VIKINGS KEEP CONFERENCE PACE

ATWATER OH- In a pivotal conference matchup within The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (MVAC) Scarlet Division, the Waterloo Vikings boys’ basketball team showcased their dominance with a convincing win against The Western Reserve Blue Devils. The game unfolded at a brisk pace, ultimately resulting in a 52-40 victory for The Vikings.

Waterloo wasted no time asserting their authority, storming ahead with a commanding 14-4 lead over Reserve by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter further solidified Waterloo’s dominance, as they outscored their opponents 19-7, extending their halftime lead to a formidable 33-11.

A remarkable display of sharpshooting saw Waterloo connect on seven 3-pointers in the first half, contributing significantly to their substantial advantage. Although The Blue Devils rallied in the third quarter with an 18-15 effort, The Vikings maintained a comfortable lead of 48-29 heading into the final period.

Reserve staged a late comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, outscoring Waterloo 11-4. However, their efforts fell short as The Vikings secured the win with a final score of 52-40.

The standout performer for Waterloo was Jackson Eichler, who earned the title of Player of the Game with an impressive 20-point contribution. Eichler showcased his scoring prowess by hitting five shots from beyond the arc. Supporting him were Drew Flarida with 9 points and Gage Hawley with 8 points. On the opposing side, The Blue Devils were led by Andrew Handricks and Dom Ricciardi, both contributing 7 points.

With this conference triumph, The Vikings improved their season record to 9-4 overall and 6-2 in MVAC play. Their next challenge awaits as they host The Lowellville Rockets (6-5, 5-1) on Tuesday, January 23rd, with a 7 p.m. tip-off. Meanwhile, Western Reserve (4-10, 3-5) will have an opportunity to bounce back as they host Springfield (10-3, 7-1) on the same evening.

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