Monday, January 14, 2013

Bears Lose 1st League Game

SEWARD KNOCKS BEARS OUT OF 1ST PLACE     
                                          

  GRAHAMSVILLE--In a battle of the unbeaten and overall rights to first place in the OCIAA Division V the S.S. Seward Spartans edged out an overtime 54-49 victory against Tri-Valley last Thursday night at Grahamsville. 
  Both teams entered this pivotal game undefeated with 3-0 league records but the determining factor in this game were turnovers and very tough defense by both squads. 
  The Bears committed a total of 21 turnovers compared to Seward's 12 and this played out big in the Spartans victory. Tough interior defense by Seward also played big in this game. 
  Tri-Valley's first quarter of play proved to be the Bears highlight as they outscored Seward 11-6. 
  The Spartans picked up and improved their offensive efforts in the second quarter outscoring Tri-Valley 15-10 to even the score at half time 21-21. 
   Seward edged the Bears in the third quarter 17-10 to take a 38-31 lead into the fourth quarter.
  A determined Tri-Valley team put it together in the fourth quarter with three pointers by Rodney Jester and Cody Exner and driving layups and several key foul shots by Shatik Smith to outscore Seward 16-8 and a 47-47 tie at the end of regulation play.
  Overtime play went totally to Seward as Marquis Gonzalez scored all seven of Seward's points outscoring the Bears 7-2 on two foul shots by Smith.
  The win for Seward puts their league record at 4-0 and 6-2 overall. Tri-Valley's league record is now 3-1 and 6-3 overall.
  Shatik Smith had 19 points for Tri-Valley followed by 11 for Cody Exner and 8 for James Pugh.
  Marquis Gonzalez led the Spartans with 19 points.
  The play by both teams put them as teams to watch in the league championship playoffs. 

  
                                                    
                                           
Photo Identification

Tri-Valley's senior point guard Shatik Smith (No, 23) scores two of his 19 points in Tri-Valley's 54-49 loss against S.S. Seward last Thursday at Grahamsville. 

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