MANTON – Roscommon fell to host Manton in the boys district basketball playoffs on March 7 by a score of 66-34.
Coach MJ Ewald said the kids fought from start to finish.
“We never quit. That’s been our trademark this year. We play hard all the time. I am so proud of them for that,” Ewald said.
Alex Thiel (10 points) played one of his best games of the season, hitting some tough shots and battling for boards.
“He was outstanding,” Ewald sad. “So was Green who, despite being undersized, fought like crazy in the paint and pulled down six boards. Brock Pelleran (So) also played hard inside, fighting for rebounds.
The trio of Green, Pelleran and Thiel combined for 19 of the team’s 30 rebounds.
Ben Hamina had a solid game, scoring six points and pulling down two rebounds. Ty Thornton (Jr) made some tremendous hustle plays and was aggressive all night. He added two points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
Mason Beaver (So) and Sawyer Griffis (Fr) also played hard. Joel Ewald (Sr) was handcuffed by Manton’s D (two points) as they face-guarded him and double-teamed him all night.
“Despite being frustrated, he did a hell of a job leading this team tonight and this season. He and Aaron Gee were great leaders by example every time they stepped on the floor. While our record does not indicate it, we made some tremendous strides this year.
“As a coaching staff, we asked a ton out of our young kids, especially our sophomores and freshman. They responded so well and just worked so hard during practices. As long as they keep putting in work, they will continue to get better and be tough in the years to come,” Ewald added.
