The Martin boys’ varsity basketball team started the district tournament with a bang Monday evening with a resounding 83-46 victory over a Kalamazoo Phoenix team that entered the contest with an 11-5 overall record.
The Clippers wasted no time in taking control of the ballgame, shooting out to a 237 advantage at the end of the first period and 41-18 at the half.
“This was a nice win to start districts,” said coach Brad Moelker. “We started out quick and right away. I could tell we were ready to play. We caused a few disruptions and hit some early shots in the first.
“We kept the pressure up in the 2nd and continued to attack the rim. No game is ever perfect, so at halftime we made a couple minor adjustments and really prepared for Kazoo to come out fired up. Throughout the second half we did a pretty good job of controlling our turnovers and emotions.”
Senior Cayden Curry paced the offensive attack with 22 points, Kyle Eckman had 12 Charley Martin 10
Collin Coburn nine and Keegan Wahlers and Travis Thorne seven apiece.
“Phoenix can really get up and down the court,” Moelker said. “They can really score the ball. We knew we had to play a great defensive game. Our team really responded. I thought it was the best we have played in terms of being locked in defensively and attacking on the offensive end as well.”
The coach said Coburn played consistent the entire night, though he wasn’t scoring his usual way, but kept attacking the rim.
“Cayden Curry made some great decisions in the first half and again when they (Phoenix) started to make a run,” the coach remarked. “He had a few assists where in the past he’d been trying to force up a shot.”
He said Charley Martin, Ethan Gillihan and Mitchell Jager were undersized by their post players but continued to battle, as Phoenix really had to fight for everything.