PIQUA — The Mississinawa Valley varsity boys basketball team closed out its season losing 47-21 to the Jackson Center Tigers.

“They are a great team. We knew it was going to be a battle,” Mississinawa Valley varsity boys basketball coach Rodney Saintignon said. “Of course we wanted a little different outcome, a closer game, but their defense was just phenomenal.”

Jackson Center open with 18 unanswered points, shutting out the Blackhawks for an 18-0 first quarter ending score.

“We knew they had one of the best defenses that we have seen,” Saintignon said.

Gavin Wildermuth scored the opening five points, knocking down a trey and scoring on a full court layup for last years Division IV state runner-ups.

Senior Alex Meyers popped in three 3-pointers for the Tigers’ last three buckets of the quarter.

A Brandon Byers free throw at 7:53 in the second quarter gave Mississinawa its first score of the night.

Cale Cox followed with a reverse layup for an 18-3 score.

The second quarter had Jackson Center outscoring the Hawks 12-9 for a 30-9 halftime lead.

The third quarter was no kinder to Mississinawa as the Tigers continued a pressure packed defense, outscoring the Blackhawks 11-6 for a 41-15 period ending advantage.

“I give them all the credit in the world,” Saintignon said. “They are a great basketball team.”

Both Mississinawa and Jackson Center went to their benches the final five minutes of the play, as the outcome of the game was not in doubt for the Tigers.

Each team scored six fourth quarter points for a final 47-21 score with Jackson Center moving on in tournament play.

Coach Saintignon reflected on the Blackhawks’ season.

“We did some good things this year. I’m not looking at this one game and basing our season on this one game,” Saintignon said. “We had a good season. We got better and the program is getting better. Things are going to happen here.”