The MMCRU boys basketball team came up short of a district title on Tuesday night losing a rubber match with South O’Brien by the score of 57-44.
The Royals did not do themselves any favors early getting down 7-0 to start the game, 14-7 to end the first, and 28-18 heading into the half. Head coach Cam Kuchel says the lack of success to start the game simply came down to too many turnovers.
Despite the struggles and a 14-point deficit in the second half, the Royals never quit and fought to get it back to as little as five points in the second half. Coach Kuchel says that shows how far this team has come.
Some of that comeback can be attributed to the defensive play of some underclassmen off the bench. Though they did not play more than five minutes, Coach Kuchel says they had a profound impact when it comes to defensive execution.
The Royals end the season with a record of 14-9 and graduate six seniors off the roster. Three played a lot of minutes while three played hardly any minutes. Coach Kuchel says each one of them was vital to the team’s success.
MMCRU’s 14 wins are the most they have had since combining the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn and Remsen-Union school districts into one program. Coach Kuchel says that has the players that return next year excited to keep raising the bar.
Brayson Mulder led the Royals in the loss with 11 points. South O’Brien improved to 21-3 and will take on North Union in the substate final in Spencer on Saturday night.
