Fast starts set the tone

Point production improved for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in each quarter but MMCRU consistently outscored H-M-S throughout the game to win, 76-39, Jan. 23 at Marcus.

H-M-S stayed close in the first quarter and had an opportunity to get to within four or six points. Instead, the Royals scored to increase their lead to 14-8. MMCRU broke the game open late in the first half and built a 41-17 advantage.

"I thought we struggled more than we did in our first game with them against their pressure. Give MMCRU credit, they were able to capitalize and take advantage of our turnovers more efficiently than our previous meeting," said Hawk coach Naet Hoaglund.

The Royals extended their lead in the second half despite the fact that H-M-S improved its scoring output in each quarter.

"MMCRU was really efficient in the second half and moved the ball well against our zone. We were a little slow in our rotations and struggled to get out on [Kyler] Bork who knocked down multiple second-half threes," Hoaglund noted.

George Vargas recorded a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Isaac Schierholz scored nine points, Lawton Schiphoff scored six, Zac Pearson scored five, Grant Kunzman scored four, Kolby Douma scored three and Bradley Van Beek finished with two. H-M-S made 16-of-36 shots from the floor.

Schierholz contributed three rebounds and two assists; Schiphoff had four assists and two steals; and Douma had three assists.

Leading scorers for MMCRU were Bork with 25 and Bryson Mulder with 19.

• Comet defense stymies Hawks

Boyden-Hull's defense made things tough for the Hawks throughout their game on Jan. 25. The Comets limited H-M-S to single-digit scoring in each quarter and rolled to a 62-24 win in Hartley.

"I thought we struggled with their half-court defense, especially in the first half. They make it difficult to get the ball where you want it to go," Hoaglund said.

Boyden-Hull led 29-5 after one quarter and 47-14 at the half. In a low-scoring second half, the Comets added 15 points and H-M-S finished with 10.

Schiphoff scored half of H-M-S's points. Pearson scored five points, Jayden Leth scored three, and Isaac Schierholz and Vargas each scored two. H-M-S made eight field goals and shot 17.8 percent from the floor.

"I thought when we started moving the ball a little quicker and when we started moving quicker off the ball, we were able to get some quality shot opportunities," Hoaglund noted. "We got better looks in the second half but couldn't get them to fall."

Leading rebounders were Schierholz with six, Leth and Vargas with four, and Pearson with three. Pearson also had three steals; Schierholz and Schiphoff had two steals; and Leth and Vargas each had two assists.

Boyden-Hull was led by Carter Kleinwolterink with 15 points.

• Blackhawks shoot well in win

Hinton shot a hot 55 percent from the floor against H-M-S and rolled to a 78-32 win on Jan. 26 in Hartley.

The Blackhawks led 26-10 after one quarter and 40-17 at the intermission. They continued to pull away in the second half, outscoring H-M-S by a 38-15 margin.

Leth led H-M-S with 12 points, Schiphoff scored nine, Vargas scored four, Douma scored three, and Alex Billings and Pearson added two points. H-M-S made 12-of-41 shot attempts from the floor.

Vargas contributed four rebounds and three steals; Schiphoff, Douma and Billings each had two rebounds; and Leth added two assists.

Hinton's leading scorer was Logan Kempema with 19 points.

H-M-S (0-16, 0-8) closes out the regular season with home games against Sibley-Ocheyedan on Feb. 1, Sioux Central on Feb. 5 and South O'Brien on Feb. 6, and a road trip to Trinity Christian on Feb. 2.