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Fred Ahart Foundation Games

Blue Devils fend off Bears in Fred Ahart Foundation Games finale

Anthony Morgano
Posted 1/20/23

ROSCOE – The second annual Fred Ahart Foundation Games concluded with a non-league contest between Tri-Valley and Roscoe.

The bleachers inside the “Coach” Fred Ahart Gymnasium …

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Fred Ahart Foundation Games

Blue Devils fend off Bears in Fred Ahart Foundation Games finale

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ROSCOE – The second annual Fred Ahart Foundation Games concluded with a non-league contest between Tri-Valley and Roscoe.

The bleachers inside the “Coach” Fred Ahart Gymnasium were packed as spectators erupted in cheers as a grueling battle led to overtime, and ultimately a Roscoe victory.

In the first meeting between these two teams, Tri-Valley handily defeated Roscoe in Grahamsville, with the Bears winning 51-23. A much different Blue Devils team entered the court tonight.

The two teams struggled to get past the other’s defense for much of the first quarter, with Roscoe jumping out to a 5-2 lead before Tri-Valley ended on an 8-2 run to take a 10-7 lead after the first frame.

Roscoe briefly took the lead in the second quarter at 13-12, but consistently trailed by one possession in the second quarter. After a back-and-forth second frame, the Bears led 23-21 going into the half.

Roscoe took the lead early in the third, thanks in part to a few missed shots around the rim by Tri-Valley. The Blue Devils outscored the Bears 9-6 in the third quarter to take a one point lead heading into the fourth.

Throughout the fourth quarter, Roscoe held a lead of at least one point, getting up to as many as three points as time wound down, but the score remained close as the teams fought for the run that would decide the game.

Russell Hodge, who had only scored two points through the first three quarters, came up huge in the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups that kept the Blue Devils ahead by three with the Bears running out of time.

Matt Fanslau, who scored 23 points in their first meeting, knocked in a game-tying 3-pointer with 21.9 seconds left in the game to tie it at 38. Roscoe had an opportunity to take home the win on the final possession but were unable to convert and the teams went into overtime.

Aiden Johnston took over for the Blue Devils in overtime, scoring all five of Roscoe’s points in the quarter and contributing to his game-high 19 points.

Roscoe quickly jumped out to a 43-38 lead in the extra frame, and they were able to fend off the Bears down the stretch. Rather than going for the tying shot, Tri-Valley began launching shots from beyond the arc in an attempt to seal the win, and after two offensive rebounds leading to a third attempt was blocked by Hodge and Anthony Teipelke, and Hodge pulled in the loose ball as time expired for a Roscoe win.

“We couldn’t get anything to fall,” Tri-Valley Coach Kevin Delaney said. “We came out sluggish and Roscoe out-scrapped us today. Roscoe hustled and they hit their foul shots.”

“This team is so capable,” Coach Mike Hill said. “I know what they can do, and they showed up today. I’m glad they stepped up on Coach’s day. We needed that game. I needed that game.”

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