Walker sparks John Glenn's surge in win over River View
WARSAW — River View was on the cusp of grabbing momentum Tuesday night.
That's when a pivotal move by coach Eric Sheck helped John Glenn seize it instead.
The visiting Muskies followed a timeout with the decisive 19-5 run that propelled them to a 77-62 victory in a Muskingum Valley League Big School Division clash.
Brody Border hit back-to-back 3s to put the Black Bears (1-2, 0-2 MVL) up 39-36 with about three minutes left in the third quarter before Sheck huddled his group.
Kaiden Walls hit a jumper out of the John Glenn timeout, and Noah Winland grabbed a steal and converted it to a three-point play to put the Muskies (2-1, 2-0) up 42-39 with 2:09 left in the stanza.
Nathan Walker scored 10 of his game-high 28 points during that surge, including seven straight to stretch the advantage to 49-42. He also grabbed a steal off a River View inbounds play and laid the ball in then split a pair of free throws after an offensive rebound to send John Glenn into the fourth with a 55-44 advantage.
River View never got closer than seven in the fourth quarter.
Sheck praised his team for coming through during the game's crucial moments.
"That timeout allowed us to regroup, and we leaned on our pressure to create some easier opportunities," Sheck noted. "It was good to build on that lead because they have two guys (Border and Owen Emig) who are so potent offensively. I give credit to their other guys, who really stepped up and capitalized on their opportunities."
Walls helped seal the John Glenn victory in the fourth, collecting 13 of his 21 points in the final stanza. He also made three 3s in the game; Winland added nine points; and Walker made 9 of 13 free throws in the second half.
Seeing his players step up after some first-half struggles — the Muskies were 5 of 12 at the line in the second quarter — was a good sign for Sheck.
His team finished 24 of 50 from the field and 6 of 17 behind the arc. The Muskies also had just seven second-half turnovers after 11 in the first half.
River View, in contrast, committed 14 second-half turnovers after only four in the first half. The Black Bears were also held to 4-of-14 shooting in the third quarter and was 22 of 48 overall, including just 4 of 10 from 3.
"There were a few shots late I wasn't sure about, but I give credit to our kids for having the guts to make those plays," Sheck said. "We did a good job executing and keeping it at a 9, 10-point lead. Our kids found a way to close it out."
River View and John Glenn went back and forth in the first half, but the Black Bears held a 14-13 lead after one quarter and led by as many as seven, 27-20, in the second. But foul trouble to Owen Emig took away one of the Black Bears' scoring options and allowed the Muskies to pull within 30-28 at the half.
Brody Border finished with a team-high 20 points, Laired Williamson scored eight of his 15 in the first quarter, Emig was held to 11 points and Preston Yoder chipped in 10 for River View.
bhannahs@gannett.com; @brandonhannahs
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: John Glenn surges past River View
