River Valley played at Marion Harding in a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference boys basketball game Dec. 11, 2025.
MARION — After winning a boys basketball league championship for the first time in 16 years and after playing in a regional final for the first time in more than 60 years, this year's journey for River Valley is different.
There is no chance of being overlooked anymore.
"Defending this thing sometimes feels a little harder than the first time," River Valley coach Rodney Brown admitted after watching his team pull away to a 68-47 Mid Ohio Athletic Conference win at Marion Harding Dec. 11.
The win moves the Vikings to 3-2 overall, but 2-0 in the MOAC. Getting a road win over a rival certainly helped them get over a 68-46 nonleague road loss at Jonathan Alder earlier in the week.
"Always coming over here, the crowds are great and it’s loud and we always have good games," Brown said. "They really played us tough, especially in the first half. Luckily we were able to get into some stuff and play a little bit better defense and get some stops.
"Anytime you can win on the road, especially after having a disappointing night on Tuesday, it feels good to come out with the win."
Marion Harding never led, but it tied the score three times in the first quarter. It was 16-10 entering the second period and it was still a two possession game after a Caleb Metz drive cut RV's edge to 32-26 with 2:23 in the half. In the final minute of the half, Chase Smith nailed a 3-pointer and two free throws with no time on the clock to put RV up 39-28.
River Valley gradually pulled away in the second half, leading 45-30 midway through the third quarter, 51-35 by the end of the period and 60-39 with 5:30 to go in the game.
"I’m still expecting more out of them defensively," Brown said of RV. "I thought we were a lot more patient on offense. That was something I really hammered on them yesterday. We’re going too quick too often. It’s an added bonus when you’ve got guys who can go get a bucket."
Smith ended with four 3-pointers and a game-high 25 points, while Carter Myers added 18 and Eli Snyder 15 for the Vikings.
"I thought we gave great energy and great effort. They’re good," first-year Harding coach Luke Samples said. "Our goal was to stop their big three and we didn’t. It’s the old Bill Belichick thing. If you stop their best weapons and make the other guys beat you, you’re probably going to win the game. Give them credit. They got theirs tonight, and that’s a little bit frustrating. I’m brand new. The team’s brand new. They tried really hard executing the scout, but they just didn’t."
Metz led the Presidents (1-4, 0-2) with 13 points, and Tesean Braddy had 11 points.
"I think we played a decent first half. I think we played a good third quarter, but that team is pretty good," Samples said.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: River Valley goes to Marion Harding in early MOAC boys basketball game
Category: General Sports
