Defense lifts Wolverines to 61-30 win

MALVERN - A slow first quarter and just a three-point halftime lead gave way to a quick, 17-0 start and a 61-30 victory for East Mills over Sidney in Corner Conference boys basketball Friday in Malvern.

The Wolverines (9-1 overall, 4-0 in the conference), coming off their first loss of the season in an ugly 59-20 setback on the road at Auburn, Neb., were slow out of the gates against as they struggled to solve the Cowboys’ (3-5 overall, 1-3 in the conference) “triangle-and-two” defense. Designed to limit the touched for East Mills’ leading scorers Braden West and Mason Crouse, the strategy worked early. The pair combined for seven first half points as the Wolverines took a slim 23-20 lead into intermission.

But in the third quarter, East Mills figured it out.

“We had to be a little more patient before taking that open look,” said East Mills coach Kevin Schafer. “Because we knew we’re going to get that open look at any time with those other three guys. So, we wanted to be patient and get an even better shot and make them work on defense instead of five seconds and a shot and we’re back on defense.”

The Wolverines hit four straight shots out of halftime – including an emphatic dunk by West – and went on a 17-0 run to take a 40-20 lead with 2:21 to go in the frame. Nearly every bucket came off a steal or a missed shot leading to instant offense on a fast break opportunity.

“We talked at halftime about playing defense and rebounding so we could get out in transition,” Schafer said. “It helped us (Braedon) Godfread got in foul trouble. He’s probably their most consistent offensive player and he gives them some length. So, him being out definitely helped us.”

Godfread picked up his fourth foul midway through the third and did not return until the fourth quarter. But it was too little too late. East Mills outscored the Cowboys 22-1 in the frame.

“We cut into open gaps better in the second half and we got some easy layups and some 15-footers when we couldn’t take the three,” Schafer said. “And a lot of it was transition and just beating them down the floor. I think our depth was better and they started to wear down in the second half.”

Sidney shot just 27.9 percent for the game and had 28 turnovers.

Crouse finished with a game-high 14 points and West added 12 points and 10 rebounds for East Mills.

Michael Hensley led Sidney with nine points. Godfread finished with three points on 1-of-5 shooting.

East Mills 59,
Auburn, Neb. 20

East Mills suffered its first loss of the season in a 59-20 setback on the road at Auburn, Neb. Thursday.

The Wolverines struggled to put the ball in the hoop, finishing 8-of-37 from the field while being out-scored 28-9 after halftime and finish with a season-low in points.

Mason Crouse led East Mills with nine points.

East Mills 83,
Essex 21
Braden West and Mason Crouse combined for 42 points for East Mills in an 83-21 win over Essex last Tuesday.

The undefeated Wolverines shot 51.4 percent from the field – 38-of-74 – and notched 23 assists on their 38 made field goals.

West led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds. Crouse added 19 points and nine rebounds. Peyton Embree chipped in 14 points and Layne Mastin 11.

Essex was led by Tony Racine’s eight points.