03-10-2020
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE – For the Mater Dei Knights on Tuesday night at the 2A supersectional, it was all about precision.

Defensive and offensive precision.

Coach Ron Schadegg's club did a number on the Murphysboro Red Devils.

The Knights held Murphysboro without a point for 12:36, the last 4:36 of the second quarter and the entire third frame.

Mater Dei only committed one turnover until the final quarter and delivered this coach his second trip to Peoria with a 46-26 battering of the Red Devils at SIU Arena.

Both ends of the floor, the Knights were in control as they improved to 30-5 on the season.

Six-foot-five junior forward Mitchell Haake tossed in a game high 15 points while senior forward Caleb Zurliene added 12.

This duo worked well together as they have all season.

Senior guard Jacob Schadegg added 10 points to the totals and the defense took care of the rest.

Mater Dei forced Murphysboro into an 11-of-34 night, and just 2-of-8 from the 3-point line.

“We have good flexibility and a lot of weapons on this team. If one guy gets shut down we have several others that can step up and be productive,” said Coach Schadegg. “This is a very unselfish group. They understand what is in front of them and they know what to do to get there. We were efficient and effective tonight. Our defense was 'locked in' in the third quarter.”

Coach Daryl Murphy saw his team finish the fine season at 27-8 with the loss.

No Red Devils' player scored in double-digits as sophomore Calvon Clemons led Murphysboro with eight points.

How bad was the scoring drought for Murphysboro?

The Red Devils, in just the third quarter, had 11 possessions and came up with zero points; going 0-of-7 from the field, committing three turnovers and missing both free throw shots they attempted.

Mater Dei, on the other hand, ended up 19-of-30 from the field, with most of the missed shots coming from the 3-point arc (2-of-10).

Haake grabbed a game-best 10 rebounds and was 6-of-10 from the field while Zurliene made 4-of-8 of his field goal attempts and snagged five boards.

The Knights combined for 12 assists, with Zurliene showing that he is more than just a scorer by handing out four of them.

Mater Dei led early but Coach Murphy's club, in front of a large contingent of Red Devil fans at the arena, rallied to tie the score in the second quarter.

The first seven points of the game went to Mater Dei.

Haake scored on a nice assist from Zurliene and then he stepped out to the arc and nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing.

A driving lay in by Schadegg forced an early Murphysboro time out at 7-0.

The Red Devils early offense came from Clemons and senior Jamarr McZeke.

Both hit first quarter 3-point shots.

The Clemons bomb from the right wing closed the frame at 14-12 Mater Dei.

Murphysboro forged two ties in the second quarter, getting shots to fall from junior guard JaQuan Jackson and Clemons, evening things at 16-10 with just over four and a half minutes to play.

It was at that point that the Knights took complete command.

Six consecutive points, with two buckets by Zurliene and a pair of free throws by Haake, ended the half at 22-16.

Then the avalanche of points from Mater Dei, 16 more to make it a 22-0 run, ended the hopes of a Murphysboro trip to Peoria.

Coach Schadegg's squad hit 7-of-8 shots from the floor to begin the third quarter.

His son Jacob got things going on a nice back door cut to the basket and Zurliene handed out two more assists to Haake, setting up his junior teammate for a couple of easy looks.

“They look past what he (Zurliene) can do as a basketball player. He can score , he is super effective defensively and he is just a great high school basketball player,” said Coach Schadegg.

Mater Dei also worked the ball around for a great possession that ended with an easy lay in for Zurliene.

Senior Grant Goebel also added points for the Knights and when his drive to the basket turned into a lay in with 1:59 left, BMD led 34-16.

Haake scored again in the paint and Zurliene closed out the stanza with a pair of foul shots as the advantage was now 38-16.

The Knights coasted home to the win as they will now face the tough task of facing three-time defending 2A state champ Chicago Orr in the semifinals.

The Spartans beat Chicago Corliss, 49-48 to win the 2A Joliet Central Supersectional.

“We have a skilled group. They handle the ball and they share the ball. They play for each other and for those who came before them (in the program's history) and it is pleasurable to see it. These kids earn it (trip to state) and we are happy and blessed.”