No.1 MACA Defends It’s Top Spot vs Montevideo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta vs Montevideo game was a one score contest in the high 60s. Tuesday's game was a defensive masterpiece that completely clipped the wings of the Thunderhawks. We tell you why the Tigers remain on top. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After 36 minutes of basketball the second ranked Montevideo Thunderhawks had just 33 points shooting 13 of 42 from the field and turning the ball over 21 times. The Hawks all state player [player_tooltip player_id='2524646' first='Griffin' last='Epema'] was 6 of 15 from the field with just two assists, and as a team you can count on one hand the amount of assists that Montevideo was credited with. The Montevideo second leading scorer was held scoreless on five shot attempts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I said..... defensive masterpiece. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the floor the player that made the biggest defensive impact was six-foot-1 senior was Jonah Huebner. It was Huebner that held [player_tooltip player_id='2436768' first='Brody' last='Dack'] scoreless but it was more than that. Huebner was in the passing lanes, he was stepping to the ball from the back side, and he was using quick hands to locate the ball and push it the other way. Jonah had a game high seven steals plus five defensive boards and three assists. He took three shots total for his four points but scoring wasn't even on his necessary to do list that went.... 1) lock down my guy, 2) be a help defensive threat, 3) defensive board, 4) move the ball, and 5) lead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jonah wasn't the only high level defender out there. [player_tooltip player_id='2377913' first='Alex' last='Asmus'] sacrificed a lot of numbers on Tuesday to make sure that Epema was limited in what he could do. He had a couple steals, a block, and most importantly he was able to contain Epema, not stop him but contain him, and that is what the team needed the most from Alex. Alex, a 6'3 junior, is an active player and a leader, and he showed that limiting Asmus and playing a big role on a tougher shooting night (10 points on 4 of 12 shooting). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guys like Huebner and [player_tooltip player_id='2377913' first='Alex' last='Asmus'] opened the game for future Creighton baseball player [player_tooltip player_id='2118471' first='Riley' last='Asmus'] to be the biggest threat of the game. Riley was that defender that was all over getting his five steals, he was the team high rebounder (7) and as Montevideo worn down, it was Riley that was at the rim scoring on six of his last seven shot attempts for a game high 24 points (9 of 14 from the field, 5 of 6 from the foul line). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was an all around effort from the MACA starting five. [player_tooltip player_id='2841055' first='Tyson' last='Grove'] had an off shooting night (3 of 12 for a player that shoots it quite well usually) but he supplemented scoring for a game high six assists and five rebounds (plus the eight points). And inside, Jack Kehoe scored four times, had five boards, and limited the Montevideo outstanding freshman to just three baskets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a team effort from MACA and that is why they are undefeated at 22-0. That is why they were able to beat TWO top ten teams in back to back nights (Annandale 62-52 the night before). And that team effort is why we think their starting five has as good a chance as any starting five come late March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for Montevideo..... this was a bad night. But they can take comfort in many things: 1) they went to state last year, and that is something MACA, JCC, Fairmont, KMS, etc can't say, 2) Epema was better in game two vs MACA than game one, 3) Dack will not be scoreless the next time they play, and [player_tooltip player_id='2841056' first='Jackson' last='Koenen'] and Collin Day combined for two points which also won't happen again ....</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and 4) [player_tooltip player_id='2844671' first='Caleb' last='Koenen'] is starting to blossom. The 6'5 frosh forward hit two threes, blocked three shots, and grabbed eight rebounds in addition to scoring ten points. Caleb is growing every day and there was no fear in the way he completed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->