Some games are difficult to gauge – some are not. Although a Division III team, Liberty Center had struggled to an 0-5 record going into the game with the Hawks. Further, upon review of the home team’ roster, they did not feature a player over 6’1” tall.
This appeared to be a case of a school placing all their eggs in one basket – the football basket that is. Liberty Center is a small school football power, making the playoffs more often than not, slugging it out with their football arch-rival Patrick Henry. The down side of the strong football program is that it sometimes drives better athletes out of other programs.
With a relatively small lineup, the Tigers had no choice but to pack things into a tight 2-3 zone and look for an poor shooting night by the visiting Hawks. Unfortunately for the hosts, the exact opposite happened and Maumee Valley enjoyed one of its best nights ever from long range.
Game Summary
The Hawks made the most of their first visit to Liberty Center and smacked down the Tigers by 30. MV led 11-2 at the end of the first, 24-7 at the half and, well you get the picture. Liberty Center did not break double digits in any quarter, and in fact did not score their first points until the 4:00 mark of the first.
MV rained three’s down on the home team, shooting a sizzling 9 for 16 from beyond the arc. Five of MV’s final six scores were three point shots.
First Quarter MV 11 – LC 2
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Jonathan Krueger (’12) and Julius Turner (’12)
With no one on the floor over 6’1” for Liberty Center, it looked to be a long night for the Tigers. Julius made the most of this, scoring a layup from the left side off the tip. MV went straight to a press and LC couldn’t get the ball in before the five second call. The Hawks missed their first opportunity but Dave Brown stole the ball from the LC point guard. Jared got into the flow of things on the next possession with an authoritative dunk.
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| Seriously, it was just like this, except there was no Kendrick Perkins or 17,000 screaming fans. |
It was 6-0 Hawks. Liberty Center coach Eric Prigge, sensing trouble, called time out. The Tigers slowed their offense down, but misfired again and Rick Deichert knocked a three ball down – the first of many for the Hawks.
With 4:01 left in the quarter, Liberty Center broke a one and one half quarter scoring drought (they had been shut out in the fourth quarter of their previous game against the Edon Bombers) with a two pointer to get on the board.
Julius rounded out the Blue and White’s scoring in the quarter with this basket off a fast break.
And the Hawks were up nine at the end of one.
Second Quarter MV 13 – LC 5
Starting the quarter – Nick Frasco, Dave, Dixon Stoddard, Jared, Julius
Liberty Center had the ball in but Dixon Stoddard blocked a shot. At the other end, MV scored two on a Jared Sturt steal and spin-in layup. The Tigers called another time out after this inauspicious start, and Jon Krueger came in for Jared.
With this smaller lineup, MV put the press back on and LC was whistled for a 10 second violation. Julius capitalized with this three pointer…
…but then picked up his second foul. Jared returned to the game in time to watch the Bengals make two free throws. He then went to work on the offensive end, scoring two points after an offensive rebound. LC had another one-and-done possession and Jon Kruger was fouled shooting. He went 1 for 2. Jared blocked two Liberty Center shots in their next poesssion then Rick was up next with this long three pointer…
… and it was 19-4 MV with under two minutes to play in the half. Kody Snyder provided some offense for the Tigers with an answering three then Jared finished off the scoring for the half with this tip-in off a Dave Brown three point attempt.
At the half, it was MV 24 – Liberty Center 7, perhaps the first time in the four Jim Robinson years at Maumee Valley an opponent had been held to single digits in a half.
Third Quarter MV 18 – Liberty Center 7
Starting the quarter – Original starting five
Julius opened the quarter with a three, then a two pointer in the first minute of play. The Hawks’ continued pressure forced a Tigers’ time out, who did convert on a basket. Jared then scored this two pointer…
…then after another LC two, Rick hit this three off a Jared kick-out…
...and it was 34-11 MV. Play continued with great Blue and White defense; even after backing off the press into half court defense the hosts normally managed only one shot per possession. Dixon scored next on a fast break…
…then Jon Krueger knocked down this trey…
…it was 39-11 Hawks and Coach Prigge was forced to call yet another time out. At this point, the Hawks were represented by Nick Frasco, Caleb Wilhight, Jon Krueger, Thad Woodard and Dixon Stoddard.
Caleb kept the long range destruction going with another three-ball. Liberty Center’s highlight play of the evening came on a nice inbounds play to a wide open Tiger for two. That was it for the third quarter, the Hawks led 42-14.
Fourth Quarter MV 8 – LC 6
Starting the Quarter – Nick, Caleb, Jon, Thad Woodard, Dixon
Surprise, surprise, Jon Krueger started off the quarter with this three pointer…
…directly leading to Liberty Center’s fourth time out of the game. The quarter moved along briskly and the last Hawkblog highlight is this three pointer from Marcus Knabbs…
That was Marcus' first varsity points! Congratulations.
For those of you keeping score at home, 5 of 6 Maumee Valley scores in that stretch were three pointers. Marcus closed out the scoring for MV with a two pointer.
Final Game Thoughts
Coach Robinson’s is perfecting the inside/outside game, ready to take on both zone and man offenses. It helps to have a big man or two to control the inside, and two shooters, each preferring a different side of the three point circle (Julius left and Rick right) and a floor general dishing to the right person all the time. Opposing coaches are being forced to choose stopping either the inside or outside game. Liberty Center focused on inside-the-paint defense tonight and the Hawks took advantage.
Extras
Making the trip down Route 24 this evening were alumni Carter Bayer, Karla Luketic (and dad Karl, who thought he was going to see the MV girls for a while), Adam Sturt and Tyler Boehm…Liberty Center is a big football school, and it was odd to see several athletic Liberty Center students in the cheering section clearly taller and bigger than the basketball team…LC has a great gym, a large Butler-style building turned sideways to accommodate a full 94’ court and a big home cheering section…the JVs lost a strange contest 18-15; your Hawkblogger thought he detected Saran Wrap on the baskets…
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. Julius Turner led the way for the Hawks with 12 tonight. Rick Deichert and Jon Krueger each had 9, Jared Sturt 8, Marcus Knabbs 5, Caleb Willhight 3, Dixon Stoddard and Dave Brown 2.
Next up
Old guys rule at the Alumni Holiday Hoops game – then a non league contest Friday December 30 against North Baltimore.
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