Ohio Valley Athletics made a little trip to Moundsville, WV this evening to watch the hosting John Marshall Monarchs take on the University Hawks in a boys’ varsity basketball game.
What started out to be a relatively slow game with some solid defensive play from both teams eventually heated up into a good back and forth battle in the second half. University’s press defense did give the Monarchs a bit of a hard time early in the game holding the Monarchs to just 6 points in the 1st quarter, giving the Hawks a lead of 12-6 after the one.
Silky smooth play on the offensive end by University’s Rafael Barcinas contributed to that first quarter lead. He continued to make play after play during the remainder of the game to finish with a total of 16 points on the night.
The Monarchs played gutsy and battled all night climbing to within 4 at the half. University just contiued to press and make plays letting them take a 25-21 lead into the locker room.
John Marshall’s senior leader Roman Gray played hard all game adding 15 points on the night with some good assists to teammate Ty Rodgers. The two looked in sync on several occasions. Rodgers ended the evening with 8 points.
The third quarter is when things started to get interesting with John Marshall battling and scrapping to get everything they could. Their hard work paid off very well and, on several occasions, when University would have the lead or the game was tied, the Monarchs would rain the threes.
Two such occasions were midway through the 3rd quarter when Tyke Muldrew drains a three to finally give the Monarchs the lead in the game 30-27. University again pulls ahead to a 36-34 lead when John Marshall’s Cody Hartman drains another three to put the Monarchs back on top 37-36.
Shortly thereafter University’s Rafael Barcinas finds teammate John Coleman with a near full court pass setting up a buzzer beating layup giving the Hawks the lead at the end of the 3rd quarter 42-37. Coleman finished the night with 10 points.
The fourth quarter saw the excitement and hard play pick up even more between the two teams. With a few calls going the Hawks way. At one point the Monarch bench did get a technical foul and after making a couple foul shots University started to pull away a bit 44-37 early in the fourth quarter.
Coach Clutter did a great job holding the Monarchs together and they continued to fight until the very end. Strong play by both University’s Charles Nemecek and James Garbart made the Monarchs job difficult down the stretch. Nemecek ended with 15 points and Garbart contributed another 10 points to the Hawks cause.
Barcinas did get into a bit of foul trouble late in the game. University did get some solid play from what appeared to be the 6th man Demarcus Bandy late to help put this one away for the Hawks, with a final score of 59-48.
Other players that deserve to be mentioned for John Marshall are Brennan Sobutka with 10 points and his brother Braden Sobutka with 6 points.
Both teams fought hard, and this turned out to be a very fun game to watch. Players and coaches from both sides should be proud.
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