By FRED KRONER
The Bulldogs had their top team scoring output of the season on Thursday (March 4), overpowering Paris Crestwood 63-5 in the M-S gymnasium. The home team put up 19 first-quarter points.
The previous team high for points in a game was 50.
Gavin Hammerschmidt scored a team-high 16 points, becoming the third squad member to reach that point plateau this season.
Other key offensive contributors were Brayden Garrett (eight points), Travis Hoffman (seven points), Mason Orton (six points), Luke Dyer (five points) and Miles Woolsey (five points).
On Tuesday (March 2), the team’s three-game winning streak was snapped at home by Champaign Jefferson, 34-29, in a game where M-S trailed by 10 points at halftime.
Trey Peters and Dyer each totaled nine points.
In building a double-digit lead at halftime, Jefferson hit four three-point shots in the second period.
On Monday (March 1), the Bulldogs won at Rantoul, 55-30.
Peters put in 15 points, followed by Dyer with 12. Garrett and Nate Hale each chipped in with six points.
In the season’s final week, M-S dropped narrow losses in two games.
On Monday (March 8), North Ridge edged the Bulldogs 38-35 in Danville.
Peters scored 17 points, the individual high game for the team this season. Dyer ended with eight points.
“This was a back-and-forth game that saw us with a lead after the third quarter,” M-S coach Doug Ingold said. “We were not able to stop their two top guys late in the game.”
On Tuesday (March 9), the Bulldogs showed how much they had improved since their opener.
M-S lost at home to Mount Zion, 41-36. When those schools played in the first game of the year, Mount Zion was victorious by 22 points.
In the rematch, Dyer registered 13 points, Peters had 10 and Hammerschmidt added nine.
“One of the best teams we have seen all season,” Ingold said. “This time we showed our growth as a team and played much better. We struggled to get the ball through the hoop in the third quarter, which ended up being the difference.
“I am extremely proud of this team for handling the crazy shortened covid-season. We got better throughout the season. I am looking forward to watching this team grow over the next four years in high school.”
The eighth-graders end the season with an overall record of 9-5.
After the first loss to Mount Zion, the final four Bulldog defeats were by a combined total of 16 points, including one in overtime.
For the season, six different squad members led, or shared, the team lead in scoring in at least one game.
Dyer and Peters each led the way in seven games. The leaders in one game apiece were Gavin Bailey, Ethan Esker, Hale and Hammerschmidt.
