MTZ Boys Basketball wins Paris tournament
Sam Driscoll looks to pass in a 57-49 win over the Paris Tigers in the Paris Thanksgiving Tournament last Tuesday.
By Blake Faith
Staff Writer
The Mt. Zion Boys basketball team started their season 4-0 and won the Paris Thanksgiving Tournament. Ethan Hamrick and Carson Cuddy were named to the all-tournament team.
In the game against Paris, the Braves found themselves down 12-9 to end the first quarter. Cuddy started the scoring for the Braves in the second quarter scoring on a putback layup to cut the Tigers’ lead to 12-11.
Later in the quarter, the Braves took the lead and control of the game. Jack Driscoll found Sam Driscoll who nailed a three pointer to give the Braves a 16-15 lead. The Braves built on that behind Hamrick’s finishing a layup. Hamrick stole the ball and drove in for a layup and then a few possessions later Hamrick finished again on a driving layup to give the Braves a 20-18 lead.
The Tigers fought to tie the game behind Conor Breneman. Breneman scored on back to back trips to the free-throw line and a layup to record five straight points for the Tigers to tie the game at 20-20.
The Braves regained the lead when Kam Clark found Sam Driscoll for a three-pointer to put the Braves up 23-20.
In the third quarter, Cuddy started to take over the game with his size and finishing ability. Cuddy started his scoring in the second half grabbing an offensive rebound and putting the ball back into the basket to increase the Braves lead to 27-24. Next possession Cuddy drove the ball in and finished with a layup and then followed with a spin-move layup to put the Braves up 31-26.
The Braves chipped at the league once again but Cuddy and the Braves responded. Hamrick found a wide-open Cuddy who scored on a dunk and then seconds later Cuddy nailed a three-pointer to give the Braves a 37-30 lead. The Braves finished the third quarter with a 40-32 lead.
The Braves maintained their lead in the fourth quarter. Hamrick made a three-pointer and nailed his free-throws on back to back possessions. Hamrick finished the game with 17 points and Cuddy finished with 19 points as the Braves won 57-49.
Against South Vermillion, the Braves won 58-49. Hamrick led the Braves with 21 points. Against Georgetown-Ridge Farm, the Braves won 76-23. Brayden Trimble led the Braves with 14 points.
Against Charalesomt, the Braves won 64-44. Hamrick led the Braves with 21 points.
“What a great start to the season 4-0,” Head coach Dale Schuring said. “We played well in all the games and made tremendous improvement as the tourney went along. We are sharing the ball very well and taking good shots. We are getting high quality minutes from everyone off the bench and our depth is shining through even with two of the top eight out with injuries. Our defense vastly improved especially in the second half of the Charleston game.”
The Mt. Zion Braves will face Charleston and Mahomet-Seymour high school this week. The Mahomet-Seymour High School game is on Saturday at home and tip-off is at 2:30 p.m.
