Setting the Table
No elaborate stories about this evening.
I just want to say thanks personally to Coach Jim Robinson for raising boys basketball at Maumee Valley Country Day School to a level of excellence on par with the entire school we all love so much.
Game Summary
Coach Jim Robinson won career game 500 tonight, as his Maumee Valley Hawks defeated the Bettsville Bobcats 64 – 43 at the Bettsville gym.
Coach Robinson gave the starters the night off at the half way point in the third quarter and the entire varsity squad saw playing time this evening.
The media was well represented at the game, which was broadcast on BCSN / TV 11 by MV alum Craig Choka plus coverage by Channels 13 and 24.
First Quarter MV 16 – BV 9
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Dixon Stoddard (’12) and Jonathan Krueger (’12)
Bettsville and MV each played a single defense pretty much the whole evening; the Bobcats in a 3-2 zone and MV in man.
Dixon Stoddard led the charge for the Hawks in the early going, scoring the first five points on some strong moves under the basket, including a hoop + 1 on the second possession.
As expected, Bettsville’s offense was geared to a quick tempo. But with their best three point shooter 6’2” forward Ryan Hartsel hanging outside the arc much of the evening, offensive rebounds were nary to be seen for the hosts. The Bobcats were one-and-done early and often on the night.
MV scored next on a Jared Sturt basket + 1 (which he made) off the first of many fast breaks for the starting rotation.
Meanwhile, Rick drew the assignment of stopping the Bobcats’ leading scorer, Senior guard Dakota Wright. We’ll mention his name later in the game story.
The Hawks kept running and Dave Brown banked in a deuce with 5:09 left in the frame. And again, Rick Deichert scored his first bucket off the break from Dave
...to make it 11-4 Hawks.
The home team would mount a comeback scoring the next five points (its best stretch of the evening) with a strong move to the hoop by Dominic Miccichi and a three pointer by Ryan Hartsel.
At 2:05, Julius Turner made his first appearance for the visitors and would, like Dave Brown, draw the Bettsville defenders in with strong moves toward the basket. Jared capitalized on this all evening and scored the next basket off the left hand short corner.
MV made the final basket of the quarter with 52 seconds left, a confident three-ball by Julius and the Hawks would get a rest, up by 7.
Second Quarter MV 16 – BV 7
Starting the quarter – Dave, Rick, Jared, Julius, Dixon
Bettsville continued to run-and-gun, but wasn’t converting at its end. A hyper-focused Dixon Stoddard stole a pass on Bettsville’s initial possession and was fouled shooting at the other end. Bettsville grabbed the rebound and threw the down court pass to a releasing guard for an easy two.
The game briefly slowed down to a half-court offense, but Bettsville’s 3-2 zone opened up acres on the baseline for Jared to operate. He continued to cash in, scoring the next two baskets on a baby hook then a near dunk stepping in from the left hand short corner.
MV revved up its running game engines again and it was Rick with a fast break two ball. MV had doubled the Bobcats 22-11 at the 4:15 mark.
The Hawks stepped up the pace on the other end, putting on the man press. After a steal and miss for the visitors, Ryan Hartsell would again hit a three to cut the lead to 22-14.
But the pressure would pay off for Maumee Valley. Julius showed off his passing skills the next two possessions, first on a beauty to Rick on the break for two and then a no-look bounce pass to Jared from where else, the left hand short corner for two.
MV’s defense was operating at a high level during the quarter. The entire starting rotation was swarming to the ball, cutting off pass after pass by the Bobcats.
At 2:23, Nick Frasco entered the game for Dave and found Rick on the break for two points.
On the next possession, Julius would go at it again with an athletic drive to the basket and a feed to Jared for another two from guess where (a free bag of popcorn for those who said left hand short corner). Meanwhile, Turner was dishin’ it up like the Swedish Chef.
...OK, maybe he was a little smoother than that, but it was 30-16 Hawks.
Scoring in the quarter ended with another fast break layup by Rick and at the half, it was Maumee Valley 32 – Bettsville 16.
MV had nine steals in the half (Dixon led with three) and Jared had tallied 12 points to lead all scorers.
