The Wild Rose Wildcats came out of a Dec. 2 boys’ basketball game with a slim 48-45 win over the Marion Mustangs.
“What we can take away from the win,” pointed out Wild Rose Coach Jacob Lund, “is the face that we have a lot of things to work on. I am, however, proud of the juniors and seniors in how they came away from the huddle (after timeouts). We gave up too many offensive rebounds, so we need to rebound better. We couldn’t hit our shots, but we did have a lot of good looks.”
Wild Rose possessed a 23-18 lead as time wound down in the first half of play, but Marion closed in at 23-20 with just 22.3 seconds left. Austin Erickson hit 2 of 2 free throws with 4.4 seconds left in the half to put the hosts back up 25-20 to enter halftime.
Erickson led the Wildcats with 9 points, including a 3-point shot, as Brett Wilbert produced 8 points included a 3-point shot. Evan Tratz and Jayden King each added 4 points to aid the hosts who committed just 6 fouls in the first half. Jaden Stuhr had 7 points in the first half for Marion with 2 of 2 free throws and a 3-point shot, while Parker Miller had 6 points, and Sam Gueths 4 as the Mustangs tied their hosts with 6 fouls.
The second half had the visitors closing in, 25-24, before the hosts widened the gap again 29-24 with buckets from Tratz and Jonah Williams. The scores went on to remain close throughout the second half. The Mustangs took over the lead 30-29 with just over 12 minutes to and increased their lead by 2 a short time later. There was a tradeoff of leads by 1, 2, or 3 points, and a tie at 39.
It looked like Wild Rose was finally going to hold onto the lead late in the half, 46-41, but Marion came back within 1, 46-45, on 2 free throws from Jack Van Kooy with 1:49 remaining. Erickson hit 2 free throws for Wild Rose with 3.6 seconds left to help the hosts keep a lead and seal the win at 48-45, with the Wildcats fouling 6 times, and the Mustang 8 times in the second half.
Jonah Williams had 7 points in the second half for Wild Rose including a 3-point shot, while Tratz and Wilbert each added 5 points, including a 3-point shot each. King came up with 4 points, going 2-2 at the free throw line, and Erickson 2 of 3 free throws.
Marion was led in the second half by Van Kooy’s 13 points which included a 3-point shot and 2 free-throws. Ryan Malueg came up with 6 point for the visitors.
Brett Wilbert led the five Wild Rose scorers in the game with 13 points, featuring two 3-pointers. Austin Erickson was right behind with 11 points, featuring 4 of 5 free throws and a 3-pointer. Evan Tratz produced 9 points with the help of a 3, while Jayden King had 8 points, going 2-2 at the free throw line, and Jonah Williams 7 featuring a 3.
The Wildcats were 7 of 11 at the line, had five 3-points shots, and committed 12 fouls.
Marion’s five scorers were led by Jack Van Kooy’s 15 points which included 2 of 2 free throws and a 3-point shot. Jaden Stuhr had 9 points which included 2 of 2 free throws and a 3-point shot, while Parker Miller gathered 8 points. Ryan Malueg gathered 7 points, while Sam Gueths added 6.
The Mustangs were 5 of 8 at the free throw line, had two 3-point shots, and totaled 14 fouls.
