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PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Tigers roll past Sioux falls Roosevelt

Marshall’s Mitchell Sueker (23) and Zach Bloemker (10) provide defensive pressure against a Sioux Falls Roosevelt player in the first half Tuesday. Marshall won 80-49

MARSHALL – The 2017 senior class for the Marshall Tiger basketball team is a special one. Mitch Sueker, Weston Baker Magrath and Zach Bloemker will all be playing college basketball. Blaise Andries and Reece Winkelman will both be playing Division I football. Nicky Ektanitphong will be playing football at St. Thomas. Ryan VanMoer is a three-sport athlete for the Tigers.

Those seven seniors went out in style on Senior Night against Sioux Falls Roosevelt. The magnificent seven combined for 72 of Marshall’s 80 points during the Tigers 80-49 victory against the Rough Riders.

“Tonight was a fun night, all seven kids did a great job,” Marshall coach Travis Carroll said. “We expected that, they’ve been doing that all year. We’re looking forward to the next challenge and starting the postseason with these seven seniors on our side as we move forward.”

Carroll added that the group of seniors have been the driving force behind Marshall’s 23-2 season.

“They are the heart and soul of our team right now,” Carroll said. “We’ve had a successful season up to this point. We look at these seven guys and were very lucky to have each one of them. We’re very excited to go into games with these guys because we know what they can do. We’re very confident in their abilities. We’re excited for the next challenge.”

Marshall jumped out to an early 11-2 lead and appeared primed to blow the game wide open in the early stages. Following a Sioux Falls timeout, the Rough Riders went on a 14-7 run to trim Marshall’s lead to 18-16.

The Tigers responded by going on a 9-0 run to open up a 27-16 lead. The key to the run was the Tigers tightening up on defense.

“I thought Sioux Falls Roosevelt did a really good job in their half court offense,” Carroll said. “They attacked the rim and they have some good perimeter shooters. We didn’t do as well as we needed to defending the drive and having backside help. That improved as we were able to close out the first half by getting some tips and steals. That was important in trying to limit their possessions and shots.”

The Rough Riders trailed by 11, before Marshall closed out the first half on an 8-2 run to take a 39-22 lead into the locker room Baker Magrath led the Tigers with 12 points and added three blocks in the opening 18 minutes.

Bloemker opened the second half by knocking down his second 3-pointer of the game to open up a 42-22 lead for the Tigers. The Rough Riders were able to cut Marshall’s lead back to 18 at 48-30, but that’s as close as they would get the rest of the way.

Bloemker knocked down three 3-pointers and finished the game with 19 points. Baker Magrath shot 70 percent from the floor and finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Winkleman finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four steals. Sueker scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds. VanMoer scored seven points. Ektaniphong and Andries both chipped in with six points.

The Tigers will wrap up the regular season this Friday at home against Waseca in the Big South Crossover. Marshall defeated Waseca earlier this season 78-61.

“We want to take care of the basketball on offense,” Carroll said. “We need to communicate at high level on defense. Those are going to be two keys going into that game. Waseca provides a lot of challenges, with the way they play on the offensive end of the floor. They do a good job of defending at a high level. It’s going to be important that we communicate and take care of the basketball.”

SFR 22 27-49

Marshall 39 41-80

SCORING: Marshall 29-59, 49.1 percent (Bloemker 4-10, 8-8 19; Baker Magrath 7-10, 4-8 18; Winkelman 3-3, 2-3 8; Sueker 3-10, 2-4 8; VanMoer 3-6, 0-0 7; Ektanitphong 3-9, 0-0 6; Andries 3-3, 0-1 6).

3-POINT FGS: Marshall 4 (Bloemker 3; VanMoer 1).

REBOUNDS: Marshall 35 (Baker Magrath 9; Winkelman 7).

ASSISTS: Marshall 11 (Lance 3; Two with 2).

STEALS: Marshall 11 (Winkelman 4; Three with 2).

BLOCKS: Marshall 3 (Baker Magrath 3).

FOULS: Marshall 14

TURNOVERS: Marshall 6

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