By Paul Lecker
For focusonmarshfield.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic boys basketball team came out with energy and efficiency, grabbed a big lead early, and cruised to a big victory over Colby on Tuesday night.
The Dons scored on six of their first seven possessions to open up a double-digit lead in the opener 2½ minutes and rolled to a 77-49 victory at Columbus Catholic High School.
With just two days rest following its opening two games at the Cranberry Classic last weekend, Columbus was on its game early to take control, and never relinquished it.
Bryce Fuerlinger scored six points, four on offensive rebounds, in the opening 12-2 run for the Dons.
“We’ve had three games in five days, had our first conference game and first home game, and we looked tired a little bit late first half but luckily we were able to play a lot of guys and stay fresh for Friday,” Columbus Catholic coach Joe Konieczny said.
Ethan Meece, who finished with a game-high 19 points, raced out on a number of fast breaks and had a pair of offensive rebounds that translated to four more points to help the Dons built a 45-26 lead by halftime.
Jarred Mandel hit back-to-back 3-pointers and another hoop as the Dons maintained their big lead to close the half.
“Fuerlinger got off to a really good start in the paint, got three or four layups early,” Koniecny said. “Everyone that came in maintained the level and did a really good job.”
Columbus left little doubt of the outcome as it came out of the locker room to start the second half with an 18-5 run, which included nine more points from Meece, to go up 63-31.
Mandel added 16 points, Fuerlinger 13, and Noah Taylor 12 for the Dons (3-0).
“I think Fuerlinger, Taylor and Meece have all upped their level this year,” Konieczny said. “Jarred Mandel, we kind of knew what to expect, he’s a first-team all-conference player. Bryce, Noah, Ethan were all solid last year, but this year they’re playing like first-team caliber players. It gives us a diversity that’s very nice to have.”
Aelx Schmitt had 12 points and Connor Jeske added 10 for Colby, which was playing its season opener.
The Hornets committed 29 turnovers and shot just 35 percent (20 of 57) from the field.
Columbus Catholic will play at Spencer on Friday. The game will be broadcast on WOSQ-FM 92.3 and wdlbwosq.com.
Dons 77, Hornets 49
Colby 26 23 – 49
Columbus Catholic 45 32 – 77
COLBY (49): Alex Schmitt 5-11 1-1 12, Isaac Karl 1-3 0-0 3, Hunter Fecker 1-4 0-0 3, Sawyer Schmutzler 0-2 0-0 0, Matthew Roth 0-3 0-0 0, Sawyer Stuttgen 0-6 3-4 3, Reece Kellnhofer 2-4 0-0 4, Roman Schmitt 2-6 0-0 5, Gavino Lopez 0-1 0-0 0, Matthew Stewart 4-10 0-0 9, Connor Jeske 5-7 0-0 10. FG: 20-57. FT: 4-5. 3-pointers: 5-23 (Karl 1-2, Stewart 1-2, Fecker 1-3, Schmelzer 1-4, A. Schmitt 1-4, R. Schmitt 0-1, Lopez 0-1, Jeske 0-1, Roth 0-2, Stuttgen 0-3). Rebounds: 39 (Stewart 8). Turnovers: 29. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Jeske. Record: 0-1 overall and Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (77): Noah Taylor 5-11 2-5 12, Will Boyer 0-1 1-2 1, Jadon Nienast 1-3 1-2 4, Tom Nystrom 1-4 3-5 6, Bryce Fuerlinger 6-6 1-2 13, Zach Olson 0-1 0-1 0, Eden Jacobsen 2-2 0-4 4, Ethan Meece 8-16 3-4 19, Kellen Heinzen 0-4 0-0 0, Jarred Mandel 6-10 2-4 16, Gage Stratman 0-2 2-2 2. FG: 29-60. 3-pointers: 15-31. 3-pointers: 4-18 (Mandel 2-3, Nienast 1-1, Nystrom 1-3, Boyer 0-1, Stratman 0-1, Taylor 0-2, Heinzen 0-2, Meece 0-5). Rebounds: 34 (Fuerlinger 6). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: none. Record: 3-0, 1-0 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
Paul Lecker is publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com and a contributor to focusonmarshfield.com.
Author: News Desk
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