Third Quarter MV 19 – BV 11
Starting the quarter – Nick, Dave, Julius, Jared, Jonathan
Although Bettsville had the ball to open the second half, Nick quickly forced a turnover 17 seconds in. He took control at the point and fed the ball to Julius for the two. And here is your video evidence of that play.
Meanwhile, Senior forward Eric Bender became very active around the basket scoring on two straight possessions.
Play was combobulated during the next few possessions, but Julius stole the ball and took it straight to the hoop, righting the ship for the Hawks.
Next posession, Julius got it to Rick who made a beautiful head fake at the elbow and finished at the basket for two. Jon Krueger then split the Bobcat defense for a two pointer.
At one point in the third, three consecutive offensive sets for the Hawks ended at the line. Jared was fouled while shooting the next trip down for MV and made both ends. Dixon was next up with a shooting foul and made the first. Jared pulled the offensive rebound on Dixon’s second shot, was fouled putting it back and made two more. The Hawks were ahead 48-24 with 2:27 left.
Coach Robinson was satisfied with the production of his starters and began resting them one by one. Omar Hazimah entered the game and helped run off the next 59 seconds with the motion offense.
At the 1:20 mark of the third, Bettsville’s leading scorer, Dakota Wright was fouled and made his first point of the evening. Rick came out shortly thereafter with a good night’s work at both ends (12 points, all at the hoop and holding his man to 1 point while in the game - a plus 11 night if you're a hockey player, eh?).
With three seconds left in the quarter, Nick pivoted to Parker Bayer on a Princeton special down the right side of the lane for the closing points of the quarter. It was MV 51 – Bettsville 27.
Fourth Quarter BV 14 - MV 13
Starting the quarter – Nick, Parker, Omar, Daniel Brandon, Dixon (playing post)
This quarter will be brought to you in video format.
First up, Dixon scores as the post player.
Next, Daniel at the line makes one of two.
Omar for two
Parker down the lane.
Daniel again from close range
And Daniel Brandon closes it out with a left hand hook shot.
As the buzzer sounded, the Hawks were ahead by 21 points.
Final Game Thoughts
The game ended like so many others have for Coach Robinson. His base rotation played smothering defense and sprang out to a big lead. After confirmation of this performance during the first six minutes of the third quarter, he was able to get the entire roster into the game. At the end, he saw a team capable of running the complex MV offense down to the last man, controlling the ball, running clock and generating easy chances at the end of a set.
How many times do you think Coach has seen this scenario play out during the course of an evening? I’d guess somewhere around 500. Congratulations Coach, and thanks again.
For Maumee Valley fans, the transition of the basketball program over the last three years is staggering. From the team that played what seemed like every TAAC opponent's Senior Night to a front runner for the title this year with an underclassman-dominated roster, it’s a 180 worthy of Kristi Yamaguchi.
At the end of Chapter 10 of the blog, it’s worth a moment to pause and understand that Coach will have the core of this team for another year and a half. That time will go by in an instant. Yet it is to be savored, each moment.
Small stuff…
- Jared Sturt was named BCSN player of the game for his 16 point performance in about 20 minutes of work.
- Bettsville has a combo gym / stage with a 12 inch drop-off from the floor to the walkway. Definitely pre-OSHA. Here is a video shot pre-game.
- Several of Coach’s friends made the trip to Bettsville for Number 500.
- Thanks to the local media for coming east to cover the game.
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. Jared Sturt led the way with 16 points, followed by Rick Deichert with 12, Julius Turner 9, Dixon Stoddard 8, Daniel Brandon 5, Omar Hazimah 4, Parker Bayer 4, Jonathan Krueger 2, Dave Brown 2 and Nick Frasco 2. Also seeing action this historic evening were Freshmen Thad Woodard and AJ King.
New personal season-high scores were earned by Daniel Brandon and Parker Bayer. Dixon tied his season high.
Next up
Friday evening at the Varsity Gym the Blue and White will take on the Cardinal Stritch Cardinals (where did they come up with that nickname?) There will be a pre-game presentation to Coach Robinson before the varsity tipoff around 7:30. I would advise an early arrival for all fans, as several of Coach’s former players and assistants will be on hand for the festivities.
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