Staff
The offence looked familiar but the defence was a far more dangerous beast this time around.
The Muskie senior boys’ basketball team limited the Kenora Broncos’ shot-making opportunities, and made good on enough of their own, to earn a 43-31 decision in NorWOSSA action here yesterday.
Fort High (5-0) had to hang on for dear life for a 44-43 win in Kenora last week.
But the first-place Muskies didn’t leave things to chance on home court, leading the last-place Broncos (0-5) 23-15 at halftime and then 35-23 after three quarters.
Connor Bujold slashed his way through the Broncos’ defence for a game-high 13 points.
Aaron Kavanaugh pitched in with a season-high 12 points.
Both the Muskie senior and junior girls’ volleyball teams also took care of business against the visiting Broncos yesterday.
The first-place juniors improved to 5-0 with a 3-1 triumph (25-9, 25-14, 22-25, and 25-12) over cellar-dwelling Kenora (0-5).
The seniors, meanwhile, cruised to a 3-0 sweep over Kenora (0-5) by scores of 25-19, 25-17, and 25-16 to remain in second place with a 3-2 record.
A Muskie sweep nearly was in the cards but the junior boys’ basketball team let a seven-point halftime lead slip away in falling 40-38 to the Broncos.
Fort High (0-5) seemed on its way to its first league win of the season, allowing only two field goals to the second-place Broncos (2-3) in the first half to lead 18-11 at the break.
But a 14-6 third quarter by Kenora had the teams tied entering what turned into a back-and-forth, spine-tingling final quarter.
Despite leading scorer Cole Kowalski fouling out with six minutes to go, the Muskies still found themselves tied 38-38 in the final minute.
But a turnover led to a breakaway lay-up for Andrew Neil with just over 20 seconds to go to provide the winning points.
Aaron Bujold had 12 points to pace Fort High while Kowalski added 11.
With the loss, the junior Muskies assured they will have to play in the NorWOSSA semi-final since they cannot catch the Dryden Eagles (4-0) for first place.
Fort High will play its final games before the exam break this Monday against the host Eagles.
