The Remsen St. Mary’s boys basketball team opened their season with a 39-33 win over Gehlen Catholic on Tuesday night.
The game was not the prettiest, but it got the job done for the Hawks. Defensively, Remsen St. Mary’s could not ask for a better first half holding Gehlen Catholic to just eight points. Co-head coach Justin Ruden says he was very pleased with the defensive effort.
Gehlen Catholic was not able to execute much of anything against Remsen St. Mary’s long and lanky defensive unit. Gehlen Catholic head coach Ryan Wiltgen says that bothered his guys in the first half.
At the end of the first half, the light switch flipped, and Gehlen Catholic got back into the game. The three-point shot was dropping, and that allowed the Jays to get it back to within one possession. Coach Wiltgen says the defense initially sparked the momentum, and the offense ran with it.
The Hawks ended up being a little flustered in the second half due to the nature of the physicality that was coming their way. Coach Ruden says being in a physical game can make the guys second guess things every now and then.
Ultimately, Remsen St. Mary’s had just enough in the tank to hold off the Jays and start the year 1-0. Coach Ruden says he does not want the guys to be just having enough in the tank later in the year, but he is hoping they can keep getting in better shape throughout the year.
Gehlen Catholic falls to 1-1 before turning their attention to two more games this week. Coach Wiltgen says the guys have showed some mental fortitude to start the year, and that will need to continue.
The Jays are back in action on Thursday night at home against Cherokee. The Hawks will return to the court on Monday, December 9 at West Sioux.
