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TORONTO -- A couple miscues proved costly for the Madonna boys basketball team.
Madonna and Tuscarawas Valley were tied at 36 entering the fourth quarter, however, the Trojans ripped off an 8-0 run to take the lead and they ended up defeating the Blue Dons, 50-39, in the 3rd Annual Todd Kalivoda Holiday Showcase Wednesday night inside the George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium.
"Basically, on two possessions we made poor decisions," Madonna (4-3) head coach George Vargo said. "We threw the ball out of bounds. We did not take care of the basketball. Give them credit for their pressure defense.
"That's basketball. I'm not mad at anyone. I'm not upset with anyone. Those things happen.
"You have to give their pressure defense credit. We just have to do a better job of handling the basketball."
The Trojans (6-3) jumped out to an 11-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, however, the Blue Dons battled back in the second.
Madonna doubled up Tusky Valley in the second stanza as the boys from Hancock County collected 20 points in the quarter en route to taking a 25-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.
"We were able to rebound on defense," Vargo said. "We were able to rebound on defense, and we were able to get out and run. We scored four-six points in transition, and that helped us. We also made some foul shots."
The boys in blue held the lead in the third, however, the boys from Tuscarawas County fought back and tied the score entering the fourth.
"We knew nothing about them," Vargo said. "I talked to their coach, and they knew nothing about us. We both looked at film. We studied film. We knew very little about each other."
Anthony Mascio continued his strong season for Madonna as he scored a game-high 19 points to lead the way for the Blue Dons. Luke Amaismeier added 12.
Mascio was named Madonna's MVP of the game. Mascio made five 3-pointers on the night.
Silas Miller tallied a team-high 17 points to lead the way for the Trojans, while John Leffler finished with 12.
"They did what we expected them to do," Vargo said. "They run a very disciplined man-to-man offense. We decided to go zone. We thought might cause them some trouble. They run a man offense, and we thought by going zone that it might confuse them. We thought it might cause them some trouble."
Madonna played a two-overtime game last year at this event.
"I hope Coach Tucker invites us back every year," Vargo said. "We will come back every year. It is for a good cause. It's a good week of basketball. It is good for the community. It's a fundraiser. We are glad to be a part of it."
Madonna is scheduled to play Valley in a varsity-only game at 7 p.m. Friday night on the road.
Tusky Valley is slated to play Sandy Valley Tuesday night at home. The JV game is set to start at 6 p.m.
Tuscarawas Valley 50, Madonna 39
Madonna 5 20 11 3 – 39
Tuscarawas Valley 11 10 15 14 – 50
MADONNA (4-3): Amaismeier 4 4-7 12, Mascio 7 0-0 19, DoBraska 1 0-0 2, Grishkevich 2 0-0 4, Gontas 1 0-2 2, McAllister 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 15 4-9 39.
TUSCARAWAS VALLEY (6-3): Wolf 1 0-0 3, Provance 1 0-0 2, Kuykendall 2 0-0 5, Leffler 5 0-0 12, Clements 3 1-2 7, McNichols 0 0-0 0, Miller 6 2-2 17, Bradford 1 2-3 4. TOTALS: 19 5-7 50.
3-POINTERS: Madonna 5 (Mascio 5); Tuscarawas Valley 7 (Miller 3, Leffler 2, Wolf, Kuykendall)