Matthew Moritz hit six three-pointers Friday night and finished with 24 points as the Mainstreeter boys’ basketball team won their 12th game in a row, beating section rival Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 65-42 in front of a packed gym.
Both teams traded baskets through much of the first half. Trailing 19-17 Moritz hit back to back threes on consecutive trips down the floor to give the Streeters much-needed momentum. Moritz capped off the Streeter scoring when he drew a foul and sank two free throws as Sauk escaped into the locker room with a 25-23 lead despite a semi-slow start.
Carter Kranz also had some key baskets for the Streeters in the first half as they tried to penetrate the Thunder’s patented 2-3 zone defense. Kranz made some good baseline plays to keep the ball alive and was strong to the hoop.
Early in the second half Kranz and Austin Nelson both hit key three-pointers early. After Moritz’s success in the first half from long range, there was no doubt the Thunder weren’t going to leave him open. After Tanner Schmiesing opened the second half with a basket the Thunder responded to make it 27-25. That’s when Nelson was left open at the top of the key where he swished his first hoop of the night. Sauk took a 32-27 lead on a basket by Cole Neubert and then Kranz nailed a three from the wing for a 35-27 lead. It was Kranz’s basket that swung the pendulum heavily in Sauk’s favor. Nelson scored on the next trip down and then after a Thunder basket Sauk rallied off 14 unanswered points. Nelson, Neubert and Schmiesing all scored and then Moritz got back into the mix with consecutive three-pointers. Shariff Silas capped off the 14-0 run with a pair of free throws.
Sauk’s balanced attack was too much, even for the stingy Thunder zone defense.
Sauk coasted the rest of the way, doing the job on both ends of the floor.
Neubert and Kranz finished with 10 points each and Nelson had seven.
The win gives teh Streeters a 19-4 overall record and a 9-2 mark against section opponents. Curently their QRF, a formula used to rank section teams, trails Melrose for the No. 1 seed in the sub-section. Their remaining games could play a big role in how the sub-section seedings end up. Sauk Centre will play Staples-Motley next Tuesday in Staples and then host Holdingford in their season finale on Feb. 20. Melrose will finish up with Osakis, Albany and ACGC. Sub-section playoffs begin Feb. 26 for the Mainstreeters.
