Return of Ross lifts Valley over Derry

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 | 11:45 PM

It was a dazzling return to the hardwood Tuesday night for Valley's Deonte Ross.

Playing his first basketball game of the season after suffering a knee injury during the last Vikings football game, Ross scored 21 points and collected 12 rebounds as Valley staged a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Derry Area, 53-46, in a Class 4A, Section 1 contest.

But Valley's leading scorer on the season, Dru Stokes, had seven points down the stretch to pull the Vikings over the finish line.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for Valley (7-2, 4-1).

Derry Area (4-4, 2-1) was shooting for its first 3-0 section start in over 15 seasons.

“He's been working out with us now for over a week,” said Valley coach Mark Faulx.

“It's really exciting to have him back. He's a fierce competitor that brings an energy that will only be helpful to the team moving forward.”

Even with Ross' heroics, it was Stokes, Valley's leading scorer on the season, who helped key Valley's late comeback.

With the score knotted a 42-all shortly after the Trojans had taken a 42-39 lead with 5 minutes, 45 seconds left in the game, three consecutive baskets by Stokes proved to be the difference.

The senior guard, held to four points over the front three quarters, was fouled on a shot from the middle of the key, converting an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 47-42 Vikings with 1:56 to go.

Stokes scored another basket off a steal by Darius Johnson 14 seconds later, then stole the ball himself another 14 seconds later to make it 51-42 Valley.

“I was proud of our kids,” said Trojans coach Damon Rause. “We had a game plan coming in here, we hadn't played in 12 days. Our game plan was to contain the point guard (Stokes), but we obviously didn't have a game plan to contain Ross, who was just coming back. He's a beast inside and a tough matchup for us.”

The Vikings used a 17-3 run during the first half to take a 33-25 halftime lead.

Valley committed only one turnover in a strong second period where the Vikings outscored the visitors, 22-11. Ross had 12 points for Valley during that surge.

But a series of turnovers in the third period allowed Derry to get back into the game.

“It comes down to us making strong plays with the ball and making good decisions with shots,” Faulx said. “That been the emphasis since I came here; strong plays and great shots. We didn't do that all the time, so we've got to fix it.”

A pair of baskets by 6-foot-5 junior John Kerr, his only points of the game, allowed the Trojans to take a 39-38 lead with 37.9 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We had the lead on the road at a tough place to play,” Rause said. “I thought just a couple of missed layups in that final two minutes and we let them get a couple of easy points n a 35-second span.”

Nyjewel Carter had 14 points for the Vikings and Stokes finished with 11 and seven rebounds.

Connor Watt led the Trojans with 10 points, and Anthony Oshie had six rebounds and Tanner Nicely added four steals.

Valley will try for its first seven-game winning streak since the 2006-07 season Friday at Deer Lakes.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Valley