Google the words ‘how hard is winning on the road’ and at least for me, the first post that comes up is from a University of Memphis fan website entitled ‘Winning on the road is Really Hard’.
Scroll down the search results for evidence of this statement – Ohio State has the only winning road record in Big Ten play…as of two weeks ago, only three ACC conference games were won by the road team…and my favorite, an article from the fine New York Times Quad Blog entitled ‘In the SEC, Winning on the Road Is Not Easy’.
Maumee Valley has enjoyed tremendous success on the road this year, winning its first six games in hostile territory (one loss at a neutral site). As the season progresses, these games will get harder in at least one way. With the surprise angle out of the way – MV going 14- 6 last year and currently tied for the TAAC lead – there are no more games where the Hawks will be taken for granted.
To be sure, no TAAC coach has felt this way for some time. MV has had a camp-following of opposing scouts following it, even on the longest road trips of the year. There are no sleeping coaches in the Conference.
Now however, the fans are beginning to pick up on this. The Blue and White not being scheduled for as many Winter Homecoming Dance Evenings and Senior Nights any more. And Friday night at Emmanuel, MV played in front of the largest home contingent I’ve seen in the Roy Parmelee Gymnasium in at least eight years.
The home faithful were decked out in Hawaiian Shirts and leis – not too sure what that was about – but school spirit abounded. Even the PA announcer got the fever in the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately for the Warriors on the night of this basketball luau, the Hawks decided they did not want to be on the menu…
Game Summary
The Blue and White extended their record to 11-2 last evening with a 63-52 win at Emmanuel Christian.
Three Hawks scored in double figures; Jared Sturt with 25 and Julius Turner with 18 each established new season high totals. Julius got his first start of the season at his former school. Rick Deichert scored 13 for MV.
Jared had his first dunk of his career on the evening. Here is a link to the TV13 game summary featuring the slam. He'd follow up with another before the night was through.
Tony Behan had 28 points for the Warriors to lead all scorers.
Maumee Valley had 61 shot attempts from the floor vs. 47 for the Warriors, the product of superior rebounding. MV enjoyed a 27-11 rebounding advantage overall.
First Quarter MV 9 – EC 5
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Dixon Stoddard (’12) and Julius Turner (’12)
For the second time in two nights, an Emmanuel Christian team played a junk defense against their Maumee Valley counterparts. On Thursday, EC played a box and one, focusing on Kristin Bigelow. Friday, the box and one reared its head in the boys’ game with Dave Brown receiving the special attention.
More generally, EC’s strategy was to pressure the MV guards all evening. Although that scheme would have its moments, it also led to season-high scoring performances by two of the Hawks front line players.
MV started in man defense.
Emmanuel’s senior guard Tony Behan opened the scoring with a three from the top of the key. Dixon Stoddard came back with an easy basket, bouncing the ball off an EC player on an inbounds play for two, then Rick Deichert made a great pass off a rebound to Jared for another basket and the Hawks were up 4-3.
Play was uneventful for the next two minutes. Both teams struggled to find some offensive flow until Julius grabbed a rebound and drove coast-to-coast drawing the shooting foul. He would convert one of two. MV cycled into a full court zone press and forced a travel call on EC. Julius showed off his passing skills next, finding a cutting Dixon Stoddard from the foul line and it was 7-3 MV.
Another traveling call on EC forced a stoppage in play and Jonathan Krueger made his first appearance of the evening at 4:29 remaining.
Again it was Julius’ turn against his former mates, this time juking in along the left baseline for two. With 3:51 left and EC down 9-3, Coach Dave Regnier called time out hoping to reverse the Warriors’ fortune.
MV came out of the time out in its hybrid 2-3, got the ball back but missed. Behan scored for EC on the next possession on an acrobatic inbounds pass. He looked like he tripped and made his shot as he was falling to the ground.
MV’s shooting turned cold, and the EC basket would be the final points of the first quarter. MV led by four.
Second Quarter MV 22 – EC 10
Starting the Quarter – Nick Frasco, Dave, Dixon, Julius and Jared
Julius put the chef’s hat on at the start of the quarter…
… serving a delicious pass to Jared on a drive from the left wing for two. Dave Brown’s tenacious defense forced a five second call and the Hawks were in business again. MV ran the exact same offensive set, but this time Julius drove the whole way for two and drew the foul. He made the bonus shot and MV led 14-5.
Dave harassed the EC ball handler once more, stealing the ball and drawing the shooting foul. He made one of two and the Hawks got possession off a Warrior miss. One more time for Julius, as he powered in from the short corner for two.
It was 17-5 Maumee Valley at the 5:55 mark and Coach Regnier called another time out to regroup.
With the Hawks in man defense again, Jared stole the ball outside the three point circle and got it to Dave for the fast break. The initial shot missed, but Jared got the rebound on the trailer and tipped the ball in for a basket + 1, which he converted.
The Warriors finally got into the scoring column near the 4:30 mark on an old fashioned three pointer by Junior guard Tyrece Edwards, cutting the lead down to 20-8.
Following a few unfruitful possessions, Julius nailed a three-ball from the right wing for the visitors. The Hawk forward would commit his second foul of the quarter with 3:20 remaining and go to the bench.
Rick Deichert scored the next two points for MV on an offensive putback but then Jon Krueger committed his third foul of the half with 1:32 remaining. He would be replaced by Sophomore AJ King.
Jared scored next for MV, dribbling down the right hand lane for two points. The teams exchanged turnovers, Jared tipped a rebound in with time expiring to give the visitors a 16 point half-time lead, 31-15.
