The first place Vikings improved to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the GWOC – the program’s best since starting 11-2 to open the 2020-2021 season.
“We’re super happy with this,” said Vikings coach Tim Fries. “I’m just happy for my guys because they work so hard. The seniors that are here, I don’t think they realize, it’s the work they put in as sophomores and juniors to now that’s allowing this to happen. At Miamisburg, we have to plant that seed and grow into being a good basketball team. That’s what we’re seeing right now and they’re starting to believe. On any given night, when we play well, we have a shot.”
Wildcats senior Bop Wafer and junior Charles Cunningham each had 11 points for Springfield (3-2, 2-2 GWOC), which dropped its second straight game. The Wildcats struggled from the field, making 15-of-47 shots in the game.
“It was a rough night shooting,” said Springfield coach Matt Yinger. “We’ve got to make more shots. Defensively, I thought the effort was there, particularly in the second half. We held them to 21 points in the second half, so I was happy with us not giving up or folding. I think we played a 32-minute game, at least until the horn. It was a tough first half. We have to be more consistent.”
The Vikings jumped out to a 15-12 lead after the first quarter and increased their lead to 33-23 at the half on a 3-pointer by senior Billy Osmanski with about 55 seconds remaining.
“Springfield is incredible,” Fries said. “They’re so talented and they move so well, they’re so athletic. We knew that the only way we could handle them is if we move the basketball and the guys moved the basketball. They moved it really well in the first half. Anytime we were able to make the extra pass, we were finishing on it and I think that’s the difference.”
Hoerner, a 6-foot-9 post player, scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and did every way possible — layups, 3-pointers, free throws, turnaround jumpers and putbacks.
“It’s a testament to him,” Fries said. “He’s worked so hard in the offseason. Last year, he was a back to the basket guy. Now, we can face him up, he can hit jump shots and he can attack. What that does is the defense can’t just build up on him, he’s able to do more stuff. In the second half, we knew they’d be coming at him and he became an excellent facilitator and that’s another part of his game. He’s such a good passer.”
Fries also praised Osmanski for gutting it out after spending most of the week in a boot with an ankle injury, he said.
“It was a gutsy performance by him,” Fries said. “When he and Andrew are on the floor together, we’ve got a really good chance to win, so I’m glad he gutted it out and got out there.”
Springfield cut the lead to six points early in the third quarter, but wouldn’t get any closer the rest of the way.
After starting the season 3-0 at home — which included a 65-60 victory over Centerville on Dec. 14 — the Wildcats have lost back-to-back road games. They also lost to Northmont 63-56 on Dec. 17.
The Wildcats traveled to Westerville South on Saturday night. They’ll get a week to regroup before they play Kenton Ridge at the Clark County Basketball Showcase on Dec. 28 at Wittenberg’s Pam Evans Smith Arena.
“Every game in the GWOC is going to be a heavyweight fight and I think that’s what tonight was,” Yinger said. “We’ve got to be better on the road. We did a nice job at home, I think we had a lot of energy from the crowd and it felt like we had a point to prove. Now, we’ve just got to grow up on the road and understand that you’ve got to embrace being the villain and you’ve got to bring the toughness. It can’t be jabs, it has to be uppercuts.”
The Vikings host Fairborn on Dec. 28 before another key GWOC game looms on Jan. 3 — a home game against second-place Centerville. They won’t look past any opponents, Fries said.
“We take it game-by-game,” Fries said. “I know it sounds cliche but that’s what we do. Every night it’s tough in here and we’re going to turn around and play these guys again.”
About the Author