Frankenmuth - The game lived up to the excitement that so many expected. However no one could have expected the details that created the excitement.  We saw Frankenmuth jump out to a 18-2 lead, Birch Run make a four point play and one player make 8 three pointers, of course that player was star Eagle Brad Redford who scored a game high 26 points.  The Tri-Valley East showdown between bitter rivals came right down to the wire, with the Eagles hanging on in the end, 61-57.

The game got off to an explosive start for Frankenmuth.  The Eagles started the game without Redford who didn't check in until midway throughout the opening quarter, with his squad up 5-2.  His impact was felt immediately as he nailed his first three ball of the game.  Nate Cormier then put in two consecutive buckets from inside the paint.  Add two more Redford three pointers and you have Eagle lead of 18-2.  The Panther faithful that made the trip were in absolute shock.  Surprisingly the same shock didn't reach the players wearing the visiting blue jerseys.  They weren't playing well but they didn't look completely fazed.  Birch Run had trouble finding basket but their main problem early on was actually getting a shot off.  Muth's pressure defense was creating havoc for Birch Run and creating turnovers galore.  Dakotah Ellis's bucket before the first quarter expired ended a 14-0 Eagle run.

The 2nd quarter went quite a bit better for the Panthers as they began to settle down.  They had pulled to within 8 at one point early on then both teams began to trade buckets.  Down 10 late in the 2nd quarter, Nick Shelton put home a basket and was fouled.  Shelton sank the free throw, completing the three point play and helping the Eagles back on their way towards total control, so it seemed.  Corey King, who had been scoreless throughout the game, came through when it counted.  He scored the first half's last five points, pulling Birch Run back to within 8 at 30-22.  The difference in the 2nd quarter was Birch Run's ability to create turnovers of their own and take advantage of some advantages in matchups, in particular with Jordan Duby and Dakotah Ellis.  Both teams are extremely close in terms of physical stature, not real big as a whole for either side. 

Offensively, the Panthers had one of their best quarters of the season, pouring in 23 points.  After both teams traded baskets to start the 2nd half, Duby drilled home a three, cutting the lead down to 5.  The lead then went to three after two Ellis free throws.  Redford struck back for Frankenmuth with another three his fourth of the game.  This would start an amazing string of three balls, in which both teams nailed two a piece, back to back to back to back.  Ellis answered Redford, Redford hit right back and then Kyle Wilson hit another for Birch Run.  After adding all that up, Birch Run had trimmed the lead back down to three.  Moments later after buckets by Steve Sanders and Duby, this game was all square at 39.  After a stop by the Panthers, Dakotah Ellis hit yet another three pointer, this time, he was fouled and hit the free throw, completing a four point play and giving Birch Run their first lead of the game.  Shelton immediately brought back the Eagles to within 1 on a three.  The lead was back up to three after James Opperman put home 2 points.  Brad Redford got the call again and delivered, tying the game up at 45.  And how fitting it was, the scoring in the third quarter ended another three ball, this time by Shelton again, giving Frankenmuth the lead and momentum heading into the final period.  Both teams combined for 9 third quarter threes.  Even though Redford didn't start, he already had 18 when the third ended.   Dakotah Ellis, not to be outdone had poured in 17 for the Panthers.

The three point insanity didn't stop in the fourth.  Redford nailed his seventh three pointer to open the quarter, giving the Eagles a 6 point advantage.  Duby hit right back with 3 points.  The lead was cut to just one on a James Opperman basket, putting the score at 51-50.  Redford answered for Frankenmuth with his only 2 point basket of the game.  After Duby had scored for Birch Run, Redford nailed his 8th and final three pointer of the game.  The lead was back up to four for Frankenmuth.  A few moments later with about 5 minutes remaining in the game, the Panthers called timeout and prepared a new defensive strategy.  A plan to keep Redford from burying them.  It was obvious he wasn't going to miss much, so they had to attack him.  After the Panthers broke the huddle, Jordan Duby had been assigned to Redford.  This was both a good and a bad thing.  Redford did not score another point, however, the energy expended by covering the speedy guard took a lot out of Duby and left little for the offensive side of things.  In the meantime his teammates answered.  Steve Sanders cut the lead to 2 and then Kyle Wilson hit his 2nd three pointer of the game, giving Birch Run the lead back at 57-56.  Frankenmuth's Shelton answered the call with a jumper that put the Eagles up for good.  Birch Run failed to answer on their end and with a minute and a half to go, the Eagles went into a scheme of holding onto the ball and making Birch Run come to them. 

After about a minute of passing the ball around, the Panthers committed the foul that sent Eric Nuechterlein to the free throw line. With the weight of the world on Nuechterlein's shoulders, the Senior nailed both of them giving the Eagles a three point lead.  With 28 seconds to go the Panthers had plenty of time and options to try to even this one up or get within 1.  They decided to go for the tie but Duby's three fell off of the iron.  Dan Bernthal who had not scored all game came down with the game's most important rebound and iced the game with a free throw and then missed the 2nd on purpose because their was just four seconds remaining and didn't want the Panthers to have an opportunity to move the ball up the court without the clock running.   The final score stood at 61-57 in favor of the Eagles as the Birch Run last second three point shot missed. 

After such an awful start it was amazing that the Panthers were able to compose themselves and make it this close of a game.  The game's final score was a reflection of how tight most thought that this game would turn out.  For Frankenmuth it's another win over rival Birch Run.  They have dominated the series in the last three years.  Both had dropped games to conference favorite Bridgeport early on, both heart breakers.  This game shaped up as a game of contenders.  The team that won this game would be in the driver's seat to get back into the title race if they could manage to top Bridgeport in the 2nd game or if someone else did the job for them.  Frankenmuth is now that team.  The good news is that we still haven't reached the halfway mark of the season, so you can't write Birch Run off just yet.  Frankenmuth will have to come to Birch Run's house February 23rd.  Birch run also gets Bridgeport at home on the 9th of February.  Frankenmuth will have to face both on the road in their quest for the Tri-Valley East title.  Bridgeport kept their unbeaten season alive with a big win over Vassar at home.  Muth heads to Bridgeport on January 30th.