Piketon Redstreaks Coach Evan Legg might end up on Unioto Coach Matt Hoops Christmas card list after the Streaks knocked-off Zane Trace 40-38, handing the Shermans no worse than a share of the SVC championship as they beat Adena 80-59.
Zane Trace had a double-digit lead in the first half, but Piketon fought back and had a three-point lead by the end of the third quarter. With the Pioneers leading 38-37, Piketon's Tanner Perdue drove the lane and scored as he was fouled. Perdue completed the old-fashioned three-pointer to give the Redstreaks a 40-38 lead, which would hold-up after Zane Trace's Cameron Evans failed to connect on a shot at the buzzer.
Tanner Perdue led all players with 22 points and Alex Blanton added 10. Zane Trace had one player in double figures- with Isaac Beam scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Despite having 17 offensive rebounds, Zane Trace was unable to cash-in, with one possession seeing ZT missing four shot attempts from under the bucket. The Pioneers won the rebounding battle 31-23. Piketon committed 12 turnovers and Zane Trace with 6.
Piketon shot 15/32 for 47%- including only 2/7 from the arc. Zane Trace was 17/53 for 32%- including 2/11 from the arc.
The difference was the foul line, where Piketon was 8/11 while Zane Trace was only 2/7. ZT missed two open-ends of the 1 & 1 late in the game.
The loss for Zane Trace is their second in the SVC, putting them two games behind Unioto with two to play. That means Unioto has at least a share of the title, with a chance to with it outright at Southeastern Friday night.
Hear the full play-by-play with Greg Bigam and Tom Beard from Friday's SVC broadcast below...