Staff
That was a close one.
With top scorers Aaron Bujold and Sekina Scheibler fouling out in the third quarter, the Muskie junior boys’ basketball team had to hang on for dear life yesterday to remain undefeated in NorWOSSA play this season.
But they prevailed 37-35 over the host Kenora Broncos.
“[Kenora] just started pinching up on Sekina and Aaron . . . [and] when ‘Buj’ gets a little rattled, he starts to do some silly things,” noted Muskie head coach Darryl Galusha, who was unable to attend yesterday’s game, with Muskie senior boys’ co-coach Bryce Coyle filling in.
Enter Brandon Larson, who had seven points to energize the Muskies (4-0) when they needed it most against the Broncos (1-2).
“Brandon had been phenomenal for us all season long and he really stepped in to lead the team to victory,” lauded Galusha, whose squad led 21-15 at halftime but managed just two field goals in the fourth quarter.
“He doesn’t say much but he gets the job done,” Galusha added.
“I can’t say enough about how the guys persevered and worked together.”
In senior boys’ play, Fort High (4-0) finished strong with a 22-point fourth quarter in romping to a 66-49 decision over the Broncos (0-3).
Kenora actually led 15-14 late in the first quarter until the Muskies exploded for a 15-0 run to lead 31-15 at halftime.
Guard Ian Jodoin had a season-high 17 points to pace Fort High while Jacob Empey added 15.
Aaron Kavanaugh and Liam Metke had eight apiece.
Both Muskie hoops squads headed to Thunder Bay today for a two-day tournament hosted by the St. Ignatius Falcons.
In girls’ volleyball action, meanwhile, both Muskie squads cruised to 3-0 sweeps in their respective matches against winless Kenora.
The seniors (3-1) prevailed 25-13, 25-23 and 25-18 over the Broncos while the juniors (2-2) won by scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-18.
Both squads are back in Kenora today and tomorrow for the “Winter Blast” tournament.
The seniors will be in Pool ‘B’ of their 12-team division, along with the host Broncos, St. Thomas Aquinas Saints #2 team (Kenora), and the Thunder Bay trio of St. Ignatius, the Hammarskjold Vikings, and the La Verendrye Vipers.
As for the juniors, they’re in Pool ‘C’ of their 13-team field along with St. Thomas Aquinas #2, St. Ignatius, and the Dryden Whiskey Jacks club team.
The next home games for the Muskie court teams are slated for Feb. 4 against the Broncos.
