With four starters back and a ton of potential, the boys high school basketball team at Tri-Village in rural New Madison figured another good season was a given. But going unbeaten? That’s the stuff of program history.

“We knew we had something special, but we didn’t know if it was possible,” reflected super senior Kyle Pipenger. “It’s not easy. It’s tough to be ready every night and compete at a high level.”

That’s just what the Patriots have done. At 26-0, Tri-Village is one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the state in any division.

The Patriots will put that perfect record on the line against Troy Christian (24-2) in the second of two Division IV regional semifinals tonight at Fairmont’s Trent Arena. Jackson Center plays Delphos St. John’s in the opener.

Pipenger, a 6-foot-3 wing, averages 21.0 points and is the two-time Cross Country Conference player of the year. Tyler Cook, a 6-6 junior, is good for 14.0 points and 6-foot wing Shade Brubaker 11.4 points.

That trio has helped senior guard Matt Werner lead the area in assists (6.2). Rounding out the lineup is 6-7 senior Andrew Willcox.

Tri-Village already owns a D-IV state poll championship. But getting through the Southwest District and this regional will be a much tougher task. The Patriots were derailed by Jackson Center in an overtime district final last year.

With that neucleus returning, veteran coach Josh Sagester geared up for another deep postseason run. “Part of that is having senior leadership and kids who have been through the wars and played in big games before,” he said.

Tri-Village was 20-0 in the 1989-90 season, but was upset in its first tourney game. The next season ended 27-1 with a loss to St. Henry in the state final.

The Patriots don’t play football, so anticipation builds for the start of the hoop seasons. The girls were beaten by Fort Loramie this past weekend in a regional final.

TODAY’S BREGIONAL SEMIFINALS

Division IV at Fairmont’s Trent Arena

Winners to Friday’s 7:30 p.m. regional final

Delphos St. John’s (19-5) vs. Jackson Center (22-4), 5:30 p.m.

Notable: The Blue Jays tied St. Henry for another ultra-competitive Midwest Athletic Conference season. St. John’s has won five straight and defeated St. Henry 63-46 to win the Elida district title. The Tigers won the Shelby County League title but ended the regular season with setbacks to Lima Temple and Fairlawn before rebounding in the postseason. Alex Meyer, a 6-2 senior, averages 17 points and was first team All-Southwest District.

Tri-Village (26-0) vs. Troy Christian (24-2), 8 p.m.

Notable: The Patriots, out of the Cross County Conference, are one of the few remaining unbeaten boys teams in any division. Key players are 6-3 Kyle Pipenger (21.0 ppg), Tyler Cook (14.0), Shade Brubaker (11.4) and Matt Werner (8.0, 6.2 assists). Crushed Seven Hills 71-33 in a district final. The Eagles, winners of the Metro Buckeye Conference, have won 16 straight and haven’t lost since falling 56-40 at Tri-Village way back on Jan. 8. Grant Zawadzki (16.0 points, 5.9 assists), coach Ray Z’s son, and Christian Salazar (13.4) are the go-to players. TC outlasted Fort Loramie 65-56 in a district final.