The Rivalry
Hiland and Garaway will clash for a second time as the Hawks will travel to Garaway on Friday night January 13th. Tipoff is set for 7:30pm.
Hiland will look to even up the series after their loss to Garaway earlier in the year. In the first game December 6 the Pirates took the win in Berlin at the Reese Center. Garaway jumped out to a 15-9 lead before Detweiler hit a three to end the first quarter at 15-12. That would be the closest Hiland would get as Garaway stretched their lead to 11 leading 30-19 at the half. Garaway outscored Hiland 29-23 in the second half and won convincingly 59-42. the Pirates’ Alexander Roden was the leading score for both teams dropping 18 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Hiland’s Detweiler scored 13 points with seven rebounds and four assists in the first go around.
Garaway started off this season on fire, reeling off six wins before dropping a heartbreaker to Claymont (44-43) in one of the biggest upsets of the season. Garaway has since bounced back with wins over Wayndale, Linsly (WV) and Div IV East District favorite Caldwell. The Blue and Red from Sugarcreek are in full control of winning the IVC south.
The Hawks have had an up-and-down season with some big wins and disappointing losses. Hiland eked out a nail biter over a tough Dalton squad 48-43 earlier in the year. The Hawks then dropped four of their next five games including a loss to Garaway. Hiland is coming off a 19-point win against Triway and looking to avenge their loss to the Pirates earlier this season. Hiland currently has the number two hardest ranked schedule in Division IV this year according to Martin RPI.
Hawk’s leading scorer Sammy Detweiler returned to action Tuesday night against Triway after previously missing the game before against Indian Valley. Detweiler scored 20 on Tuesday including a key 7-0 run that put the game out of reach. The Hawks will need a big game from sophomore sharpshooter Nick Wigton who had his best game of the season last Tuesday scoring a season high 14 points. Junior big man Alex Yoder will look to bounce back after having some foul trouble last game and sitting most of the first half. Carson Habeger will look to continue his role of being the swiss army knife.
Garaway’s top bucket getter this year has been Senior duel sport standout Alexander Roden. Alexander is coming off a 14 point outing Sunday Jan. 8 against West Virginia’s Linsly High School. He also was the leading scorer for both teams in their match-up earlier this year scoring 18 points. Twin brother Brady Roden also a duel sport athlete is coming off his best game of the year on Sunday scoring 16 points in the win. Senior Jarrett Wallick a first team all Ohioan in football has been the top rebounder for the Pirates and one of the best big men in the area. A key player to keep an eye on is a senior knockdown 3-point shooter Drew Mullet. Mullet is the best shooter in the IVC and has been the Pirates go to guy when they need a spark. Junior Jenson Garber has been an x-factor this year playing the role of a do it all guy. Garber scored 10 points in the first match-up between these teams and has since been a key defender off the bench.
This is a storied rivalry between both these schools and both will bring their “A” game come Friday night. Can the Pirates continue their IVC dominance? Or, will the Hawks pull off their biggest win of the year?
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