01-22-2020
BY JACK BULLOCK
SPARTA - The Murphysboro Red Devils needed a big defensive effort on Wednesday night against Steeleville at the 56th annual Sparta “Mid-Winter Classic.”

Coach Daryl Murphys club looked a bit lethargic for the first three quarters of the game offensively as they trailed the Warriors for much of the game heading into the fourth quarter.

But the defensive pressure they had put on Steeleville paid off in the final eight minutes of the game.

The Red Devils held the Warriors to just 6-of-21 shooting in the second half and used a 10-2 run to begin the fourth quarter to get control as Coach Murphy's team improved their stock to 2-0 in Pool B and 15-4 overall with a comeback 51-39 victory in the opening game of Wednesday night's session.

Murphysboro played so well defensively that they only allowed Steeleville to get one trip to the foul line (0-of-1) in the whole game while outscoring the Warriors 17-0 from the line in going 17-of-27.

“The first quarter we just didn't have the energy and they (Steeleville) were hitting some shots. But we made them work hard offensively and also defensively and I thought that wore them down by the fourth quarter,” said Coach Murphy. “I think at the end their legs got a little tired.”

After a great start to the game and hanging tough with the Red Devils, head coach Aaron Fiene's Warriors finally hit “empty” on the fuel tank as they fell to 9-8 overall and 0-1 in Pool B.

The Red Devils were led offensively by three double-digit scorers.

Five-foot-seven sophomore guard Calvon Clemons topped the chart with 14 points while senior Jamar McZeke tossed home 13.

Senior Jameirr Frazier added 11 for Coach Murphy's club that is now in prime contention for return trip to the title game as they try to defend their championship from last winter.

For Steeleville, senior guard Austin Hagel led the Warriors in scoring with 15 points as he was the only one in double-figures.

Sophomore Zach Mevert and senior Jacob Sutton tossed in six points each.

The Warriors came out the more energetic team in the early going as they took command of the game.

Steeleville led for all but :24 in the first half and three scores by Hagel and a 3-pointer by Sutton closed the opening quarter at 13-9 Warriors.

Coach Fiene saw his squad nail 6-of-8 from the field in that opening frame.

An second quarter opening 3-pointer from Hagel gave Steeleville its largest lead of the contest at 16-9.

However, even though things weren't clicking offensively for the Red Devils, the defense was keeping them close.

Senior Dezmond Clark added eight points for Murphysboro, with a big basket and a Clemons' fast break score while being fouled by Steeleville's Jacob Gross that turned into a three-point play to cut the Warriors lead to just 23-20 with 1:28 left in the first half.

Steeleville got a score on a nice inbounds play with Mevert converting in the lane for a five point spread at halftime.

The trio of Clark, McZeke and Frazier got the Red Devils back even with the Warriors by the finish of the third quarter.

McZeke scored on a consecutive plays in the lane, one on a nice assist from junior guard JaQuan Jackson and another time on a rebound in the paint.

Frazier ended the quarter by taking an assist from senior Aren Abell to even things at 32-32 heading to the fourth.

The first five possessions for the Warriors in the final quarter resulted in zero points.

Three missed shots and two of the five fourth quarter turnovers allowed Murphysboro to gradually pull away.

McZeke nailed two important shots, connecting near the basket on a pass from Clarke and then stepping back to knock down a big 3-pointer from the left wing to give Murphysboro a 40-34 lead.

Freshman starter Carter Wasson scored his only two baskets of the game in the fourth quarter for Steeleville and his second one on a drive in the lane cut the deficit to 42-36 with 2:21 left.

That marked the end of the rally as the Red Devils closed out the game by making 9-of-10 from the foul line.

Coach Murphy saw his Devils hit 16-of-33 overall from the floor (48.4 percent) and they took pretty good care of the ball as they committed just eight turnovers.

Steeleville hit for 17-of-40 (42.5 percent).

Murphysboro controlled the boards (23-17) with six big defensive rebounds in the fourth quarter helping to seal the outcome as Steeleville went the entire stanza without an offensive second chance.

McZeke topped Murphysboro with nine rebounds.

The Red Devils are back at it on Thursday night at Sparta where they will close out their pool play with a game against Columbia at 8:30 pm.

A win over the Eagles will put them back into the title game for the fifth consecutive year.

Steeleville will face the Eagles on Friday night at 7 pm.

“That (tonight's game) is why we play four quarters. We've been coming out with not very good starts lately and that makes us have to grind, grind, grind to comeback. These are long tournaments and you shouldn't get too excited about one performance, we don't want to get too hyped up either way,” said Coach Murphy. “We're playing four games in five days. Survive and advance. I thought we executed well, but we have to come out with a little more 'gumption' at the beginning of games.”

Head coach Matt Laur got his usual strong performance scoring by junior Colin Brueggemann and senior Luke Ervie as the team improved its record to 16-4 overall.

The 6-foot-7 Brueggemann poured in 26 points while the 6-foot-1 Ervie added 23 in the victory, which has the Midgets at 2-0 in Pool A.

Freeburg also got 11 important points from junior Jacob Blomenkamp.

A win over Red Bud on Friday night at 5:30 pm would secure a spot in the title game on Saturday night for Freeburg.

Sparta saw its overall record fall to 9-11 and 1-1 in Pool A.

Carlos Keen, a 6-foot senior, paced the Bulldogs with 23 points while senior teammate Bradyne Cometto added 17.

Senior guard Tony Williams added 12 points for Coach Jon Norton's squad.

Freeburg closed out the game with Brueggemann and senior Austin Lickenbrock combining to go 7-of-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter for the win.