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Tri-Village
junior Lexi Bruner only scored three points Wednesday at Tipp City in
the Patriots regional semi-final win but it was the biggest bucket of
the night as the
Patriots moved on to the regional finals beating Mechnicsburg, 47-44.
CNO photos by Dylan Knoop
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Lady Patriots move on to regional finals
By George Starks
TIPP CITY- When asked to sum up the game between Mechanicsburg and
Tri-Village, the words “ very physical” came to the minds of most.
Physically brutal may better describe it.
With bodies hitting the floor left and right Wednesday night at Tipp
City, there were times the game between the two teams more resembled an
over the top rope Battle Royal.
In the end, it was Tri-Village that was able to hold on for a 47-44
regional semi-final victory over the Indians.
“Our kids had to fight and so did the kids from Mechanicsburg,” said
Patriots coach Brad Grey. “I give our kids and their kids both a lot of
credit.”
With 6:38 remaining, Tri-Village senior Teha Richards, hit in the
paint, giving the Lady Patriots a commanding 40-29 advantage.
It looked as if the Patriots had built a lead that the Tribe would not
be able to overcome.
With its back against the wall, Mechanicsburg came to life, going on
the scoring warpath.
In just over three minute’s time (3:27), the Indians had outscored the
Patriots to the tune of 13-2 and had gained a 42-42 tie.
With 1:46 left, sophomore Echo Brown gave the Pats a two point
advantage when she connected in the paint.
That would eventually be the game winning shot but with 36.3 seconds
remaining, junior Lexi Bruner put it all on ice when she dropped one in
from three point land, giving the Patriots a 47-42 lead.
“Lexi Bruner, struggling all night, I’m telling her how much I believe
in her every single time she’s coming off the floor and every time I’m
putting her back on the floor,” Grey stated. “I kept telling her, I
know you’re going to hit one and she picked a good time to finally
knock it down. It’s just awesome.”
Senior Shaye Thomas netted 13 to lead the way for the Patriots as
Tri-Village put four in double figures on the night. Krystal Falknor
chipped in with 11 while Richards and Brown had 10 each in a balanced
attack.
Even Thomas said the team had faith in Bruner.
"That's her every year,” said Thomas. “We knew she would hit a big
shot, she does every single year. We were excited for her and we all
believed in her.”
Many coaches have one philosophy, hit more shots from the line than the
other team takes.
Tri-Village was 10 of 12 from the line on the night while the Indians
attempted while the Indians attempted only five from the charity
stripe, hitting two.
“That’s what we’ve wanted to do all year,” said Grey. “We want to make
more than the other team takes. Neither team got to the line tonight.
That’s not a lot of free throws being shot. People were getting after
it out there. Both teams played a clean game and I can’t say enough
about my kids. All year, we’ve been up and down and I thought tonight,
we played with a chip on our shoulders.”
The Indians were led in scoring by Jamie Dudane with 19 points, none of
which came easy, whileHer sister, Brooke, was held to nine, four points
below her average.
“We were focused on those two,” said Grey. “To Jamie Dudane’s credit,
she really got it going. She put the team on her back and almost single
handedly won this game for them in the fourth quarter. It was a great
game by her.”
With the win, the Patriots will play the winner of the Marion Local/Ft.
Loramie game that was played Thursday at Tipp City.
The Patriots will play for the right to return to state Saturday night
at 7 pm.
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Tri-Village
senior Shaye Thomas took one for the team during first half
action of a very physical/brutal game.
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Echo
Brown (10) is greeted by the rest of the team as she comes off the
floor at the end of a hard fought Tri-Village victory.
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