MVP Basketball News: More Milestones Fall
By Tim Langevin
Fire and Ice. And more milestones keep falling like beginner ice-skaters “On Frozen Pond.” Get the full scoop Miami Valley sports rockers. Right here. Right now…
Sidney’s Zach Yinger delivered the fire, torching the nets with a 33-point performance to surpass 1,000 career points in a tough 74-71 overtime loss at Dayton Stivers on Saturday.
That same night in Casstown, Miami East’s Josh Snyder iced the game with a clutch three-pointer with 18 seconds left to propel the Vikings past Graham 51-48 in a hotly contested thriller.
The Vikings trailed 19-14 at the break, but exploded for 37 second half points on 11-of-16 shooting. Snyder led the comeback with 12 points, including 10 in the second half.
Miami East improves to 14-1 overall and is currently ranked 7th in the state in Division III (OHSH/JJ Huddle Power Poll). The Falcons slip to 11-3.
And what about Yinger? The 6′ 4″ senior was unstoppable, slashing to the rack, knocking down pull-up, mid-range jumpers, taking advantage of his 35-inch vertical jump.
Yinger (Ball State-Golf) converted 10-of-19 from the field. Unable to make a two-foot putt to win state golf title, Yinger was uncanny from 15 feet, draining 13-of-14 free throws. Just joking.
In addition, the two-sport standout recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. he ranks second in the GWOC at 10.6 rebounds a game and fourth in scoring with a 17.3 average.
Yinger stoked the magical number with 6:45 left in regulation on a hard baseline drive which resulted in a reverse lay up.
“Both sports are important to me. I enjoy both,” said Yinger. “My two goals as a freshman were to win a state golf title and score over 1,000 points.”
The success-driven youngster just about accomplished both.
Yinger is only the third player in school history to surpass 1,000 points. The all-time leader is DeWayne McCluskey with 1,745 points followed by TC Johnson with 1,119 points. Yinger is 101 points behind Johnson with at least six games remaining.
Added Yinger, “I don’t regret juggling two sports. I do regret the way I played golf this summer. I put too much pressure on myself.”
The 18-year-old concluded, “Both coach Clark and coach Barhorst made it fun. We had good times together. I look forward to Division I college golf. And I plan to get a lot better. But my ultimate goal is to play on the PGA Tour.”
What a remarkable athlete. What a remarkable four-year, joy ride of booming drives, pull-up jumpers, clutch putts, pressure free throws, and private conversations. Thanks for the memories.
That same day at Anna, Carrie Watkins surpassed 1,000 points. She scored 11 points in a 95-44 romp over Botkins to give her 1,008 total. The senior sharp shooter from three-point range is the second Lady Rocket to reach the plateau this season, joining teammate rebecca Burch.
What’s that saying in this neck of farmland, “Anything Anna can do, Fort Loramie can do better?”
Monday night, Clair Ruhenkamp of the Lady redskins surpassed 1,000 points in a 14-point effort against Houston. Loramie won 78-38. The senior post player has 1,001 career points and is the second Loramie player to reach the milestone this season, joining teammate Janel Olberding.
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