Wednesday evening the Maywood-Hayes Center Wolves played in the first round of the Class D2 Boys State Basketball Tournament. The #2 Wolves were able to win a tight battle against #7 seeded Elm Creek, 58-50 from the Bob Devaney Sports Center. This is the second straight year the Wolves have made it to the semifinals down at state.
If there was a single word to describe this game, it would be physical.
Both teams played well and there was plenty of contact in the game. We begin in the first quarter, Elm Creek came out strong, leading 6-0 early on. The Wolves though didn't panic even with their first points coming with 2:45 to go in the first. They went on an 8-0 run to close the period. It was 8-6 going to the second.
The run continued and in total, it was a 13-1 run. The Wolves kept things rolling in the second period. They took complete control, outscoring the Buffaloes 22-7 and it was 30-15.
In the third quarter, the script was flipped as Elm Creek outscored the Wolves 19-8 and got right back into the game. All of the sudden, the Buffaloes became the aggressors and attacked the paint and got to the foul line. We went to the fourth quarter with the score reading 38-34 in favor of the Wolves.
The fourth quarter continued to be a rough game. Foul trouble did plague both teams, but Haydn Farr of MHC fouled out with 2:46 to go in the fourth. The score was 46-44 at that time. On the next offensive possession for MHC, Jerry Ingison stole the ball went the other way and scored, got fouled and converted the and one to make it 49-44. The Buffaloes hung around but the gap was too big.
Elm Creek ends the season at 16-9. Kade Sindt scored 13 points as did Quin Oberg. Kolten Keim had 12.
For MHC, they were led by Jerry Ingison, he went off for 31 points and 19 rebounds. Grady Erickson was important off the bench with eight points. We caught up with Ingison after the game and discussed the win.
The Wolves will play on Friday at 7:45 P.M. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center against #6 SEM.