One of the strengths of the Tippecanoe boys basketball team this season was expected to be their up-tempo style of play and green light from behind the arc. If their season opener was any indication, the new style should fit this team well.

Connecting on ten threes last Friday night, the Red Devils earned a mercy-rule 73-39 victory over host Greenville in their MVL and season opener. This gives the Red Devils their first win of the season.

“Our guys were challenged to match their physicality. Greenville always plays tough,” said Tipp coach Brock Moon. “I thought we did a really good job on the glass in the first half, and I was pleased with the guys matching the intensity Greenville had coming out on opening night.”

Preston Zumwalt got Tipp off and running with five quick points in the opening two minutes of the game, including a season-opening three just 35 seconds into the season.

After the Green Wave closed the gap to 5-4 with 4:42 left in the opening quarter, the Red Devils turned defensive, holding Greenville to two points for the rest of the first quarter. Tipp began to pull away, outscoring the Wave 13-2 for the remainder of the 4:18 of the first quarter.

Larkin Thomas hit five points in the opening two minutes of the second, and Tipp had pushed their lead to 28-6, and they were about to pull away from the Green Wave. A 9-0 run took the Tipp lead out to 37-8. Bailey added seven quick points later in the second quarter, and Tipp reached the 30-point differential. 

“I thought we did a good job in the first half, and I told them we needed to win the first four minutes of the third quarter,” Moon said, as his team took a 50-16 lead into the intermission.

“We didn’t do a good job playing with pace or discipline in the third quarter.”

After Greenville controlled the first four minutes of the third quarter 7-0, Tipp came back, scoring the next 11 points over the final 3:07 and sent the game into the fourth period with a running clock.

CJ Bailey led Tipp with 18 points, Jackson Davis added 15, and Preston Zumwalt scored 12 for the Red Devils.