Setting the Table
It was holiday break at Maumee Valley. In past years, that meant a very small crowd as families would disperse and forget about school for a while. But last night, the Blue and White played before its largest audience of the season, a standing room only crowd of students, parents, alumni and friends.
And the home team would not disappoint the assembled faithful this first day of Winter, heating up the Varsity Gym with their best sustained performance of the season. Coach Robinson would see his 496th career victory this evening.
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Dixon Stoddard (’12) and Jonathan Krueger (’12)
Game Summary
Maumee Valley played its most dominating half of basketball this season, jumping out to a 30-13 lead and never looking back as the Hawks cruised to a 56-39 victory. The game was not as close as the final score indicated - MV was up 52-25 with 3:51 to go when Coach Robinson loosened things up down the stretch.
Three Hawks scored in double figures; Rick Deichert led the team with 15 points including three consecutive three-pointers in the first quarter. Julius Turner scored 13 against his former teammates and Dave Brown finished with 11.
First Quarter MV 18 – EC 10
One of the TAAC constants is EC’s use of the 2-3 zone. I’ve seen about 8 EC varsity games and they play this defense every time. MV came out in man.
MV started the game in its motion offense and ran nearly 1:20 off the clock warming up. Play was sloppy for the next 40 seconds until Dave Brown took an outlet pass off a steal and took off on the break. Jared Sturt was there for the finish and the Hawks were on the board first at the 6:02 mark.
That was the metaphorical on-switch for the home team. MV turned up the pressure on both ends of the floor. Dave found Jared on a lob pass for another two. Rick Deichert scored a three pointer off an inbounds play, and MV got possession right back on a defensive stop. Dave dribbled into the left hand corner, across the entire length of the base line and fired a pass to Rick who scored from the right wing with his second trey in a row.
In 65 seconds, Maumee Valley rolled up a 10-2 run. EC had seen enough and called a time out with 4:57 left.
The Green and White came out with some good inside passing work and two baskets, but MV kept the pressure up. Rick made his third straight three-ball with 3:24 left in the frame.
Julius Turner entered the game near this point to make his debut against his former teammates. He affected a few shots on defense, but also drew two fouls against him.
Meanwhile, EC had scrapped back to 13-8, but the Warrior zone continued to look like a welcome mat to the Blue and White guards. This time it was Dave’s turn to fire in a three and make it 16-8. Two free throws by Dixon Stoddard and a final basket by EC brought the quarter to a close.
Maumee Valley had taken an eight point lead on the strength of four three-pointers. EC’s zone, dependent on good rotation to take away the outside shot had failed them.
Second Quarter MV 12 – EC 3
Starting the quarter – Nick Frasco, Rick Jared, Omar Hazimah, Dixon
Maumee Valley switched over to its 2-3 matchup zone; EC stayed in its base.
The quarter opened with Omar Hazimah doing his best Henry Beausejour imitation, driving the baseline for a two pointer. Dave Brown returned to the lineup, stole the ball and made a 7 foot floater on the break. EC Coach Dave Regnier sensed things getting out of hand and called time with 5:32 left.
MV switched back to man, and expanded its rotation with Daniel Brandon and Parker Bayer seeing second quarter action. The Hawks continued to extend their lead with strong defense all around. Dixon created mayhem for the EC offense as he drew a charging call from a Warrior guard on a drive to the basket. The visitors could not get any offensive flow going and only garnered one shot on the majority of their possessions. Several Hawks scored on fast break points, running on every rebound and stolen ball.
With 1:05 left, MV ran the clock down until EC fouled Dave with 10.6 seconds left. He made both ends and the half ended with Maumee Valley ahead 30-13.
It was the most complete half played to date by the home team with pressure all over the court.
Third Quarter MV 13 – EC 10
Starting the quarter – original starting five
MV began the quarter in zone, as did EC.
MV continued to have its way on both ends of the floor, beginning the quarter with a fast break which Dixon converted off a Rick Deichert pass. Early in the quarter, Julius would return and become the offensive force in the second half.
During the quarter, MV’s conditioning also paid dividends. Despite EC playing the game in zone 95% of the evening, MV was tiring the Warriors out with the running game.
Our video highlights tonight are from the third quarter and feature baskets by Jonathan, Julius and Rick.
Play was back and forth near the end of the quarter and at the 75% mark, MV was ahead 43-23.
Fourth Quarter – EC 16 – MV 13
Starting the quarter – original starting five
MV’s starting rotation stayed in for the first four minutes of the quarter and dominated play. Julius hit a three pointer from the top of the key at the 6:00 mark. Rick fired a 12 foot jumper from the paint at 5:13.
But the best play of the quarter occurred at the 4:12 mark, when Rick fired a fast-break pass from about 30 feet on the right hand side to a streaking Julius Turner who caught it at full speed at the left-hand block and effortlessly finished at the hoop for the evening’s exclamation point.
At 3:51, the starters exited with a 52-25 lead. Play finished with the Hawks winning 56-39.
Final Game Thoughts
Any fear of a letdown was unfounded this evening. The Hawks came prepared to play and gave the winter homecoming crowd a big time show. If anything, the big Ottawa Hills win last Friday increased the Blue and White’s confidence. It was the most aggressively played game of the season.
In five games now, Maumee Valley has had five different players score in double figures at least once – Rick, Dave, Jared, Julius and Jonathan. Tough to stop, eh?
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. Rick Deichert scored 9 in the first quarter, and then added another six along the way to finish with 15 points for the Hawks. Julius Turner had 13 against his former mates and Dave Brown finished with 11. Jared Sturt had 6 for the Hawks, Jonathan Kruger contributed 5, Dixon Stoddard 4 and Omar Hazimah scored 2 on a baseline drive which made it on to the Channel 13 highlight reel Tuesday evening.
In Scores of Other Games…
While MV was cruising, Ottawa Hills traveled to Toledo Christian and came away with a 58-47 win.
After round 1 of the TAAC-favorite round robin, nothing is settled. Not only are all three front runners 1-1 against the others, all three wins came on opponents’ home courts (MV won at OH, TC won at MV, OH won at TC). Round two takes place between January 29 and February 4, 2011, as the home teams will try to hold serve this time.
It’s a good time to be in the TAAC. Good competition and exciting games.
Next up
MV will play before perhaps the biggest crowd in school history as they take on the Fighting Irish of Toledo Central Catholic at the Huntington Center Monday December 27 at 2pm. Tickets are available from school (contact Mr. Fish) or at the gate the day of the game. No broadcast schedule has been announced yet, but anticipate BCSN / 106.5FM and/or AM 1230 coverage of the game.
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