Gator goes off as Maysville holds off Scotties, Jan. 23 top performers

DRESDEN — On a night when Gator Nichols needed to play like the reigning Division IV Player of the Year, Maysville's senior guard did just that. Nichols tied his career high with 42 points — 22 in the second half — as the Panthers overcame foul trouble to pull away in the fourth quarter for a 71-62 win against host Tri-Valley in a Muskingum Valley League crossover game on Jan. 23. Tri-Valley (9-7, 7-4 MVL-Big) was still within 47-46 late in the third quarter after Ryan Lamonica scored inside, but Nichols' fadeaway jumper just before the horn triggered an 8-2 Panther run that pushed Maysville's lead to 57-48 with 5:30 left. The Scotties never got closer than six the rest of the game....