Maumee Valley defense smothers Ottawa Hills 51-39

12/16/2011

Maumee Valley utilized a smothering defense to jump all over visiting Ottawa Hills early in a Toledo Area Athletic Conference game on Friday night.

The Hawks flew out to a 24-15 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in posting a 51-39 win over the Green Bears.

PHOTO GALLERY: Ottawa Hills at Maumee Valley Country Day

A standing-room-only crowd packed the sold out Maumee Valley gym and provided plenty of noise in a crucial early-season conference match up.

Maumee Valley senior guard Rick Deichert scored eight of his game-high 16 points in the second quarter when the Hawks expanded their lead to 12 points going into the half.

Maumee Valley's Julius Turner and Jared Sturt, who each finished with 13 points, played key roles in building the lead in the opening quarter. Turner scored 11 of his points and Sturt scored eight of his points in the first quarter.

Lucas Janowicz paced Ottawa Hills with 12 points, while Geoffrey Beans chipped in with 10 points.

Maumee Valley (3-1, 1-1), the preseason favorite to win the league, improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the TAAC. Ottawa Hills, the four-time defending champs, fell to 2-2 and 0-2 in league play.

The Hawks forced 12 turnovers in the first half and 22 in the game.

Maumee Valley trailed 11-7 early in the game but the Hawks then went on a 11-0 run to take the lead for good.