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| (Chuck Cordes - Ohsfbmedia.com) |
By Gene Simmons | X.COM
NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio--After New Philadelphia led for three quarters, the Braves stayed patient and aggressive to walk away with a come from behind victory late in the 4th quarter by a score of 52-47.
In a close first quarter, where New Philadelphia was shooting the ball well connecting on long range shots and all five starters scoring the ball, they began to control the tempo, Junior Reed Wells and Lincoln Murphy would hit big shots to keep the lead rounding out the first quarter 13-11.
During the second quarter there would be a battle, as Indian Valley would not just go away as New Philadelphia would still stay hot from the field, senior Landon McPeek and sophomore Ryder Williams would shoot and control the paint to keep the game close.
Ending the first half of play, New Philadelphia would stay in control leading 26-21, Quinn Miller and Lincoln Murphy would lead the Quackers with six apiece.
In the second half of play sophomore Ryker Williams would take the lead scoring 13 of his 20 points during this half of play mostly from the free throw line, as he would aggressively keep his team in the game.
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| Ryker Williams being aggressive at the rim (Chuck Cordes) |
As defenses would tighten up, the first score of the third quarter would not come until the 5:50 mark with Indian Valley making the first bucket, as they would do enough to keep it close only trailing 39-33 as a late shooting foul by Aidan Mushrush would put Jackson Murphy at the line to shoot three free throws connecting on two.
Down the stretch of the game the defense and aggressiveness of the Braves would start to make a way, Williams would continue to impose his will in the paint going to the free line multiple times and could not miss.
"It was super intense, super physical the refs wasn't really calling much but we knew we had to fight through it and the last two minutes I think we had them in the bonus we had to knock down our foul shots and lock in on defense," said Williams.
The last five minutes Indian Valley would have good looks but could not sink key buckets, with 4:40 left Aidan Mushrush would have a monster dunk that would energize the crowd taking a 45-37 lead for New Philadelphia.
Then the impossible happened at the 1:55 mark Colt James would score on a put back miss to put Indian Valley up 46-45, then a layup by Colt James would put them ahead by three, but New Philadelphia would not go away as bench player TR Harriman would lay it in to close gap 47-48 with 0:23 left on the clock.
Talking with sophomore Ryker Williams after his performance vs. New Philadelphia, Williams posted a 20 point night in win. pic.twitter.com/7CCMYUO4oA
— Ohio High School Football/Basketball Media (@OHSFBMedia) January 26, 2025
New Philadelphia would go into a full court press but Williams would make his way into the paint getting fouled and headed back to free throw line sinking both to take lead to 50-47 with 11.8 seconds left not missing a free throw the entire game, and that would be the dagger that would send Indian Valley to 10-4 on the season.
"We wanted to really attack the paint in the second half, felt like we had a strength advantage, wanted to get the ball inside so credit to our guys for trusting the process. said Miller.
Indian Valley will move ahead to play Ridgewood in a conference game, as New Philadelphia will look to bounce back against West Holmes after dropping to 8-7 on the season.
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