At the onset of the varsity game, our Mustangs picked up where we left off in the past four games, as Beckett Kuntz nailed a pair of 3’s and Drew Steffen matched Beckett’s output plus a 2-Pointer as the Mustangs led for the majority of the first period, battling the Raiders to a 22-19 first quarter score.  Unfortunately, that is where the similarity ends, as Ryle limited us to merely a pair of 2-point field goals in the second quarter, while they were having success getting the ball inside to big man, Grace Nsuti, (pronounced Grah-s N-suit-ee) who hit five close-in shots, leading to the Raiders winning the frame 17-4, and that was pretty much the story from that point on.  Too tall, too long, too athletic, and too many.  Drew Steffen was our only double-figure scorer, putting up 16 on the night.  Holden Smith (18), Nsuti (14) and Anthony Coppola (11) contributed double-figures, leading ten Raider scorers enroute to the 79-36 victory.  With the loss we fall to 14-11 and will get a much-needed weekend away from basketball, getting back in the gym on Monday to prepare for Bellevue on Thursday and NCC on Friday to wrap up the regular season.

If you attended the JV game, I don’t have to tell you that our guys were brilliant in breaking open a close game at halftime, where we trailed 27-22, and then behind Bauer Glass’s 18 second half scoring output that included four 3-pointers, drew off to a 20 point, 61-41 win, our 9th straight, improving our season mark to 16-7.  Whatever adjustments Coach McBride made, or what was said at halftime, should be bottled and sold, as we rallied to outscore the visiting Raiders 39-14 in the second half.  Cohen Trauth was our other double-figure scorer, putting up 11.  Wyatt Feldman added 9, and Derek Bezold 8.  The now 16-7 JVs, riding a 9 game win streak,  will close out their season next week at Bellevue and at NCC on Thursday and Friday.