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The blog now has > 20,000 page views.  Who'da thunk it.

Pump-up videos

1.  Jon Krueger vs. OH last year




2.  Dave Brown vs. OH this year.




3.  Jared Sturt vs. Gibsonburg this year.




4.  Julius Turner vs. Gibsonburg this year




5.  Rick Deichert vs. OH this year




6.  Dixon Stoddard vs. Gibsonburg this year.




7.  and in a blast from the past - Karla Luketic vs. CS last year

Arlington Preview - Regional Semifinal

Fast facts

Opponent:  Arlington

Enrollment: (9-12):  308

Division/League: D-IV / Blanchard Valley Conference

Team Nickname: Red Devils

From the Blanchard River Buzz Preview

Coach: Jason Vermillion – 14^th season

Last season: 13-9, 5-4 BVC

This season: 17-3, 8-1 (first place) BVC

Top players: Returning lettermen - Seniors Thayne Recker, (6-4), Jake Leonard  (6-1) Adam Inniger (5-9) and Wes Corbin (5-11) Junior Blaiz McBride (5-11), Sophomore Andrew Hunter (5-8).  Others include Senior Brian Mohr (5-10) and Sophomores Michael Blunk and Jordan Freed.

Regular season stats: Team stats are similar to the Hawks – Arlington averages 63.4 ppg and allows only 41.9.  They feature an inside game, making a league second-best 54.7% of their two point tries.  The Red Devils were 78-313 (31.3%) from three point range, placing them 5^th in the BVC.  They are also fourth in FT% at 62.9%, but they made their free throws in the District Final game vs. Columbus Grove.

Arlington was third in the league in rebounding (29.1 rpg) and second in assists (14.2 apg).  They appear to like pressure defense forcing 10.7 turnovers per game.

Individually, Thayne Recker was the Devils leading scorer averaging 16.6 ppg, followed by Jake Leonard (12.3) and Andrew Hunter (9.0).  Recker is big and effective (think Lucas Janowicz), Mr. Inside who also averages 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.  Jordan Freed and Wes Corbin are Messrs. Outside, both averaging over 40% from beyond the arc. 

Road to BG – opponents w/ regular season records:

Def. 6-14 Riverdale 71-20

Def. 13-7 Ridgemont 58-37

Def. 12-8 McComb 57-33

Def. 16-4 Columbus Grove 51-44

Arlington quick links

Here is a link to Arlington's pre season preview in the Findlay Courier basketball tab (look for the Table Table of Contents).

Here is a link to Arlington's Davey 1 schedule and regular season results (scroll down).

Here is a link to a game story on the Red Devils' District Championship victory over Columbus Grove.

Here is a link to the final Blanchard Valley Conference stats - team and individual.

MV's home away from home - this week

Congratulations to the District Champions. 

Here is a photo of the Stroh Center taken at Saturday evening's Anthony Wayne - Norwalk game

OK, break's over.

TAAC MAL-treatment - Sectionals & Districts

Hey, how about some respect for the TAAC.




In three TAAC vs. Midland Athletic League contests:

TAAC #4 Ottawa Hills held MAL #5 Fremont St. Joe's (11-9 overall, 7-4 MAL) to its lowest point total in at least 26 years in a 41-20 win.

TAAC #3 Toledo Christian defeated MAL #1 New Riegel (17-3, 10-1) 57-52  in OT.

TAAC #1 Maumee Valley defeated MAL #2 Tiffin Calvert (16-4, 9-2) 58-51.

A good bracket for the Toledo boys - congratulations to all three teams.

MV 36 - Toledo Christian 28 District Championship - Quick Summary

Maumee Valley completed an unprecedented triple sweep of both of its main TAAC rivals Friday evening, coming from behind to defeat Toledo Christian 36 – 28 at Lakota High School. The win gave Coach Jim Robinson his first District Championship in 11 career tries. There were hugs all around after the game as the Hawks cut the nets down for the third time in 14 days, and also claimed 3-0 season records against both TC and Ottawa Hills.

It sure didn't look like a championship night early on. TC jumped out to a 10 – 6 lead at the end of one. Coach Dave McWhinnie's Eagles continued their deliberate pace in the second half as well and extended their lead by three more points, going to the locker room with a 19 – 12 lead.  If not for Dave Brown's determined play in the second quarter Toledo Christian would have led by more.

TC even made the first basket of the second half, and held a nine point lead at that point. But the Hawks applied half court pressure defense on the Eagle guards and began to force turnovers. Rick Deichert also chose that moment to get hot, firing in eight third quarter points including two three point shots with a defender’s hand right in his face. MV won the quarter 12 – 4, taking a one point lead into the final frame.

The pressure continued to wear on the Eagles, and their hot hand the first half evaded them. Jared Sturt made two big baskets in the early part of the quarter to stretch the blue and White's lead to four points, 29 – 25. TC was forced to begin fouling and the Hawks made their shots down the stretch. MV's lead eventually stretched out to eight points by game’s end.

Here are two videos of the post game celebration...

...and net cutting

Rick Deichert and Dave Brown led the Hawks with 12 points each. Jared start had eight points, Julius Turner had three huge free throws down the stretch, and Dixon Stoddard had one. 

Thus the Hawks 20th straight win propels them to the regional semifinal to be held at BGSU’s Stroh Center this coming Tuesday. Maumee Valley will face the 21 - 3 Arlington Red Devils from the Blanchard Valley conference. MV and Arlington play the first game of a doubleheader at 6:15, with the nightcap featuring Edgerton versus Colonel Crawford.

MV 36 - Toledo Christian 28 District final - Insightful Internet Commentary

Here we have Julius Turner, Thad Woodard and Dixon Stoddard after the emotional victory over the Toledo Christian Eagles Friday March 9, 2012.  Erudition follows:

MV 58 - Tiffin Calvert 51 - Insightful Internet Commentary

Thad Woodard earns his way into the IIC with a big three pointer at the end of the third quarter and two important defensive plays.  Tell it, Thaddeus.

D-IV Sweet 16 bracket

Here you go - it's down to these fortunate few.