New Carlisle, Ohio — The 2021-22 high school basketball season tipped off at Tecumseh High School on Wednesday night as the Vikings of Miamisburg traveled to New Carlisle for an out-of-conference matchup.
Miamisburg junior Daryl Cooper had a game high 18 points as he led the Vikings to the 54-32 win. Miamisburg will come into the season looking to fill the roles of multiple key seniors who graduated last season. Those include Alex Ball, Evan Logan, Evan Otteson, and Luke Copsey who were all big reasons why ‘Burg was able to go 17-8 and knockoff the eventual state champions last season.
Miamisburg junior Daryl Cooper
Cooper started off the game with a drive to bucket and then Charleston baseball commit Sam Boardwine converted on an and-one to give Miamisburg the early lead. Cooper would connect on a pair of open threes and Miamisburg’s screening led them to open shots. The Vikings led 10-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Evan Parker helped keep Tecumseh in the game as he made his second three of the game to cut the deficit to 12-8. Another three from Cooper and then a Sam Boardwine three off of Jackson McGohan’s assist gave Miamisburg a double digit lead. Anthony Coppock and Andrew Jackson-Dunaway would also get in on the scoring as the Vikings went into halftime controlling a 27-10 lead.
Tecumseh standout Collin O’Connor wouldn’t go down that easily though. He picked up his first division one offer over the summer and he fought to bring Tecumseh back in the third quarter. Caden Harrod-Allen’s three cut ‘Burg’s lead to single digits. Then O’Connor’s and-one gave the Arrows even more life as they were suddenly trailing by just six.
Tecumseh junior Collin O’Connor
Tecumseh still trailed 32-25 heading into the fourth quarter as the Arrows missed an open transition opportunity at the end of the quarter.
Miamisburg would close out the game with a huge run in the fourth quarter. It was started by Jackson McGohan who drilled a corner three. Gavin Morningstar would then connect on a three and Daryl Cooper would convert on an and-one following an offensive rebound to put the Vikings back up 41-28.
Baskets from Coppock, Jackson-Dunaway, and McGohan helped seal this one late as Miamisburg defeated Tecumseh 54-32 to begin the season. Cooper led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Anthony Coppock finished with 12 points as well for Miamisburg. Boardwine and McGohan eached chipped in 7 points.
Miamisburg senior Anthony Coppock
Collin O’Connor had a team high 17 points for Tecumseh but their run in the third quarter wasn’t enough as they fall to 0-1 on the year. Tecumseh will look to bounce back as they face Bellefontaine at home next Friday. Miamisburg will be back on the road next Tuesday as they face Carroll before opening up GWOC play against Wayne the following Friday.