Sports : Beatty, Williams lead Vikings to win over CCA; Marion challenge next

Brody Beatty began the Vikings 4th-period rally by hitting two free throws.

The Vikes watch as Beatty scores the team's final point of their 66-50 win.

Brody Beatty goes for an inbounds pass over a leaping CCA defender.

Brody Beatty tosses the ball to Gunner Tranel in the first half.

The players get in rebounding position as Gunner Tranel shoots a free throw.

Gunner Tranel pulls down a rebound.

Jake Dyson takes a look from behind the 3-point line.

Jake Dyson drives in for a layup.

Coach Joe Johnson speaks to his team late in the game.

John Lippmann eyes the basket during first half action.

John Lippmann passes over a defender.

John Lippmann leaps to save a ball from going out of bounds.

Defenders converge around Grant Sagan as he looks to pass the ball.

Grant Sagan dribbles toward the basket; he scored 11.

Grant Sagan takes a second-half shot.

Logan Williams made this 3-point shot in the first half.

Logan Williams drives toward the basket.

Williams and Beatty led the Vikings in points and rebounds vs. CCA.

Clipper defenders try to stop WIlliams with a double-team.

Jake Dyson leads the Vikings in 3-point shots.

Down by two early in the fourth period, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings looked to the guys who have led them in scoring throughout the season.

And Brody Beatty and Logan Williams came through. Beatty tied the game at 44 with two free throws. Williams hit a three. Beatty scored on a pass from Williams, was fouled and hit the free throw. In a little over two minutes, the two had turned a 2-point deficit into an eight-point lead, 52-44. The Vikings expanded that lead into the fourth, winning 66-50. Beatty led the Vikings with 23; Wiliams added 20.

Jake Dyson added eight while Gunner Tranel scored two.

The Vikings were 23-for-47 in field goal shots, including 5 of 16 in three pointers. Wiliams had three 3-point shots, while Dyson hit on two. He actually made three, but one of them came just after the coach called a time-out, causing a loud collective "Oohhhh" from the audience.

Beatty (9) and Williams (11) also led the Vikings in rebounds.

"Those quys are capable," said coach Joe Johnson. "That's what we expect of our seniors."

When Beatty got into foul trouble, Grant Sagan took his place, scoring 11 points.

"He is showing some confidence," Johnson said of Sagan, adding that if Sagan continues to score, other teams will focus more on defending him, giving the other guys more opportunities.

"That would give us one more weapon," said Johnson.

The first quarter was an unsually high scoring one for both teams. It ended with a 23-20 lead for the Vikings. At Independence on Friday, the score was 11-11 after the first.

"It was crazy," said Johnson.

The Vikings led 36-31 at halftime, but the Clippers came back to tie the game at 42 by the end of the third. They scored the first two points of the final frame, but the Vikings quickly erased that lead, and never trailed again.

Johnson looking for first win vs. Marion

Now, the Vikings prepare for one of the toughest teams in the WaMaC: Marion. They host the Indians Friday. Johnson will be looking for his first victory against Marion as the Vikings' coach.

"We've played them close a few times, but never quite got over that hump," said Johnson. "I told our guys if they play Friday like they played tonight, we will have a chance to win," said Johnson.

What sets Marion apart he said, is their "swagger."

"They are confident; they expect to beat you," he said.