'That's where we live'

VAN BUREN – Looking at the statistics, you might wonder how the Van Buren boys basketball team is doing it. Coming into this week, the Black Knights were scoring less than 50 points a game. Individually, they don't have an offensive star. Every week, the Blanchard Valley Conference releases its stats. On the fourth page, it lists the league's top 20 individual scorers. Only one Van Buren player, senior forward Will Rampe, makes the cut. He's 19th best in the BVC, averaging a shade under 10 points a contest. And yet, Van Buren is having one of its best seasons in program history. After throttling Upper Scioto Valley, 59-23 Monday, the Black Knights improved to 16-1. Van Buren lost its season opener to Ottawa-Glandorf, 55-39, on Nov. 25. It hasn't lost since. "I wish we had that game back," said senior Cole Bishop about the Black Knights only loss. But Van Buren coach Mark Bunn said the defeat seemed to galvanize his team. "These guys, after that O-G game, took it upon themselves," he said. "The senior class… they took pride in defense. "That's really what's carrying us through all these games, is our defense." The Black Knight play swarming, aggressive style. They're allowing less than 39 points a game, and are averaging 13.5 steals a contest. "We grind it out on D. That's where we live," Bishop said. "Even if we have a bad shooting night, or scoring night, we know, if we can hold a team to 23, we can win a lot of games." It's a team effort. "We suffocate teams," Bunn said. "I overheard one (opposing) coach, one time, say 'Gosh, every time you attack in the paint, you've got three guys on you. You kick (the ball) out, and the hand's in your face already.'" That's been the story all season "We want to make sure we contest every shot," Bunn said. Cohesion between the players has been a key. "We've been working on this defensive scheme since our freshman year," said Van Buren senior Finn Martin, who's averaging 2.4 steals a game. "Helping backside, trapping when we can—and we practice that every day in our shell drill defense." Most of the Black Knights players have known each other since well before their freshman season. There are eight seniors on the roster – Anakin Ortega, Alex Homan, Brady Lance and Emmit Morey join Bishop, Martin and Rampe – and they all have a role on this team. "We've played together since we were first grade, kindergarten-ish," Bishop said. "We hang out on the court, we hang out off the court…We're good friends. We all have one goal in mind, and it's to win." "Stepping out on the court with my six guys with me, nothing else I'd rather do," Lance said. And the players agree: It doesn't matter who makes the baskets. Monday against the Rams, it was junior Grady Miller who put up 15 points to lead the squad. "We've had a bunch of leading scorers over the season," Martin said. "Anybody who gets the ball can have a night. (We're) sharing the love, making sure everybody gets their shot." And the team is thriving. The Black Knights are ranked sixth in the Division VI state poll. More than that, the community is responding. Big crowds came to the high school on Saturday and Tuesday to see non-conference victories over Old Fort and Upper Scioto Valley, respectively. "We're fun to watch right now," Lance said. Van Buren has also put itself in a great position in the Blanchard Valley Conference. It is 8-0 in the BVC, having already secured wins against Liberty-Benton (last year's league champ) and Arlington (a state semifinalist in '24-25). "L-B's always beat (us), Arlington's always beat (us)," Bunn said. "For us to get over that hump, and get those wins early, and then we're just keeping that domino effect of success, hopefully we can finish strong." If Van Buren beats Vanlue on Friday, it will secure a share of its first BVC title since the 2018-19 season. The Black Knights end the BVC slate at Elmwood Feb. 13. "It'll feel really good to get a banner – that we were a part of – up there," Martin said. But the Knights aren't taking anything for granted. "One game at a time, keep it rolling," Martin said. "Focus on the next one ahead of you, because it's the most important. Play for each other." And keep playing defense.