MHS savors rivalry victory against Bears
The Bulldogs continue to move past last year’s win total.
McLouth’s 63-51 victory against visiting Oskaloosa moved the MHS boys basketball team to 7-7 on the season, surpassing last year’s win total by two games with six regular-season games left to play.
Last year’s squad finished the season at 5-16.
“It felt good,” MHS coach Jason Schroeder said about defeating Oskaloosa. “The funnest part is just watching them play.
“It’s a complete team effort and they just enjoy it. And they’re working hard. They’ve definitely earned the seven wins. They’ve definitely worked hard for every one we’ve gotten.”
McLouth opened strong, scoring 20 points in the first quarter. McLouth led, by seven at the end of the first and held the same advantage at halftime at 33-26.
The Bears played even with the Bulldogs in the third quarter, as McLouth took a 46-38 lead into the final period.
But McLouth outscored Oskaloosa in the final quarter and claimed the 13-point victory.
Andrew Booth scored a game-high 27 in the win against Oskaloosa, while Mark Stewart also scored in double figures with 13. In addition, Booth pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds for a double-double. It was a career high.
The two teams had similar field goal percentages. McLouth shot 35.5 percent (22-for-62), while Oskaloosa finished shooting 34.5 percent (19-for-55).
In Friday’s game, McLouth also held an advantage at the free-throw line. Although Oskaloosa finished with a slightly better percentage (63.6 to 56.7), McLouth outscored OHS from the line. The Bulldogs went to the line 30 times and made 17, while the Bears were 7-for-11 from the line.
Oskaloosa bench players outscored McLouth’s bench players, 16-3, but the Bears also committed six more turnovers than the Bulldogs (17-11).
The bottom line for the Bulldogs was simple: They notched a victory against their arch-rival.
“They were really excited because of who it was,” Schroeder said. “I talked to some alumni after the game, and they were excited about it.
“There was a huge crowd there. There was a lot of energy and a good crowd. Oskaloosa worked really hard too. You could tell they wanted to win it.”
Trojans outlast Bulldogs
The Bulldogs trailed by just six at halftime, 29-23, but a four-point third quarter doomed MHS after halftime. McLouth scored 24 in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t overcome the hefty third-quarter deficit and fell, 63-51.
McLouth’s struggles at the free-throw line didn’t help the Bulldogs’ cause. MHS shot a dismal 21.4 percent from the field, going 3-for-14 from the charity stripe. Troy, meanwhile, made 16 of 23 free throws.
From the field, McLouth shot 41.8 percent (23-for-55), while Troy shot at a 53.7 percent clip (22-for-41).
Booth led McLouth in points with 15, while Trevor Keling and Mike Rome each scored 10.
Troy also had three players in double-figures: Colin Greaser with 16, Jesse Marriott with 13 and Kevin Luedke with 12.
Up next
McLouth played Tuesday near Easton against Pleasant Ridge and will play again Friday at home against Horton. The King and Queen of Courts crowning will take place at halftime of the boys game Friday in McLouth.
Linescores
Troy 63, McLouth 51
Score by quarters
Troy 13 16 18 16 — 63
McLouth 12 11 4 24 — 51
Individual scoring
Troy — Greaser 16, Marriott 13, Luedke 12, Koehler 7, Luther 6, Robinson 6, Whestine 2, Ploeger 1.
McLouth — Booth 15, Keling 10, Rome 10, Stewart 9, Smith 5, Lamborn 2.
McLouth 62, Oskaloosa 49
Score by quarters
Oskaloosa 13 13 12 11 — 49
McLouth 20 13 13 16 — 62
Individual scoring
Oskaloosa — Tenpenny 15, Brey 13, McGinnis 11, Heston 5, Robbins 3, Thurston 2.
McLouth — Booth 27, Stewart 13, Keling 7, Rome 6, Smith 6, Lamborn 3.