Van Buren defense stifles USV

VAN BUREN – Upper Scioto Valley's boys basketball team had been playing well coming into Tuesday's game at Van Buren. The Rams, after a 0-3 start to the campaign, had won nine of 12 games, including three straight. USV, however, had no answer for the Black Knights swarming defense, or, really, for much else. Van Buren jumped out to an 18-5 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back, storming past USV for a convincing 59-23 non-conference win. The Black Knights dropped their first game of the season to Ottawa-Glandorf Nov. 25. Since then, they have run off 16 straight victories. Van Buren – ranked sixth in Division VI – can win a share of the Blanchard Valley Conference Friday by beating Vanlue. Grady Miller scored 15 points for the Black Knights Tuesday, while Alex Homan added 10. Will Rampe had seven points and six rebounds. The Black Knights led 26-10 at the half, then outscored the Rams 24-6 in the third quarter. A 3-pointer by Miller with about four minutes left in regulation put Van Buren up, 56-21, and enacted the running clock. Nine Van Buren players scored in the win, and the Black Knights shot a solid 24 of 49 from the floor while going 8 of 10 from the stripe. Van Buren also only had one turnover, while forcing USV into 18. The Rams were paced by Beau Sanders, who scored 10 points and had a team-best six boards. They shot 10 of 36 from the floor in dropping to 9-7. Upper Scioto Valley will travel to Lima Temple Christian Friday. UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY (9-7) Kindle 1-0—2; Damron 1-1—3; Prater 1-0—2; Underwood 2-0—4; Oglesbee 1-0—2; Sanders 4-2—10. TOTALS: 10-36—3-6—23. VAN BUREN (16-1) Ortega 0-2—2; Stone 1-1—3; Bishop 2-1—7; Homan 4-2—10; Miller 7-0—15; Lance 3-0—6; Morey 1-0—2; Martin 3-1—7; Rampe 3-1—7. TOTALS: 24-49—8-10—59. Upper Scioto Valley 4 6 10 7 – 23 Van Buren 11 15 24 19 –59 3-POINT GOALS: Upper Scioto Valley 0- 4; Van Buren 3- 10 (Bishop 2, Miller) REBOUNDS: Upper Scioto Valley 20 (Sanders 6); Van Buren 28 (Rampe 6) TURNOVERS: Upper Scioto Valley 18; Van Buren 1.