MASON – The Tri-Village boys basketball team kicked off their 2021-22 season at the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic against Division 1 Mason. There were 5 lead changes and 2 ties in the contest and the Patriots were within 4 points late but couldn’t get over the hump falling 60-46.
Early in the season defenses tend to be ahead of offense and the scoring was quite low in the opening frame proving that out. Tri-Village held a 3-2 lead and then a 9-6 lead on a Layne Sarver triple with just under two minutes in the opening frame but the Comets scored the next 5 to take an 11-9 lead at the end of the quarter.
In the 2nd quarter Mason expanded their lead to 8-points and with the defense focused on denying Sarver touches and shots on the perimeter it was junior guard Wilson Suggs stepping up driving hard to the rim helping TV close the gap to 18-16 until the Comets pulled away again to take a 31-20 lead at intermission.
Tri-Village clamped down defensively in the 3rd quarter and moved the basketball better on offense as they roared back behind Sarver & Suggs. Sarver hit a triple to bring the score to 37-34 and Suggs a short 15’ jumper to make it 37-36 with a minute to go in the quarter.
The Patriots were looking to take the lead on a Dalton Delong reverse that missed and easily could have been a foul leading to a run-out by the Comets for a score. A few defensive breakdowns in the last minute allowed Mason to regain momentum leading 42-36.
Mason would go up 50-40 before the Patriots fought back again this time a bucket by Josh Scantland and moved TV withing 50-46 but over the last couple of minutes TV was unable to score again as the Comets would finish the game strong at the line to win the game 60-46.
It was a good test for Tri-Village to start the season by challenging themselves against a strong division 1 school who went 19-6 last season.
The Ohio Valley Hoops Classic selects a player of the game for each team and Layne Sarver was selected leading the PATS with 20 points. Wilson Suggs had a strong game with 16 points and Josh Scantland had 8 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.
