The Vermillion Tanagers ended the winning streaks for both the Tri-Valley girls and boys basketball teams on Tuesday, December 22nd. The Mustangs hosted the Tanagers in a double-header at Tri-Valley High School. The Tri-Valley girls fell in overtime 61-53, while the boys lost 64-34.
The Mustang girls team opened the game on a 7-2 run for an early five-point lead in the first two and a half minutes of the game in a quarter that saw each team make runs. Vermillion responded with an 8-0 run to lead 10-7 with 3:00 to go in the first quarter. Tri-Valley ended the quarter on a 7-2 run again for a 14-12 lead at the quarter break. The second quarter remained close between the two teams. Vermillion held the advantage 22-21 at halftime.
The third quarter continued much like the second quarter. Both teams went back-and-forth. Vermillion again held the advantage at the quarter break at 34-32. The Tanagers built a six-point lead at 47-41 with 3:00 to go in the game, but the Mustangs came roaring back scoring eight straight points capped off by a three-point shot by Steph Buchmann with :45 to play. Vermillion tied the game 49-49 just seconds later, but gave Tri-Valley :37 on the clock to try to win the game. Kaitlyn Mohnen appeared to have made the go-ahead layup with :28 to go, but was called for an offensive foul. A last-second three-point shot by Vermillion was no good, and the game went to overtime. In the overtime period after being tied 51-51 with 3:00 to play, Vermillion went on a 10-2 run to get the win.
Tabor Teel led the Mustangs in scoring with 23 points. Lauren Grinde finished with 14 points.
The Vermillion boys team ended a two-game winning streak for the Tri-Valley boys team. Vermillion got out to a big lead in the first quarter, and the Tanager defensive pressure caused problems for the Mustangs all night long.
The Tanagers built a 15-point lead by the end of the first quarter at 20-5. That lead continued to grow at the end of each quarter. Vermillion lead 39-15 at halftime. The Mustangs found themselves trailing 50-26 after three quarters of play and then were outscored 14-8 in the fourth quarter.
Riley Haynes led Tri-Valley with 14 points in the game.
The Mustang girls (3-2) will go to Baltic for their next game on Tuesday, January 5th. The boys (2-3) will travel to Mt Vernon to play Mt Vernon/Plankinton on Thursday, January 7th for their next game.