Maumee Valley’s dominance in the half was borne out statistically. MV took 28 two point shots to EC’s 14, making 13 baskets. The guests out-rebounded their hosts 13-6 and also held a 10-5 advantage in the turnover column.
Third Quarter EC 16 – MV 12
Starting the quarter – initial game starters
MV got the first score of the half from a Julius Turner three pointer. The 19 point lead would be the Hawks' largest all evening.
EC’s Ryan Creech scored two, then after Julius made a free throw, Tony Behan rebounded his own shot and made the putback.
MV stopped the next Warrior posession and got out on the break...
...with Jared finishing.
Tony Behan answered back with a three to cut the lead to 13, then was fouled while shooting a three pointer. He made all three, then after a MV miss scored on another three pointer and the Hawks lead had been cut to 37-30.
The home crowd, many of them dressed-up in Hawaiian shirts (the Rainbow Warriors?) were now doing the hula, and Coach Robinson called time with 2:54 to play. The Hawks had some front line foul issues – both Jon and Dixon had three fouls each and Julius had a pair.
Coming out of the break, Coach Robinson surmised that EC would go for the trap and drew up this press breaker to Jared for two…
Then, off came Julius' chef’s hat as he donned a more serious chapeau
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| If you Warriors think you're winning tonight, you're gonna have to go through me first. |
…who stole a pass and drove to the hoop for two points.
MV closed out the quarter with this two pointer by Jared to end the half.
And so the Hawksquad pulled out of a mini-tailspin to retake a double digit lead, 43-30.
Fourth Quarter EC 22 – MV 20
Starting the Quarter – Dave, Rick, Dixon, Jon, Jared
Dave and Rick dribbled 1:10 off the clock at the beginning of the half then missed a shot attempt. EC’s Senior guard Michael Henning scored at the opposite end.
Coach Robinson called another time out to draw up a response and Rick hit a three pointer that made it on TV13’s Basketball Friday show. Good timing there!
Down 13, the Warriors went to a full court press. MV capitalized when Dave Brown pulled the defenders his way then passed to Jared for two...
Dixon was then called for his fourth foul with 4:21 to play. MV got the ball back for Julius to make a free throw, but at the other end Dixon drew his fifth and final foul. He was gone at the 3:52 mark.
EC continued its comeback with more scoring from Tony Behan, Ryan Creech and Jason Regnier to cut the lead back to eight, 49-41, with 3:30 left. EC’s press would again prove effective, but Guard Tyrese Edwards was called for an offensive foul at 2:43.
The Warriors’ PA announcer, getting a little too much into the action at Roy Parmelee Gymnasium, lamented that ‘the mysterious foul was called on Tyrese Edwards’.
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| Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of referees?? The PA announcer knows! |
MV called time again to diagram things and Rick scored on a two pointer down the lane.
Emmanel then threw the ball into the back court and with 2:03 left, Jared scored two on his first career dunk. The Hawks were back up by 15, 55-41.
Tony Behan wouldn’t quit and drew another foul shooting three. He made two and Ryan Creech scored a basket + 1 to pull their Warriors back to 57-47, but with about a minute left, time was on the visitors’ side.
Jared made two, following Jon on a breakaway
Rick scored another two, then Dave Brown converted two free throws at the 22.8 second mark. EC scored a two pointer, then (in this video sequence) Rick again made a basket and in a bookend to the game’s initial points, Tony Behan hit a three for the last of his 28 point effort.
The buzzer sounded as Behan’s shot scorched the nets, but it only cut the final MV lead to 11. The Blue and White walked off the court a winner 63-52.
Final Game Thoughts
The Hawks improved to 11-2 and 7-1 in the TAAC, on big performances from their front court players. They remain undefeated on the road (7-0) with only Cardinal Stritch and Monclova Christian left to play outside the Varsity Gym.
With this strong traveling performance it’s tempting to assume every road game will be a walk. But away games are tough. Just ask Danbury, who lost Friday at Cardinal Stritch (see remaining away games above).
Statistically, the Hawksquad dominated in shots taken and rebounding. They did commit 13 turnovers to EC’s 11, but did steal the ball six times in the game (Rick and Julius with two each) compared with only two for Emmanuel.
Tony Behan gets my vote for all-TAAC based on his performance against the Hawks this year. In my opinion he’s the biggest offensive threat in the TAAC.
MV continues to pose multiple threats to its opponents. It’s pick your poison against the Hawks. The last two games, coaches have designed defenses around Dave and Rick to the benefit of Julius, Jared, Dixon and Jonathan. The guards are looking for some love next time around…
A tribute
Due to my close booster ties, I would be remiss if I failed to compliment the Warriors’ faculty, staff and boosters for:
1. The Best Danged Pep Band In The TAAC (TBDPBITTAAC?), a large group including a cello (!) and great song selection played with spirit and skill, and
2. The best consession stand in the TAAC – hot dogs, brats, burgers, soup, ice cream sundaes, floats…you name it, it was there.
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. Three Hawks scored in double figures; Jared Sturt with 25 and Julius Turner with 18 each established new season-high totals. Rick Deichert scored 13 for MV. Dixon Stoddard scored 4 and Dave Brown finished with 3 for MV.
Next up
It’s home-sweet-home for Maumee Valley as the Hawks enjoy the friendly confines of the Varsity Gym for five of their last seven games, including their next three straight. Next week, MV will host Danbury on Tuesday, February 8 and Northwood on Friday, February 11. The rescheduled showdown with Ottawa Hills will take place the following Tuesday February 15. OH defeated Toledo Christian last evening 47-39 (at home, get it?), effectively eliminating the Eagles from the TAAC race.
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