On the cusp of greatness: M-P-B advances to Region 3 championship

Military metaphors are often overused in our sporting-obsessed culture, but M-P-B Coach Bob Young got straight to the point about what Thunder games with the Linton-HMB Lions have resembled this season.

"It's always a war with Linton," he said. "Our message to the boys was that it was going to be a war, and that we'd prepared for this over the last few years."

Two games in the books this season with a combined point differential of plus-three for M-P-B, tied at one apiece, meant the rubber match in the Region 3 semifinal round at Jamestown went for the right to reach the top step.

And with a clutch fourth-quarter performance, the Thunder slowly pulled away from the traditional postseason powers for a 47-39 win Tuesday night, March 7.

For much of the opening quarter, it was a struggle for both squads to just get the ball in the hoop. Half of the period elapsed before either team got on the board, and M-P-B emerged with a 7-5 lead at the horn.

"[Linton-HMB's] defense really did a great job taking us out of our offensive sets," said Young. "We just had to come up with some things on the fly to deal with their triangle-in-2 and double/triple teams, and the boys did a great job outlasting them."

In the second quarter, Rylen Wick provided an energy boost with seven straight team points, giving M-P-B a brief six-point lead before Linton-HMB cut it to two on a shot at the halftime buzzer, 18-16.

In the third quarter, neither team could get that second gear going, and the score sat at 26 all going into the final quarter.

Then, the shots started falling for the Thunder.

Wick hit several NBA-range threes in the second half to finish with 17 points, and Josh Moser heated up for the second straight game with big shot after big shot to lead the Thunder with 20 points and nine rebounds.

"When the fourth quarter came, the boys were still energetic and ready to make some plays," said Young.

Linton-HMB (14-9) was paced by Jace Jochim's 11 points and two steals, and Trace King and Gentry Richter each scored eight for the Lions. King grabbed nine rebounds and Richter added six.

The contributions of the Thunder's Gage Magstadt were of key importance. He would finish with eight points, including baskets in the fourth-quarter run. Magstadt added two steals, and Sawyer Wanzek, though held scoreless, finished with seven boards and two steals for M-P-B.

The Thunder took on the Ellendale Cardinals last Thursday night for a berth in the State B Tournament. Ellendale struggled at times with their semifinal opponent, the E-K-M Rebels, before burying their opponents in the second half and cruising to a 68-46 win in the nightcap.

Young believes his team has a puncher's chance against Ellendale if they play the game which they are capable of executing.

"I'm really proud of our kids. They believe in each other and are playing for each other, and that's what you want to see."

Region 3 Boys' Basketball

Tournament, Jamestown

Semifinals

M-P-B 47, Linton-HMB 39

LHMB 5 11 10 13 39

M-P-B 7 11 8 21 47

M-P-B: Josh Moser 20, Rylen Wick 17, Gage Magstadt 8, Mark Thomas 2. Totals: 16-41 FG, 8-9 FT, 12 fouls. Three-pointers: Wick 5, Moser 3, Magstadt 2.

Linton-HMB: Jace Jochim 11, Trace King 8, Gentry Richter 8, Grant Bosch 6, Justin Tschosik 4, Landon Bosch 2. Totals: 15-49 FG, 5-7 FT, 12 fouls. Three-pointers: Jochim 2, King 2.

M-P-B Additional Stats

Rebounds: Moser 9, Sawyer Wanzek 7, Wick 6, Magstadt 2.

Assists: Wick 2, Moser and Wanzek 1.

Steals: Magstadt and Wanzek 2, Moser and Thomas 1.

Linton-HMB Additional Stats

Rebounds: King 9, Richter 6, L. Bosch 5, G. Bosch 4, Tschosik 3, Jochim 2.

Assists: G. Bosch 2, King, Richter and Tschosik 1.

Steals: Jochim 2, King and Richter 1.

Blocks: G. Bosch, L. Bosch, Jochim and Richter 1.