MMCRU shook off a first quarter deficit to South O’Brien and went on to win the War Eagle Conference match-up 63-45 January 14 at Paullina. The Wolverines held a 20-17 lead after one quarter but trailed by three at halftime. The Royals had expanded their lead to eight points at the end of the third quarter.
The Wolverines shot a better percentage from the field (45 percent) than did MMCRU (41 percent) but the Royals put up 64 shots compared to 38 attempts for South O’Brien. The visitors were 6-of-20 from behind the three-point line where the Wolverines were 3-of-13. South O’Brien sank eight of 13 free throws and the Royals five of nine.
The home team was guilty of 27 turnovers compared to 11 for MMCRU. Derek Paulsen, Jaden Kreber and Brady Riedemann each had two steals for the Wolverines.
Kreber led the South O’Brien with 17 points and Gabe Moermond added 14. Paulsen had seven points and Reese Lundquist three. Caden Wittrock and Riedemann each scored two points. Paulsen recorded two of the team’s four assists. The Royals’ 18 assists helped facilitate their three double-figure scorers as Brayson Mulder and Lucas Braun each tallied 12 points and Kamden Bork 11.
Each team finished with 28 rebounds. Moermond and Lundquist grabbed five apiece with Wittrock, Kreber and Brody Van Beek each claiming four.
MMCRU
17 14 18 14 – 63
S. O’Brien
20 8 13 4 – 45