apaches. “They pressed and trapped all game, so there was nothing you could do,” Patrick said about the Apaches’ defensive strategy. “You couldn’t hold the ball at halfcourt. They’d trap, so you either threw it to the wide open player under the basket or turned it over.” Hoping to trade three-point baskets for two-point buckets, Wabash made just 7 of 41 three-point attempts, while Valley made 3 of 11 from beyond the arc, but 62 of 80 inside the three-point line (71.4 percent). Along with his 51 points, Andrews also posted 21 rebounds, although he did so on fumes. “At halftime, he said he thought he’d run four miles already,” Patrick said of the 6-foot-3 forward. Limited by having to play varsity members because some reserves played in the junior varsity game, the fatigue was evident. “A couple of times, Tanner wanted to dunk the ball, but he was too tired,” Patrick said. Not wanting anyone to get injured, Andrews’ wasn’t the only one to play sparingly, as senior Nick Kindig scored 26 in 20 minutes, sophomore Alex Thacker had 21 in 22 minutes and senior Jacob Ritchey posted four in 21 points. Despite the eye-bulging numbers, Patrick insists it isn’t a new offense he’s trying out. “It was just Wabash,” he said. Lost in the score is the fact Valley improved to 6-0 in the TRC and is guaranteed at least a share of the conference crown. Valley and Northfield split the conference title a year ago when each went 6-1. The only team standing in the way of Valley’s perfect TRC season is 1-14 North Miami on Thursday in Denver.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 146, WABASH 56 W 23 9 15 9 – 56 TV 39 39 42 26 – 146 Valley – Nick Kindig 12 2-2 26, Alex Thacker 8 2-2 21, Tanner Andrews 24 2-3 51, Chainey Zolman 6 2-2 14, Jacob Ritchey 2 0-0 4, Derrick Cunningham 1 0-0 2, Jarred Littlejohn 0 2-2 2, Gavin Bussard 2 0-0 4, Ben Shriver 6 0-0 12, Chandler O’Connor 1 2-2 4, Aaron Hoffman 3 0-0 6. Totals 65-91 13-15 146. Wabash – T. King 2 0-0 6, Nealig 2 1-5 10, Adamson 2 0-0 4, Brewer 3 1-1 8, Jones 0 0-0 0, Clemons 3 1-1 7, T. Hough 0 0-0 0, Blair 3 2-5 11, Vigar 0 0-0 0, Sailors 2 0-0 4, B. Hough 1 0-0 2, Dirig 0 0-0 0, C. King 2 0-0 4, Hall 0 0-0 0. Totals 19-95 5-7 56. Three-point goals – Valley 3-11 (Thacker 3), Wabash 7-41 (Blair 3, T. King 2, Nealig, Brewer); Team Fouls – Valley 14, Wabash 13; Rebounds – Valley 56 (Andrews 21); Assists – Valley 40 (Kindig 9, Ritchey 9); Records: Valley 16-5 (6-0 TRC), Wabash 4-10 (1-5 TRC) JV – Valley 37, Wabash 29
