Forget about the fact that Tippecanoe is coming off of a three win season and has nearly equaled that win total already this year. Never mind that the Tecumseh Arrows sat atop of the CBC standings, without a blemish in league play.
None of that matters.
When these two teams get together, all of the intangibles get tossed to the side. The Red Devils and Arrows know each other well, and last Friday was just another example of a typical battle between these neighboring foes.
The Arrows used the hot shooting of Ryan Magsaysay and some timely defense to defeat the Red Devils 59-51 to remain perched at the top of the Kenton Trail Division.
“It stated out slowly again, the first half wasn’t really good especially defensively,” Tecumseh coach Roger Culbertson said. “Offensively I thought we had some good looks early but we just didn’t make shots.”
“Our kids found a way to step up at the end of the game to make plays when we needed them.”
Tecumseh jumped out in front early 6-2 capped by a three pointer from Magsaysay before the Red Devils fought back to shut out the Arrows over the final four minutes of the opening quarter, and outscore them 8-0 with scores from Carter Mann, Joe Tesch and Nathan Shirley, which gave Tippecanoe an 8-6 lead. Zach Wildermuth added a layup and the Red Devils had the momentum heading into the second period.
Magsaysay scored five quick points early in the second period which brought the Arrows back to tie the Red Devils 12-12.
Both teams battled from there for the rest of the half, and with the Arrows leading 20-17, the Red Devils put together a 6-0 run to get the lead.
With Tipp holding a five point lead early in the third, Magsaysay reeled off five consecutive points including a long three pointer to tie the game at 32. Neither team could put together a run in the third, as the Red Devils headed to the fourth with a slim 40-39 advantage.
Aaron Hughes gave Tippecanoe their final lead of the night when he connected on a pair of free throws early in the fourth, but from there it was all Tecumseh.
Darius Quisenberry, who had been held scoreless during the first half, buried a three to give the Arrows a 46-42 lead, and a pair of free throws from Malik Quisenberry gave Tecumseh a six point lead.
The closest the Red Devils would get would be 48-46 when Wildermuth scored, but the Arrows regained the momentum to lead 53-46 on a three from Magsaysay with 3:09 left.
“Our effort and focus was better in the second half,” Culbertson said. “Rylan played well tonight, and took a big charge near the end of the game for us.”
Both Tippecanoe and Tecumseh returns to action next week in the Piqua Holiday Tournament.