BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
The Bulldogs made more than half of their shots and overcame a first-quarter deficit to rally past Urbana 76-52 on Tuesday in the M-S gymnasium.
The win was the fifth in a row and the fifth consecutive game where Grant Coleman was the team’s top scorer.
Coleman tallied 26 points against the Tigers and completed his double-double by hauling down 10 rebounds. Kobe Essien made 13 points and Luke Koller contributed 12 points, giving the 6-foot-8 sophomore 43 points in his last three outings.
Koller corralled six rebounds.
“Urbana had gotten out to an early lead to start the game (16-11 after one quarter),” M-S coach Ryan Bosch said. “We were playing and defending well, but turning the ball over too much and allowing Urbana to get out in the open court.”
The Bulldogs switched gears in the second period when Bosch changed tactics.
“We switched over to zone in the second quarter, trying some things we’d walked the kids through in practice very briefly in preparation after watching Urbana play on film a few times,” Bosch said. “Our kids executed the game plan great from there on out and we went into the halftime locker room up two points (32-30).”
Essien hit eight of his points in the third quarter.
Cole Lener continued his series of strong all-around performances, just missing a triple-double. Lener produced 10 rebounds, nine points and eight assists.
“The key to all of it was Cole Lener who gave us unbelievable minutes on the backside of our zone,” Bosch added. “We pulled away as Urbana tried to make a run, but was unsuccessful.”
M-S used a 25-8 third-period run to take a 19-point lead into the final quarter. The Bulldogs hit 51 percent of their shots (31 of 60).
M-S (16-10) has won seven of its last eight games and returns to action at home on Friday against Taylorville in the Coaches vs. Cancer game. The boys’ contest will be the second game of a girls/boys varsity doubleheader.
