The Remsen St. Mary’s boys basketball team ended their season at the state tournament for the eighth time in the last nine years with a 64-54 quarterfinal loss to top-seed Marquette Catholic.
The Hawks were at the state tournament for the first time in two seasons though, and it showed as the first few possessions took place. The Hawks trailed 11-4 going into the first media timeout and had to be reminded what it took to get them here. Co-head coach Justin Ruden says the nerves had to be calmed in the stoppage.
Right away, the Hawks scored five-straight points and got back into the game before ultimately tying the game at 13 going into the second quarter. Sam Schmillen says the guys needed to be reminded that runs happen in the game, and that theirs was coming.
Remsen St. Mary’s found themselves down by nine points going into the break thanks to a rough second quarter in which they were outscored 14-5. Coach Ruden says the guys needed to dig deep for some confidence for the rest of the game.
Remsen St. Mary’s was down 31-22 in the early portion of the fourth quarter when the lid came off the hoop for Collin Homan. Homan scored 10-straight points to open the third quarter including the first six in a 9-0 run that tied the game at 31. Homan says those first moments of the second half are big, and he knew he needed to step up.
Homan’s scoring early in the second half gave Remsen St. Mary’s a chance. Coach Ruden says the big man can create shots when he needs to.
Outside of that 12-point third quarter for Homan, it was difficult to get him the ball to create shots offensively. He says it has been tricky down low, and this game was no different.
Homan finished with 23 points, and Sam Schmillen helped pick up the slack with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. He says it was very physical at the hoop making him have to earn his opportunities inside.
Ultimately, the name of the game for the Defenders was creating turnovers. Marquette Catholic forced 15 turnovers and scored 17 points from them signifying some game-changing plays in there. Coach Ruden says those live ball turnovers were very costly in a game against a tough team.
The season ends for the Hawks at 21-5, and they graduate a senior class of eight kids. Homan is one of those seniors, and he says this closes one chapter and opens another heading into their final sports seasons as a Hawk.
Sam Schmillen will be going to play basketball in college at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. He says the Remsen St. Mary’s program has prepared him well for college and the rest of his life both as an athlete and a person.
When all was said and done, Coach Ruden says he has the hardest-working, most coachable kids in the state.
Remsen St. Mary’s ends the season at 21-5 and a state quarterfinalist. Top-ranked Marquette Catholic will take on the fourth seed in the semifinal round tomorrow when they face off with Gladbrook-Reinbeck.
