VANDALIA – The Versailles Tigers dropped out of OHSAA DIII Sectional event play with a 58-55 loss to the Springfield Shawnee Braves.
“There will not be a number of 12-15 groups that get so far within the yr,” mentioned Swank. “This sport form of encapsulates what our workforce is about – a number of coronary heart, a number of need, not giving up.”
“That may be a nice message for our children, our group, even different folks that comply with the sport,” Swank continued. “Our youngsters simply by no means gave up and continued to struggle to get higher.”
In his fifth season on the helm of the Versailles Tigers, Coach Travis Swank has taken his groups to the district championship sport – a college report 5 consecutive years whereas profitable three district titles.
“Some individuals resolve to take off or not work to get higher and that’s not what we’re about,” said Swank. “That may be a nice message for not solely basketball packages however for individuals typically to listen to. It’s important to carry on preventing, carry on digging to get your self to the place you need to be and we bought ourselves fairly far right here in tournaments. It’s not the place we need to be however I’m pleased with the hassle that we put into this.”
Shawnee jumped out to an early 10-4 first quarter lead with 5:00 displaying on the clock and closed out first quarter play main the Tigers 15-10.
Versailles battled again to take Interval No. 2 by a 10-9 rating sending the groups to the break with the Tigers trailing 24-20 however not earlier than Versailles would make it a 1 level 19-18 sport at 3:30 within the quarter.
Shawnee bumped its lead again as much as 39-31 after three durations of play taking the quarter by a 15-11 rating sending the groups to the ultimate interval of play.
The Braves took a 13 level 44-31 lead within the opening minute of the fourth quarter in what seemed just like the Springfield squad would simply put the Tigers away however Versailles refused to fold battling again to shut inside a single level; 56-55 with 0:16 remaining on the sport clock.
Shawnee survived the Tigers scare closing out with a basket to earn 3 level victory win and advance to the OHSAA Division III the Elite Eight.
5 Versailles seniors performed their ultimate basketball sport for the Tigers: Jared DeMange, Wesley Bruns, Troy Jones, Caleb Heitkamp and Jacob Litten.
“There have been a number of guys that didn’t get a number of time however had been nice teammates alongside the best way – and that doesn’t at all times occur,” mentioned Swank. “There are a number of groups if that occurs the locker room is split or it’s simply not enjoyable to be at apply. That by no means occurred as soon as and whenever you’re shedding on high of it like we had been initially of the yr, that may actually occur shortly and it by no means did, so that may be a testomony to our seniors.”
“We attempt to be hard-nosed powerful children and that’s what we’re,” concluded Coach Swank. “Hopefully sooner or later that toughness and laborious nostril goes to propel us to get out of this regional semi-final spherical and advance us to a regional ultimate sport. Hopefully after that time and time we are able to stamp our ticket to a ultimate 4 however now we have to return to work. People who work laborious and are powerful minded – they only don’t sit right here and sulk within the distress of this loss right here tonight. They exit and go to work the following day.”
BOXSCORE:
VERSAILLES – Jaydon Litten 14, N, McEldowney 13, C. Stonebraker 10, T. Jones 9, E. McEldowney 7, J. DeMange 2 – TOTALS 18 13-17 2 55
SPRINGFIELD SHAWNEE – Z. Crowe 18, P. Fultz 13, J. Miller 11, RJ Griffin 10. Drew 6 TOTALS 16 14-28 4 58
3-POINTERS:
Versailles 2 (T. Jones 1, Jaydon Litten 1)
Springfield Shawnee 4 (J. Miller 2, P. Fultz 1, RJ Griffin 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS:
10-10-11-24 55 Versailles
15-09-15-19 58 Springfield Shawnee

Eli McEldowney goes to the ring for Versialles in regional event play.

Jarod DeMange places up a shot for the Versailles Tigers in regional event motion at Butler.

Noah McEldowney breaks the Shawnee Braves press in regional event motion.

Versailles coach, Travis Swank seems on as his Tigers play within the OHSAA regional event.

Troy Jones scores for Versailles in regional play with Springfield Shawnee.

Versailles’ Noah McEldowney drives to the basket for a Tigers rating in OHSAA regional play.

Connor Stonebraker goes to the basket for Versailles in regional event motion.

Jaydon Litten scores for Versailles in OHSAA DIII Regional event motion.
Contact Darke County Media Sports activities Editor Gaylen Blosser at gblosser@aimmediamidwest.com or 937-569-0122
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