North Fayette Valley’s Hunter Hoopes stops between a pair of Sumner-Fredericksburg players Friday, Jan. 3, to put up this little jumper for two of his six points in the TigerHawks’ 55-48 victory. The versatile senior also dished out four assists, stole two passes, and hauled down a pair of rebounds. Saturday at Turkey Valley, Hoopes scored eight more points and grabbed six rebounds in NFV’s 54-44 win. (Jerry Wadian photo)

By Jerry Wadian
Sports Editor
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The North Fayette Valley boys’ basketball team started the 2014 part of the schedule with a pair of victories. Friday, Jan. 4, the TigerHawks beat Sumner-Fredericksburg, 55-48, in West Union. Saturday, they beat Turkey Valley in Jackson Junction, 54-44.

The Saturday contest was a makeup game postponed from earlier in the season. It was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 6, but was moved at the last minute to Saturday because of the arctic cold front due to hit Monday.

The TigerHawks built a nice 29-18 first-half lead and coasted to the win.

NFV’s Lincoln Johansen led all scorers with 17 points. The power forward completed a double-double with a dozen rebounds. Thomas Hanson was second overall in scoring with 16 points, including a 2-4 performance from 3-point range. Ryan and Riley Busta were in double figures for Turkey Valley with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

NFV 17 12 11 14 54

TV 11 7 11 15 44

NFV (54)- Johansen, 17; Hanson, 16; Hoopes, 8; Austin Callahan, 5; Riley, 5; Kleve, 2; Alex Callahan, 1. 3-pointers- Hanson, 2; Riley. Rebounds- Johansen, 12; Hoopes, 6; Alex Callahan, 5; Moore, 3; Riley, 2; Martin, 2; Bouska, Austin Callahan, Kleve. Assists- Hanson, 4; Riley, 2; Bouska, 2; Kleve, Al. Callahan, Hoopes, Moore. Steals- Hoopes, 3; Hanson, 2; Kleve, Riley, Au. Callahan, Johansen. Blocks- Moore, 2; Johansen, 2; Al. Callahan, Fenneman. 

Friday’s home game was close all night, with the TigerHawks going on a 10-10 run in the final quarter for the win.

Early on, both teams showed the effects of the holiday break. Alex Callahan canned the first basket at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter, A minute later, Hanson hit a jumper and the TigerHawks had a 4-0 lead.

S-F rallied to tie the game, and a long 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Cougars an 11-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The next eight minutes were just as close, but helpfrom the charity stripe gave the visitors a 29-25 lead at the halftime break.

NFV took a close third quarter, 11-9, and started to hit more consistently from the field during itsfourth-quarter run.

The TigerHawks were only 2-7 from beyond the arc, but late 3-pointers from Trystan Riley and Hanson helped NFV pull away in the final minutes.

Johansen led the scoring with a dozen points; he also hauled down five rebounds.

Sophomore Austin Callahan scored 11 points, including a 5-7 performance from the foul line. His older brother, Alex, led the rebounding effort with a dozen boards, including five off the offensive glass. The senior also clogged the middle by blocking eight shots.

With the victories, NFV moved to 4-3 on the season, including a 4-1 mark in the UIC.

S-F 11 18 9 10 48

NFV 8 17 11 19 55

NFV (55)- Kleve, 2; Riley, 7; Hanson, 7; Martin, 3; Al. Callahan, 7; Au. Callahan, 11; Hoopes, 6; Johansen, 12. 3-pointers- Riley, Hanson. Rebounds- Al. Callahan, 12; Au. Callahan, 5; Johansen, 5; Moore, 3; Hanson, 3; Hoopes, 2; Martin, 2; Kleve. Assists- Hoopes, 4; Hanson, 2; Al. Callahan, 2; Johansen, 2; Riley; Martin. Steals- Hanson, 2; Hoopes, 2; Johansen, 2; Martin, Riley, Al. Callahan. Blocks- Al. Callahan, 8; Moore.