DANVILLE —
The Tri-West Bruins boys’ and girls’ basketball teams traveled south to take on county and conference rival Danville Friday night. The Bruins won both games against their Sagamore Conference foes with the girls taking their win by a large margin and the boys won in thrilling fashion.
BOYS
Trailing by two with just under a minute to play, Danville looked to be in control of the game as they had the ball and were at the free throw line. But a missed 1-and-1 attempt gave Tri-West another possession.
With 10.6 seconds remaining, Bruins freshman Jake Hendershot connected on the back end of two free throws, pulling Tri-West within one.
The Warriors called timeout to get their inbounds play called, but an errant pass gave the ball to back the Bruins.
Tri-West freshman Trevor Waite made the most of the opportunity, going up with defenders in his face underneath the basket. Waite’s shot fell with 5.5 on the clock and the Bruins took a one-point lead.
Danville’s attempt to get the ball down the court and score failed as Tri-West held on for the 50-49 victory.
“Trevor and Jake have had to go through some ups and downs, but both of those kids showed a lot of heart,” Tri-West coach Adam Bontreger said of the two freshman. “It wasn’t just them and it took a lot of great effort from all of our guys.”
Making this victory even more impressive was the Bruins’ resiliency as they had two seniors walk away from the team this week.
“This team has been through more adversity than any other team I have ever had,” Bontreger said. “We had a lot of things going against us tonight and it shows a lot of resolve to come out and beat a great Danville team on their floor. I could not be more proud of the effort of all my kids tonight.”
Tri-West had three players — Matt Tucker (11), Sam Koelling (12) and Waite (11) — score in double figures.
Tucker, the Bruins’ lone remaining senior, played with a killer instinct. With under 10 seconds left in the third quarter he looked to the bench, calling for the shot.
Tucker drained a 3-pointer from above the arc to put the Bruins up 36-35 and gave Tri-West momentum heading into the fourth.
“For him to still be around is a testament to his character and his willingness to listen to us as coaches,” Bontreger said. “That shot was a huge, huge turning point and I wanted for him to have a great night.”
Danville also had three players — Brock Stevens (10), Nick Thurston (10), and Mitch Collier (12) — in double figures, but the errors at the end were too much to overcome.
GIRLS
Danville played Tri-West close through the first half of basketball and trailed 27-22 heading into the break, but a powerful third quarter effort from the Bruins overpowered the Warriors as they fell 65-35.
“I told the girls that this was only the second game all year that we came out flat,” Tri-West coach Brad Acton said. “We played with a lot more intensity in the second half and did a much better job. At the end of the season you want to keep getting better.”
Danville coach Terry Hammons was proud of his team’s effort as they rallied back from a 14-7 first-quarter deficit.
“We told them that we have to build on that first half and forget about the second half,” Hammons said. “I told them that ‘I knew it was in you because you did it.’”
In the second quarter Danville outscored Tri-West 15-13 as six players scored for the Warriors.
Coming out of the half neither team scored until Tri-West’s Jessie O’Neal opened up the floodgates as the Bruins went on a 14-0 run and never looked back.
Tri-West’s Jade Hill led all scorers with 18 points and teammate Dani Waldeck dropped in 14, going 4-of-6 from behind the arc.
“Dani came in and I thought was really the one player in the first half that played the best of everybody and she hit some big shots for us,” Acton said.
Katie Hall led Danville with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Sports
Related Photos
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Danville senior Katie Hall draws a foul from Tri-West's Taylor Baggett during the final period of Friday night's game. Dorian McDaniel/ Flyer Photo
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Tri-West's Sam Koelling makes a move towards the hoop during Friday night's game at Danville. Dorian McDaniel/ Flyer Photo
Tri-West sweeps doubleheader with Danville
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