Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PLYMOUTH -ÊAs Tippecanoe Valley prepared to play Plymouth in Friday night's boys basketball sectional semifinal, Valley coach Bill Patrick did not have to look far for motivation.
Earlier in the season, Plymouth edged the Vikings 53-51 in the first round of the Plymouth Holiday Tournament. Last night, the Vikings avenged that two-point loss by defeating the Pilgrims 61-54 in the second round of the Plymouth Sectional.
The Vikings started on the right foot as Anthony Domenico scored the first bucket of the game to give Valley an early 2-0 lead. But Plymouth's Ben Snyder answered with a three-pointer to give Plymouth what ended up being its only lead of the game at 3-2.
Brandon Eaton, Craig Kuhn and Cody New combined to score the next six points to give the Vikings a 10-3 advantage with 3:23 left on the first-quarter clock. By the end of the first frame, Valley held a 16-12 lead.
Justin Ross and Trey Eaton got Valley started on the right foot in the second quarter with two straight baskets that increased the Viking lead to eight, 20-12.
Valley and Plymouth traded baskets most of the quarter, and Valley kept the eight-point lead at the half, 30-22.
The third quarter saw Valley outscore Plymouth 16-11 as New was 5-of-5 shooting for 11 points. Kevin Stuckmeyer scored all 11 Pilgrim points in the quarter.
"Kevin Stuckmeyer did a good job," said Plymouth coach Jack Edison. "He picked us up when we really needed it."
Plymouth got to within five points of the Vikings (35-30) at the 4:49 point of the third frame, but the Pilgrims could not get any closer.
Although Plymouth outscored Valley 21-15 in the final quarter of play, the Pilgrims could not overcome the deficit they built in the first three quarters, and Valley finished the game with a 61-54 victory.
Overall Valley was 20-of-37 (54 percent) shooting from the field and 16 of 24 (66 percent) from the charity stripe, while Plymouth was 15-of-43 shooting and (35 percent) and 17 of 24 (71 percent) from the free throw line.
Coming into the sectional, Plymouth's John Pettibone was averaging 15.1 points per game. However, the Vikings, Noah Silveus in particular, managed to hold Pettibone just four points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 shooting from the free throw line. Silveus, who stuck to Pettibone like fresh bubble gum to a shoe, held Pettibone scoreless until the last four minutes of the fourth stanza.
"Valley's defense is just so tough that it was hard us to get into our offense," said Edison. "They play hard and really extend you. Silveus was everywhere Pettibone was, just like the first time we played them. (Silveus) is a hard-nosed competitor, and he has some nice friends to go right along with him."
"Silveus did a good job on Pettibone," said Patrick. "The last two nights in practice, we tried to practice guarding Pettibone, and (Silveus) was determined not to let him score."
New, who did not play in the first game against Plymouth, led the Vikings with 26 points and seven rebounds. Brandon Eaton added 11 points and seven rebounds for Valley.
Ben Snyder led Plymouth with 18 points, and Stuckmeyer added 14.
Valley, now 17-5, will play Culver Military Academy tonight at 7:30 p.m. CMA defeated Whitko 68-56 in the second game Friday night.
"Nobody likes to win more than I do," said Valley coach Bill Patrick, "but I hate to see Jack lose. He's a classy guy with a classy program."
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 61
PLYMOUTH 54
Valley (17-5) 16 14 16 15 - 61
Plymouth (16-6) 12 10 11 21 - 54
Valley FG FT R S Pts.
*Silveus 2-6 4-7 5 0 9
*B. Eaton 3-9 4-4 7 2 11
*Domenico 2-2 0-0 1 1 4
*New 8-13 7-10 7 1 26
*Kuhn 1-2 0-0 1 0 2
T. Eaton 2-3 1-2 2 1 5
Ross 1-1 0-0 0 1 2
Snyder 1-1 0-1 1 0 2
Totals 20-37 16-24 24 6 61
Plymouth FG FT R S Pts.
*Pettibone 1-8 1-2 2 1 4
*Snyder 5-8 4-4 1 1 18
*Blubaugh 0-3 0-0 2 0 0
*Stuckmeyer 4-5 6-8 2 0 14
*Houin 2-6 1-3 7 1 5
Davis 0-2 0-0 0 0 0
Stetler 2-11 3-4 2 0 9
McNeil 1-2 0-0 0 0 2
Slein 0-0 2-2 1 0 2
Totals 15-43 17-24 17 3 54
Three-point goals - Valley 5-12 (B. Eaton 1-6, New 3-5, Silveus 1-1), Plymouth 7-19 (Pettibone 1-5, Snyder 4-7, Blubaugh 0-1, Stetler 2-5, Davis 0-1). Turnovers - Valley 13, Plymouth 7. Total fouls -ÊValley 22, Plymouth 19. Fouled out -ÊT. Eaton, Houin.
