by JACOB MEREDITH / sportingpumpkin.com
OBETZ — Teays Valley went on the road and snagged a hard-fought win over Hamilton Township 64-57 in an MSL Buckeye match-up.
Both teams got big efforts from sophomore guards as TV’s Brody Fields put up 31 points in the win and HT’s Jovon McBride had 31 as well.
The scoring was opened up by Teays Valley’s Fields with a basket from three, and a three from Ranger Kaden Ahr tied the score. A Sam Miller bucket from put the Vikings back ahead but a McBride basket would see the Rangers keep pace with the Teays Valley offense to tie the game back up.
“I thought we played well to start and tried to get a cushion initially to try and contain Jovon, which you can never control him because he is such a great player,” TV Coach Brian Barnett said.
Then another Fields basket from three would put the Vikings ahead. Hamilton’s Hamidou Diallo would respond with a Rangers score, but the Vikings answered with a Cavin McDowell free throw and a Sam Miller rebound off the miss for another Viking basket. The Rangers’ Jovon McBride would draw a foul and drain both free throws to cut the Teays lead to a basket and then an assist from Brody Fields found Kole Nungester behind the arc for a three. The Rangers were quick to answer when McBride found the bucket to make the lead 14-11. The Vikings’ scoring closed in the first with two free throws from Brody Fields and the Rangers ended the first with a driving layup from Josh Woods and a corner jumper from Nick Tuff to make the score 18-15.
Diallo started the second with a drive to draw a foul and drained one of two free throws. Kole Nungester opened the scoring for the Vikings with a three, then Sam Miller drew a foul with the basket counting, making the free throw to make the Vikings lead eight in the second. Hamilton swung the momentum its way with consecutive McBride baskets forcing a Vikings’ timeout.
“We told our kids to be patient, we knew they would score, and we told them to keep doing the things we do” Barnett said.
After the timeout, Fields and McBride were responsible for six points each as the Vikings took a 30-26 led into halftime.
“We told our kids at half to remain physical and play strong and keep getting the ball to the basket and execute on the offensive end and help with Jovon on defense and if we did that we would be in good shape,” Barnett said.
The Rangers drew first blood after the half with a McBride basket to cut the deficit to two and a bucket from Miller matched to make the score 32-28. Hamilton’s Josh Woods connected on three and a drive to make the first Ranger lead of the night 33-32,
The two crews continued the back-and-forth battle with TV holding a 44-43 lead heading into the fourth.
The Rangers began the final quarter with threes from Brad Butcher and McBride, matched by a Nungester score and a Miller jumper to make Ranger lead a single point. A deep three from Woods would cause an early period time-out from Teays with Hamilton leading 51-48.
“We have the no quit mentality when we get down, the guys know we can defend and get the ball in the right places late when it matters,” Barnett said.
Fresh out of the timeout, the Vikings’ McDowell connected from three to tie the game and two consecutive baskets from Miller and Nungester put the Vikings up four.
Fields capped his 31-point night scoring the Vikings’ final nine points – including going 4-4 at the free throw line.
Miller had a double-double with 18 points for 13 rebounds in the contest.
Nungester also had a double-double in the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Teays Valley 64, Hamilton Township 57
Teays Valley — Kole Nungester 5-0-12, Brody Fields 10-7-31, Cavin McDowell 1-1-4, Sam Miller 8-1-17. Three-point goals — Nungester (2), Fields (4), McDowell. Total — 24-56 9-17 64.
Hamilton Township — Nick Tuff 1-0-2, Kaden Ahr 2-0-5, Josh Woods 6-0-13, Brad Butcher 1-0-3, Jovon McBride 10-10-31, Hamidou Diallo 1-1-3. Three-point goals — Ahr, Woods, Butcher, McBride. Total — 21-11-57.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Teays Valley 18 12 14 20 64
Hamilton Township 15 11 17 14 57
