GRAHAMSVILLE--The Tri-Valley boys basketball team hit a bump in the road on the way to securing a berth in sectional play last Friday night when visiting league opponent S. S. Seward recorded a 68-55 win.
The win gives Seward a commanding 4-0 league record in OCIAA Division V play.
Bears coach Kyle Humphrey felt the reason for his team's loss was that " we had a bad shooting night."
"I think we had some opportunities with players in great positions, Mungeer sticks out in my mind and we got him a lot of good shots and shots that he is really capable of making and tonight he just did not have a great shooting night."
Coach Humphrey stressed the fact "that when you play a good team like Seward who's going to put up close to 70 points you have to be able to match that offensive output."
Humphrey felt that Tri-Valley's defensive press worked well and his use of a ten-man rotation kept the game within reach. He credited guard Justin Swarthout for " good defensive pressing which overall makes other things happen."
Scoring appeared to be no problem for the Spartans guards Eric Block and Craig Smith as the two each poured in 25 points accounting for 50 of Sewards 68 points.
In the first half of play Smith scored four three-pointers, added another tray in the fourth quarter as Block contributed 7 points in the second quarter, 8 points in the third quarter and 9 points in the final eight minutes of play.
Tri-Valley's defense kept them in the game and forced Seward away from their interior game. Good rebounding also proved to be another highlight in the loss for the Bears who at the 4:00 minute mark of the third quarter tied the game at 43-43.
Seward's foul shooting proved to be another strong part of this night's offensive output scoring 18 from the foul line.
Seward jumped out to a 16-9 first quarter lead, increased that lead to 35-27 at the half but led by only three 48-45 at the third quarter mark. The Spartans outscored Tri-Valley 20-10 in the fourth quarter.
Coach Humphrey when asked about the sectional playoffs said, "another win will put us into sectional play." The Bears in the next several weeks play leagues games against Chester, two against Tuxedo, at Seward and home against Sullivan West.
Seward Coach Rob Gravelle who noted his team's overall record is now 9-4 and 4-0 in league play pointed out when asked about his team's foul shooting that "we can be hot or cold from the line."
Gravelle when asked about Tri-Valley's third quarter surge said, "they took us out of our zone and we had to play man-to-man."
"We could have rebounded a lot better and we didn't finish terribly well inside," Gravelle added.
Dion Lynch led Tri-Valley in scoring with 13 points followed by Thomas Mungeer with 10 and Justin Swarthout and Shane Rennisen with 9 each.
Tri-Valley is now 8-4 overall and 2-2 in OCIAA Division V league play.
PHOTOS FROM FRIDAY NIGHTS GAME
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