Vikings spread the wealth in rout of Aces

By Jacob Merideth
Contributor

ASHVILLE — It was the type of game that Teays Valley coach Brian Barnett envisioned on Tuesday against a young Amanda-Clearcreek squad.

The Vikings put 10 players into the scoring column, shot a sizzling 64.4 percent (29 of 45) from the field and left no doubt in a 66-17 Mid-State League Buckeye Division win over the visiting Aces.

“We did what we needed to and did what we should have,” Barnett said.

The Vikings immediately started to share the wealth in the opening quarter, with six players contributing to the scoring, led by freshmen Kole Nungester and Brody Fields scoring two baskets apiece.

Defensively, the Vikings checked the Aces to just a free throw in the period by Tucker Shamblin to take a commanding 16-1 lead.

“We have really harped on sharing the basketball all season,” Barnett said. “Our plan was to get guys in who normally don’t see playing time, because those guys are only an injury away from seeing minutes on the court.”

The Vikings again had six players land in the scoring column in the second quarter, paced by Sam Miller tallying nine points and Ivan Smith contributing five, to expand their advantage to 39-8 at halftime.

After being held without a field goal in the first quarter, the Aces shot 3 of 7 (42.9 percent) in the second quarter on baskets from Levi Owens and Shamblin and a triple courtesy of Brady Holbrook.

The Vikings were stingier on defense in the third quarter, yielding just a basket by Logan Stevens, as they increased their lead to 51-10.

Miller led all scorers with 16 points for the Vikings, Smith turned in 10 points, five rebounds and blocked four shots and Nungester had nine points.

“Ivan has really elevated his game in the past few weeks,” Barnett said.

Stevens scored four points to lead the Aces, who finished the game 7 of 30 (23.3 percent) from the field.

Both teams hit the road on Saturday to continue league play, as the Vikings (10-3, 9-0) battle Bloom-Carroll and the Aces (2-14, 0-9) tangle with Hamilton Township.

Teays Valley 66, Amanda-Clearcreek 17
AMANDA-CLEARCREEK — Taylon Conrad 1-0-3, Logan Stevens 2-0-4, Tucker Shamblin 1-1-3, Brady Holbrook 1-0-3, Levi Owens 1-0-2, Maddox Cupp 1-0-2. Three-point goals — Holbrook and Conrad. Total — 7-30 1-7 17.
TEAYS VALLEY — Kole Nungester 4-0-9, Brody Fields 3-0-6, Luke Burgett 3-0-6, Owen Hoffhines 2-0-4, Ryan Allton 2-0-4, Riley Dick 1-0-2, Kaden Hines 2-0-5, Ivan Smith 5-0-10, Brayden Primmer 2-0-4, Sam Miller 5-5-16. Three-point goals — Nungester, Hines and Miller. Total — 29-45 5-9 66.

Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Am.-Clearcreek 1 7 2 7 17
Teays Valley 16 23 12 15 66