Maple Lake
The streak is over for the Eagles boys’ basketball team. After 12 straight losses, including five by single digits, the Eagles pulled away from the Maple Lake Irish early en route to the 78-36 conference home win Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The team broke its streak while seeing one of its own make some history. Senior Wyatt Moehrle broke Bret Mattice’s Eagles’ single-game scoring record of 37 with a 40-point performance.
Moehrle had an efficient night during his 40-point game, one that saw him shoot 84% (16 of 19) from the floor and 89% (8 of 9) from the free-throw line. He also came one rebound shy of a double-double performance.
Recording their first win since Jan. 16, the Eagles opened their season-ending, three-game home-stand by jumping out to a 43-18 halftime lead. In that first half, the Eagles shot 51% from the floor and held the Irish to just 30%.
For the game, the Eagles held a decided edge in the rebounding department, out-rebounding the Irish by a 47-20 margin, including a 13-3 edge in offensive rebounds.
Offensively, the Eagles shot 50% (29 of 58) for the game and, defensively, held the Irish to 28%.
Besides Moehrle, Blake Glenz nearly posted a double-double as well with nine points and nine rebounds, and Caleb DeRose finished with nine points to also pace the Eagles.
With the win, the Eagles improved to 6-18 overall and 4-8 in Central Minnesota Conference play.
Kimball
After narrowly falling to the Kimball Cubs by a 51-49 final back on Jan. 17, the Eagles had another opportunity to play this same Cubs team just over a month later.
Taking a 33-31 lead into halftime, the Eagles would take advantage of that second opportunity, avenging this earlier season loss, and pulled away for the 76-64 conference home win on Thursday, Feb. 20.
The Eagles shot better from the floor, but especially from three-point range. For the game, the Eagles shot 50% (25 of 50) from the floor, compared to the Cubs’ 43% (22 of 51). From three-point range, the Eagles shot 36% (7 of 19), and the Cubs 20% (2 of 10).
Both teams reached the free-
throw line often. The Eagles finished 19 of 27 (70%), and the Cubs 18 of 21 (85%).
Coming off his school record-setting 40-point performance in the prior game, Wyatt Moehrle nearly replicated that performance with a 39-point game on 10 of 15 (66%) shooting from the floor and 13 of 14 (93%) from the free-throw line. He posted a -double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds, and also finished with a team-high two blocks.
Blake Glenz hit double figures as well with 13 points and Brayden Becker finished with nine points to also pace the Eagles.
After losing 12 straight games, the Eagles have now established a two-game winning streak. The team improved to 7-18 overall and 5-8 in Central Minnesota Conference play.
Next action
After a home loss to Holdingford concluding a three-game homestand and their regular season on Feb. 25, the Eagles will shift their focus to the Section 3AA Boys’ Basketball Tournament, set to begin Friday, Feb. 28.