ReMATCH WITH TEUTONS NEXT

By Staff

            MOUNDRIDGE – On Monday the Moundridge boys opened their run for state with a 12-point, 63-51 win over Hutchinson Trinity in sub-state quarterfinal play.

            Ending the regular season ranked third in Class 3A, the win gives the Wildcats an 18-3 mark for the season as they now prep for a Thursday rematch with county rival Inman (18-3) in their sub-state semifinals as Inman defeated Berean Academy 31-22 on Monday. The winner will then play either Ellinwood (20-1) or Sterling (16-5) on Saturday in the sub-state finals and for a chance to play at the Class 2A state tournament.

            “This sub-state is as competitive as any,” noted Wildcat head coach Vance Unrau. “I knew that Hutchinson Trinity was going to be tough, not just because of their team leader (Blake) Hammeke, but because all of his supporting cast were getting better as the season progressed.”

            The Wildcats held a three-point, 28-25 lead at the halftime break before closing out the game by outscoring Trinity 40-26 in the final two quarters for the final 17-point victory.

            Moundridge was helped by earning a 22-15 edge in rebounding which processed out to a 12-0 advantage in second chance scoring. The Wildcats also dished out 16 assists on 21 made field goals.

            Individually, Logan Churchill broke the 1,000 point mark for his Wildcat career as he connected on four three-pointers to lead the team in scoring with 22, rebounds with eight and blocked shots with four.

Landon Kaufman recorded another double-double with 18 points and 11 assists while swiping a team high four steals. Henry Hecox just missed double digits with nine points.

            Coach Unrau concluded his post-game reflections by adding, “Henry (Hecox) took a lot of pride in shutting Hammeke down in the second half by limiting him to just three of this 19 points. He also was a major contributor at the offensive end in the second half. It is survive and advance this time of the year.”

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCATS hosting Hutchinson Trinity for Class 2A Sub-State Quarterfinal

SCORING: WILDCATS > 12-16-11-24 = 68;  Hutchinson Trinity > 10-15-8-18 = 51.

TEAM STATS: WILDCATS > FGs – 21/43; 3-PTs – 8/21; FTs – 17/22; AST – 16; REBs – 22; TO – 6; STLs – 8; BLKs – 5; FLs – 9.  Hutchinson Trinity > FGs – 20/35; 3-PTs – 8/13; FTs – 3/4; AST – 13; REBs – 15; TO – 11; STLs – 3; BLKs – 1; FLs – 14.

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCAT INDIVIDUAL STATS: Scoring > Logan Churchill – 25; Landon Kaufman – 18; Henry Hecox – 9; Alex Huddle – 6; Layton Schmidt – 4; Barrett Moddelmog – 4.  3-Pointers Made > Churchill – 5; Kaufman – 3; Hecox – 1.  Assists > Kaufman – 11; Churchill – 3; Hecox, Moddelmog – 1.  Rebounds > Churchill – 8; Moddelmog – 7; Schmidt – 3; Kaufman – 2; Hecox, Huddle – 1.  Steals > Kaufman – 4; Hecox – 3; Churchill – 1.  Blocked Shots > Churchill – 4; Moddelmog – 1.

(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)