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.