Vikings, Andrews Pile Up Points
AKRON – The scoreboard operator at Tippecanoe Valley High School Friday night definitely earned their money.
In fact, they made need a few days off just to recover from the plethora of points that they had to keep track of as the hosts lit up the scoreboard with in amazing fashion.
The Vikings poured in point after point after point in whipping Wabash 146-56 in record-setting fashion in a Three Rivers Conference contest.
That’s right.
Valley scored an incredible 146 points.
It’s not a typo.
Junior Tanner Andrews led the barrage for Valley by pouring in a school record tying 51 points. The 6-3 junior forward, who is best known as a star receiver for the Viking football team, entered the contest averaging 16.1 points-per-game. Andrews 51 points, which came in less than three quarters of time on the court, ties the program record set by former Valley star Trey Eaton. Andrews also had an incredible total of 31 rebounds in Friday night’s blowout.
The Vikings 146 points obliterated the school record of 118 set in a win over Rochester (118-87) during the 1989-90 season.
Valley, which clinched at least a share of the TRC title in improving to 6-0 in league play, delivered some kind of message. The Vikings were playing for the second time this week after a pair of starters, juniors Robby Groom and Logan Britton, chose to quit the team last weekend. Valley beat Maconaquah 57-50 at home Tuesday night before exploding on the Apaches Friday night.
The Vikings, who improved to 14-2, led 39-23 after the first quarter Friday night. The hosts were up 78-32 at halftime and 120-47 at the end of the third stanza. Valley filled the hoop with 65 field goals, only three of which were 3-pointers, and went 13-13 from the free throw line.
Valley entered play Friday night averaging 63.3 points-per-game with a season high of 77 points in a 77-37 win over Knox back on Nov. 30. Wabash will see its defensive average rise dramatically after this one. The Apaches, who fall to 4-10 overall and 1-5 in the TRC, were giving up 67.7 points-per-game prior to the epic blowout.
Senior guard Nick Kindig joined in the points parade with 26 Friday night for the Vikings. Alex Thacker scored 21 points, Chainey Zolman 14 and Ben Shriver 12 for coach Bill Patrick’s squad.
Valley, which entered play Friday night one game in front of both Southwood and Northfield in the TRC standings, closes out league play at North Miami (1-14) Thursday in its bid for an undefeated conference season. Wabash plays at Caston Saturday night.