Sarver scores 1,000th career point

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WEST ALEXANDRIA – Tri-Village turned in a solid performance defensively and offensively to defeat Twin Valley South 69-38 to improve to 15-0 overall and 8-0 in the league.

“The Tony A” court has been a difficult place to play for the Patriots in the past and has had many memorable games, and now we can add one more to the list with junior Layne Sarver eclipsing 1,000 career points on their floor.

“I thought our kids did a really good job from the start, they competed hard, defended well and did some good things in the full court. We moved the ball and shared it very well and quite honestly I thought maybe it was one of our better efforts,” Tri-Village coach Josh Sagester said.

The Patriots jumped all over TV South jumping out to a quick 25-8 lead in the first quarter. Layne Sarver had 9 points, Josh Scantland scored all 8 of his points for the game in the quarter, Wilson Suggs had 5 and Dalton Delong 3.

The Panthers would claw back in the 2nd quarter matching Tri-Village with 13 points with the score 38-21 at the half.

The Patriot defense once again shut down South in the 3rd quarter giving up just 8 while adding another 19 to raise their lead to 57-29.

TV would empty the benches in the final stanza and 10 of the 11 players on the roster would score in the game as they went on to win 69-38.

After the game coach Sagester talked to his team and had this to say.

“I told the group there’s not too many times I’ve come to West Alexandria and win in this fashion. I thought we played inspired and I told them in the locker room they are in the process of doing something very special because there aren’t a lot of teams in southwest Ohio that are 15-0 and we are going to continue to take this one game at a time and it starts tomorrow with a good Northridge team coming in,” Sagester stated.

But the evening had one more highlight as Layne Sarver reached the 1,000 point club for his career.

It happened in the 3rd quarter at the 1:06 mark when Sarver off an out-of-bounds set caught the ball at the top of the key, and a screen by Wilson Suggs left him open to let a triple fly making history as he eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career.

Afterwards Coach Sagester spoke about his junior standout.

“He’s obviously a very special talent, he’s got really good athleticism and size, at 6’6” he can post you up or take you out on the perimeter. We’ve been working with him more with his post skills to score in the paint. But what he has done for me, he’s worked really hard, the standard and expectation we have for him is extremely high, and right now he’s meeting that for us. It’s been a good marriage between us, he listens and incorporates the things we do in practice,” Sagester stated.

“His teammates kind of rally around him so the better he plays, obviously the higher our ceiling and tonight he played really well, and our other kids played good around him. Layne is kind of like a quiet assassin, he’s a man of few words, doesn’t say much, he’s not a vocal leader and goes about it a different way leading by example and does that with his work ethic and toughness,” Sagester applauded.

Prior to Josh Sagester coaching at Tri-Village the Patriots had just one 1,000 point scorer and that was Scoob Cook. In the Sagester era the 1,000 point club has grown starting with Cory Jay, Sam Lindamood, Drew Moore, Kyle Pipenger, Tyler Cook, Colton Linkous, Damion Cook, Gavin Richards and now Layne Sarver joins the elite club.

“Layne is as talented as any of them I’ve had and is in good company,” Sagester pointed out.

“Those are some really good players, all winners in their own right and have won us a lot of games. Layne is now putting us on his back and has made some big shots for us this year carrying on that tradition,” Sagester added.

When I mentioned the names of players who have scored over 1,000 points at Tri-Village, Layne was familiar with all of them.

“There is such a great tradition of basketball here at Tri-Village and to be able to score a 1,000 points like those great players before, I’m just glad to now be a part of it,” Sarver said.

“Growing up I never really thought much about scoring a 1,000 points I just liked playing the game … but I have an older brother and sister who have scored over a 1,000 points so it’s nice to be able to do that as well,” Sarver exclaimed.

Scoring a 1,000 points not only put Layne in an elite club at the school but also within his own family.

Layne’s Mom Christy (Hollinger) Sarver was also a 1,000 point scorer in her career and knows a little something about what it takes to get there.

“It requires a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice,” Christy said. “We’ve always told Layne he has big shoes to fill following his sister and brother and he’s heading in the right direction,” She said.

“He is probably the most athletic and he likes going into the gym with Kayla and Colton when they are home to put in extra time,” Christy added.

For those who might not remember Kayla (Linkous) Fisherback is a sister to Layne and she led the Lady Patriots to the State Final Four in her senior year in 2012. She also scored over 2,000 points and over 1,000 rebounds in her career.

Colton Linkous is a brother to Layne and he scored over 1,000 points while also leading his team to Columbus back in 2015 where he hit the game winning shot to win the Tri-Village Boys Basketball Teams only State Championship and the first school to complete a 30-0 season in state history.

Layne’s father Eric Sarver was also a stand-out player in his own right back in the 90’s and isn’t part of the 1,000 point club and has received some playful ribbing … but he has his reasons for not being a member of the club.

“I would have to say I’m the most unselfish of the family because I focused more on rebounding and assist,” Eric chuckled.

But Eric quickly put the focus back on Layne.

“I’m really happy for Layne on what he’s accomplished so far in his career. He’s such a quiet young man, he doesn’t like to talk about himself or brag,” He said.

The humbleness he exudes is more of a reflection of Eric, who is proud of his son and his faith.

“I give all the glory to god who has blessed Layne with god given ability and he has used that talent well and he showed that tonight, reaching the 1,000 point milestone and that’s the glory of God,” Eric praised.

Things can get interesting with the Sarver/Linkous family when it comes to basketball with so many great accomplishments and for now the one thing that seems to put a stop to it, is when Colton reminds all of them he’s the only one who has a ring.

So, Layne joins good company in the 1,000 point club but with a season and half yet to play in his career and his team looking to continue their undefeated season with hopes of getting to Columbus, who knows, he might just yet join the ultimate club of all, earning a State Title ring … a ring to end all arguments.

Box Scores

Score By Quarters

TV 25 … 13 … 19 … 12 – 69

TVS 08 … 13 … 08 … 09 – 38

Team Scoring

TV – Delong 12, Suggs 11, Scantland 8, Drew 5, Sarver 23, S. Cook 2, Call 2, Linkous 2, Finkbine 2, C. Cook 2; Totals 6-25-1/5 – 69

TVS – Marker 8, Wright 6, Ulrich 2, Clark 2, Sievering 18, Bishop 2; Totals 2-12-8/13 – 38

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_thumbnail_Sarver-Sagester.jpgDale Barger | Darke County Media

Layne Sarver and his family celebrate his 1,000th career point following the Patriots win at Twin Valley South.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_thumbnail__BGR1383.jpgLayne Sarver and his family celebrate his 1,000th career point following the Patriots win at Twin Valley South. Dale Barger | Darke County Media

Layne Sarver hits a 3-pointer to give him 1,000 career points playing for the Tri-Village Patriots.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_thumbnail_Sarver-1000.jpgLayne Sarver hits a 3-pointer to give him 1,000 career points playing for the Tri-Village Patriots. Dale Barger | Darke County Media

By Dale Barger

DarkeCountyMedia.com

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