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VALE – After beginning the basketball season on the road with a loss to Idaho’s New Plymouth Pilgrims, the Vale boys’ basketball team picked up the first victory of the season with a home stand against the 4A Ontario Tigers, 70-44 on Saturday, Dec. 5.
The Vikings started quickly, placing nine points on the board before Ontario sank a free throw to hit the scoreboard. At the end of the first quarter, Vale led 21-2 with the Tigers only sinking two free throws for the quarter.
The offensive problems continued for the Tigers until two late threes in the second quarter gave Ontario a lift. At the half, Vale led 39-16 behind nine points from John Wolfe.
Putting up 20 points in the third and with the starters sitting in the fourth quarter, Vale cruised to the win. However, Vale coach Colby Shira, happy with win, was not pleased with the overall play of the Vikings.
“We started the game well, but lost our focus in the second half,” said Shira. “Our press was effective, but we gave Ontario entirely too many points at the free throw line. Tanner (Steele) played tough on both offense and defense and Kade (Kurata) and John (Wolfe) played well.”
Photo Gallery – Vale v Ontario – Boys Basketball – Larry Gillum
The Vikings sent the Tigers to the foul line a total of 33 times for the game with Ontario hitting 23 free throws, most coming in the second half.
Steele led all scorers with 22 points. Diesel Johnson ended his day with 10 points and Wolfe had 11 points. Colten Stepleton, Luke McGourty and Kurata had six points each.
For Ontario, Tyce Helmick finished with 13 points including going 10-for-13 from the free throw line and the lone Tiger in double digits.
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