Senior night, a great big sign proclaiming ” All time Career Scoring Record Jacob Roeth Countdown to 1625″, Viking students with numbers counting up to the record on their white Ts and Riverside in the house meant everything was in place for a special night for the Miami East faithful. Starting off the night was introduction of the Viking Seniors Devon Abshire, Connor Apple, Layton Hughes, Camren Monnin and Jacob Roeth. An impressive lot of Seniors who not only will move to play soccer, baseball, and basketball in college but also have a 3.8 GPA.
It looked to be Roeth’s night as he put in the first 2 points. The Riverside Pirates took their first lead as they put in a pair of baskets. Pirates 4-2. Monnin hit the only 3 for the night for the Vikings to put them in the lead and Roeth put in another basket to post the Vikings to a 7-4 lead. A 3 by the Pirates made it 7 all. An Abshire basket was followed by the Pirates second 3 of the quarter and it was Pirates back up 10-9. A pair of Roeth baskets staked the Vikings to a 13-9 lead. Both teams would put in a basket to finish off the first scoring with Ty Rohrer scoring for the Vikings. 15-12 Vikings after 1. With Roeth having 8 of the Vikings points and moving to within 4 of the new record.
The Pirates opened up the second half with a basket to make it a 1 point game 15-14 Vikings. Roeth would score a basket to put him in second place on the Miami East all time scoring list surpassing his Aunt Jessie Roeth. Vikings 17-14. A basket by the Pirates was followed by another basket from Roeth at the 6:40 mark and a short break in the game. Roeth surpassed Travis Mumma with the basket and put Roeth on top of the Miami East career scoring list along with being at the top of the assist and steal list. He is #3 on the rebound list. After scoring the basket Roeth was given the game ball and he sprinted over to the other side of the court and jumped up into the stands to present the game ball to his grandparents Roxy and David Chivington in honor of his mother, the late Carrie Chivington, their daugther.
The game promptly restarted with a 3 from the Pirates to tie the game. 19 all. A basket by Kamden Wolfe and Roeth put the Vikings up 23-19. A basket by the Vikings and by pair of Rohrer free throws made it Vikings 25-21. A Pirate basket would make it a 2 point game 25-23 but also finish off the Pirates scoring for the half. The Vikings would continue to score as a basket and free throw from Roeth and a pair of baskets from Abshire. Vikings 32-23 at half with Roeth putting in 17 points.
The third quarter was a different story as the Pirates would battle back to take the lead at one point and get into the foul shooting situation 3 minutes into the half. The Pirates would make the first 2 baskets of the second half to cut the Viking lead to 5, 32-27. Roeth would score 2 for the Vikings to make it 34-27. A Pirate made free throw and a Roeth basket had the Viking lead back to 8, 36-28. The Pirates would take their first lead since the first quarter as they would go on an 9 point run to make it Pirates 37-36. 4 points by Abshire put the Vikings up for good 40-37. A basket by the Pirates and a pair of Roeth free throws made it Vikings 42-39 after 3. The Vikings put in the first 6 points of the 4th with Abshire making a pair of baskets and Rohrer 1. Vikings 46-39. A 3 by the Pirates cut the Viking lead to 4 46-42. A pair of Roeth free throws was followed by a pair of Pirate free throws. Vikings 48-44. A Rohrer basket and a Pirate 3 and it was now a 3 point game. Vikings 50-47. That would be as close as the Pirates would get as the Vikings sealed the deal going 6-6 from the line. Vikings 60-53.
Senior Jacob Roeth put in 31 points to lead the Vikings. Senior Devon Abshire scored 14. Freshman Ty Rohrer 10, Senior Camren Monnin put in 3 and Junior Kamden Wolfe 2. Wolfe helped the Vikings control the boards with 16 rebounds, Roeth had 7 boards, and Abshire and Rohrer 6 each. Roeth also had 6 assists. Monnin made the only 3 for the Vikings while the Pirates poured in 6. The Vikings went 15/16 from the line going 12/12 in the second half with Roeth making 8, Abshire and Rohrer 2 each. The Pirates were 9/13 from the line.
Miami East improves to 11-7 (8-3 Three Rivers Conference) and will host Anna next. Riverside falls to 7-10 (3-8 TRC).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
