In their first-ever state tournament game, the MMCRU boys basketball team picked up their first-ever win with a 58-39 victory over Boyden-Hull on Tuesday night.
The Royals knew going in that they would be in a tough matchup with a very seasoned Boyden-Hull team that was at the state tournament last year. MMCRU head coach Cam Kuchel says that makes this win a little extra special.
MMCRU was able to get their offense clicking early with the three-point shot. The Royals sunk three of their first four attempts from long range, and that set the tone early. Eli Schlenger, who had 14 points and made a pair of threes, says those three-point opportunities made the defense have to respect them out there.
With the defense brought out from the inside, Schlenger says he and his team could score from many different levels.
Kamden Bork, who scored 14 points but was quiet early on the offensive side, says everyone was contributing to the efficient start to the game.
After playing to an 8-8 tie midway through the first quarter, the Royals outscored Boyden-Hull 15-6 to finish the half. Wyatt Alesch says the defensive pressure started to wear out the Comets in the second quarter.
With a 23-14 lead into the halftime break, the Royals turned up the intensity further to start the second half. Boyden-Hull put up the first two points of the third quarter, but MMCRU responded with the next 10 points. Coach Kuchel says it was great to see the guys get off to great starts in each half.
Eli Schlenger says turning up the intensity and pace of the game was a great way to turn the momentum in their favor.
An X-Factor from the game in MMCRU’s favor was the rebounding category. The Royals outrebounded Boyden-Hull 31-16 dominating the game in that aspect. Coach Kuchel says the rebounding edge was so important that it took his team out of their normal run-and-gun offensive approach.
Wyatt Alesch led the Royals with six rebounds in the victory. He says he was not going to go away from what his coaches were telling him.
The rebounding edge mixed with a great defensive intensity, forcing 15 turnovers and holding the Comets to 8% from the three-point arch helped turn the tide. Bork says MMCRU’s length makes his team a tough team to get shots up against.
MMCRU advances to the semifinal round to face off with Marquette Catholic on Thursday. Coach Kuchel says continuing to develop consistency on offense will be key.
With this being the first trip to state for the Royals, Bork knows that they cannot take anything for granted.
MMCRU will enter with a 26-1 record being led by Kamden Bork and Eli Schlenger’s 14-point effort. Marquette Catholic enters the semifinal round with a record of 24-2 after defeating third-seeded Bishop Garrigan by the score of 58-55 on Tuesday night.
Not only is this the first boys state basketball tournament victory for MMCRU, but it is also the first for either school district that makes up MMCRU. The 1992 Remsen-Union Rockets lost out in the quarterfinal round while the 1980 Marcus Eagles suffered the same fate as well.
