AKRON – The 1-2 punch of Nick Kindig and Tanner Andrews made sure to deliver a knockout blow for the Tippecanoe Valley boys basketball team Friday night.

The pair of Viking standouts combined for 45 points as the hosts took care of Northfield 63-43 in a Three Rivers Conference contest.

Senior standout guard Kindig poured in a game-high 23 points and athletic junior forward Andrews was right behind with 22 as the Vikings rolled to their ninth straight win of the season.

Valley, which had not played since defeating Fairfield and NorthWood Dec. 21-22 to win its own holiday tournament, led 15-9 after the opening period Friday night. The Vikings were up 27-16 at halftime before outscoring Northfield 17-9 in the third quarter to open up a 44-25 advantage.

The Vikings improved to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in TRC play. Valley’s lone loss was a 72-64 setback at Warsaw in the season opener back in November.

Logan Britton had nine points for Valley in the victory.

Ryan Keaffaber scored 12 points and Tanner Wilcox added 11 to pace the Norsemen, who drop to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The Friday night TRC clash saw a pair of veteran coaches with a ton of wins to their credit. Valley mentor Bill Patrick, now in his 44th season on the sidelines, collected his 702nd coaching win Friday night. Patrick became just the fifth boys coach in state history to win 700 games Dec. 21 when the Vikings beat Fairfield in their own tourney.

Northfield coach Moe Smedley, who previously coached at Manchester High School, has 419 wins in his 34th season. Smedley, now in his ninth season at Northfield, also guided Marion to a Class 4-A state championship in 2000. That team was led by 6-9 power forward Zach Randolph, who went on to star at Michigan State and currently plays in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Valley returns to action tonight (Saturday) at Plymouth. Northfield plays at TRC foe North Miami Friday night.