HICKSVILLE – Team, as defined by Webster dictionary: a number of persons associated together in work or activity.

Nothing could be more true on a Friday night at Hicksville High School’s “The Red Zone.”

Coming in off a back to back wins last week vs rival Ayersville and a non league win at Hilltop, the Rams were looking to stay in the GMC race as they made the journey in from Tinora.

As the Rams caravan made the rollercoaster trip over to west Defiance County, many a driver was exhausted as they made their way into the Aces gym as icy roads and blowing snow plagued many on the trip over.
They could only hope the game would be as exciting as the road trip.

Tinora would jump out to an early 9-3 lead on a deep three from the right wing by Aiden Rittenhouse, Tinora was off and rolling halfway through the first quarter.

The Rams would eventually increase their lead to 10, 15-5 at the 1:30 mark on a circus shot by Luke Harris. Harris would lead the Rams with eight first quarter points and a 15-8 lead after one quarter.

Unfortunately for Tinora, they would see the Rams lose Owen Ackerman due to injury in the opening quarter. Ackerman playing his best ball of the year the past few weeks was lost at the buzzer to end the first quarter.

Now playing without Ackerman, the Rams needed to ask for the bench to step up as the second quarter started.
After leading by 10, Hicksville would rally behind Aaron Klima and his 13 first half points.

Harris and Klima would battle throughout the remainder of the half.

Brody Balser would give the Aces a 19-18 lead with 3:10 remaining in the half with a left wing deep three pointer.

Tinora’s Cole Anders would tie the game at 23-23 with a deep left corner three right before the halftime buzzer.

The third quarter would see both head coaches, Hicksville Tony Tear, and Tinora Kris Lymanstall become frustrated with the physical play inside and outside.

Both teams were scratching and clawing for every loose ball, and tight defense were the words shouted by both coaches throughout.

Again, Harris and Klima had other ideas for their respective teams. Klima building on his 13 first half points would pour in six more, ending the quarter with 19, Harris would exit with 14 total points overall.

Tinora would escape with a 38-33 lead after three quarters.

With both Rittenhouse and Eckert battling foul trouble, each with three fouls, Tinora would look to hold on and close out the final stanza.

Tinora would start the quarter taking close to two minutes off the clock, moving the ball around, looking for the perfect shot, still holding that 41-34 lead at the five-minute mark.

Enter the Klima vs Harris battle again.

With the Rams leading 41-36 with 3:30 on the clock, another Ram would go down. Unfortunately for Tinora, they would lose a second to injury, as Aiden Rittenhouse would also exit due to injury. On the same play, Tinora’s Gavin Eckert would also exit briefly due to injury, but would re-enter.

Coach Lymanstall was forced to grab sophomores Adam Spychala and Adam Homier, into the fire they both went in the final three minutes. Eckert would re-enter after injury with just under three minutes remaining.

Unfortunately, Eckert would exit for good, this time with his fifth foul at the 1:57 mark of the fourth quarter with the Rams still leading, 41-36.

The Rams Alex Homier would get a layup that would give Tinora a 43-36 lead with 1:35 left in the final stanza.

After two free throws by the Aces Klima to cut the lead to 43-38, Tinora’s Harris would also get two free throws, getting the lead to 45-38 in favor of the Rams at the 1:15 mark.

Klima would nail a deep right wing three, his 28th point, with 44 seconds remaining, cutting the Tinora lead to 47-43.

Harris would split a pair of free throws after being fouled at the 29-second mark, Tinora lead 48-43.

Another deep three from the same spot for Hicksville’s Klima would be his 31st and last point, the bucket cut the Rams lead to 48-46 with 24 seconds left.

The Rams would miss back to back free throws, Hicksville has a chance at the tie or take the lead with 7 seconds remaining, a three pointer by the Aces was short, the Rams Harris grabbed the rebound with 1.8 seconds and was fouled. Klima would foul out on the play.

Luke Harris would step to the line, bucketing both free throws for a thrilling 50-46 Tinora victory.

A great job by Spychala and Homier for stepping up, and best wishes for Ackerman and Rittenhouse.