NWOAL CLASH … Evergreen’s Troy Manz brings the ball up the floor in last week’s league tilt with Patrick Henry.
DRIVE TO THE HOOP … George Allendorf drives through the middle of the Patriots defense. VIEW 77 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
METAMORA (January 9, 2025) – Three nights earlier, Evergreen roared back from a 13-point deficit in the last nine minutes to hang a 75-72 loss on previously unbeaten Division IV power Otsego.
Against Patrick Henry, the Vikings again battled back from down 13 in the third quarter, but couldn’t climb over the top, and faded in the last three minutes to fall to the 10-0 Patriots, 64-52.
Using their superior size, Patrick Henry had a huge 14-5 advantage on the glass in the first quarter, including five offensive rebounds that accounted for seven second chance points to take a 24-18 lead.
Lincoln Creager, Reid Creager and Mack Hieber accounted for all 24 points, in fact the trio scored Patrick Henry’s first 62 points of the game.
Troy Manz kept the Vikings in touch with 11 in the period but Hieber’s early second quarter flurry around the rim helped the Patriots take a 29-20 lead with 5:10 left in the half.
Wil Ruetz brought Evergreen back with seven points in the quarter, including a triple off a PH turnover, to get Evergreen back to 33-29 late in the quarter before 2/2 from the line by Hieber kept the Patriot margin at six at half.
Lincoln Creager’s three-pointer ignited a 9-0 run halfway through the third that gave the Patriots a 46-33 advantage with 4:35 left.
Ruetz’s foul line jumper began a 13-2 burst to end the quarter, fueled by five Patrick Henry turnovers. George Allendorf’s bucket from Manz off a steal, and a Ruetz layup off another brought Evergreen back to single digits.
Lincoln Creager’s drive stopped the surge momentarily, but Ruetz stuck a jumper over the 6’6 Hieber, then nailed a long triple before Allendorf’s steal and feed to Manz ended the quarter with the Vikes down just 48-46.
Hieber’s three point play and score inside got the Patriots back up seven but Ruetz stuck another jumper over Hieber and drilled another bomb from deep outside the arc to keep Evergreen within 57-52 with 2:38 left.
However, the Vikings misfired on their last six attempts, going 2/12 in the quarter while the Patriots finished a 16/21 night at the foul line by going 5/6 down the stretch to pull away.
Lincoln Creager had 26 to pace Patrick Henry while Hieber had 23 and Reid Creager added 13.
Ruetz had 29 for Evergreen while Manz chalked up 15. Evergreen had just six turnovers while forcing 13 Patriot miscues. However, the Patriots held a huge 45-24 edge on the glass.
PATRICK HENRY (64) – R. Creager 13; 2; Hieber 23; Jackson 0; Prigge 0; L. Creager 26; Johnson 0; Punches 0; Rosebrook 0; Scherdt 0; Nivison 0; McKee 0; Totals: 21-2-16 – 64
EVERGREEN (52) – Manz 15; Ruetz 29; Herdman 2; Allendorf 6; Fritsch 0; Gillen 0; Rafferty 0; Johnson 0; Shrader 0; Woodring 0; B. Eisel 0; Totals: 15-6-4 – 52
PHHS 24 11 13 16 – 64
EHS 18 11 17 6 – 52
Junior Varsity: Evergreen, 56-46 (OT)