Playing in their second game in less than 24 hours, the Tri-Valley Mustang boys basketball team lost to the Garretson Blue Dragons 44-36 on Saturday, December 18th. This was a make-up game that was postponed from December 10th.
The offense for the Mustangs looked good in the first quarter. They held a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. Tri-Valley pushed the lead to 26-19 at halftime, but then the offense went cold. Tri-Valley was able to only get three points in the third quarter, and the Blue Dragons were able to tie the game 29-29 heading into the fourth quarter. Garretson scored first to take a 31-29 lead and then continued to grow the lead throughout the quarter while holding the Mustangs to just seven fourth-quarter points.
Tri-Valley shot 30% (14-47) from the field, just 23% (3-13) from three-point area, and 5-9 from the free-throw line. Garretson was 31% (17-55) from the field, made only one three-pointer, and was just 9-22 from the free-throw line. Tri-Valley turned the ball over 20 times, while Garretson only had eight turnovers.
Noah Haynes had 13 points and seven rebounds. Cory McDonald finished with six points and 11 rebounds. Lance DeWitt had six points, six rebounds, and five assists. Brayden Oyen added five points.
The Mustangs (1-3) will travel to Vermillion on Tuesday, December 21st.