After four strong local wins to open the season, the MUS varsity basketball team looked to extend their winning streak in the last week as they traveled to Nashville to play Montgomery Bell Academy and Father Ryan last weekend, December 2-3, and then returned home to play at FACS last Tuesday night.
Last Friday night against MBA, the Owls jumped out to an early lead on the Big Red (1-2) by outhustling them as MUS led, 20-14, heading into halftime.
Then in the second half, Louis Amagliani, who finished with 14 points, hit three three-pointers from the corner to put the game away as the Owls held the Big Red to just 21% shooting in the second half. Senior Peter Zanca led the Owls with an impressive double-double as he went 8-9 from the field, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. The Owls won going away, 53-32.
With momentum from the impressive win, MUS took on a strong Father-Ryan team the next afternoon and looked to stay perfect.
The Owls started well as they jumped out to a 16-2 lead late in the first quarter. However, Ryan stay within reach after the run but could never pull even, eventually trailing at the break, 32-22.
In the second half, the Irish (3-2) picked up their intense man-to-man full-court pressure and eventually wore down the Owls as Ryan overtook MUS early in the fourth quarter. Will Thompson’s four three-pointers made the difference as Ryan outscored the Owls 28-12 in the second half to win, 50-44. Zanca continued his outstanding play as he led the Owls with 19 points and 7 rebounds.
Looking to rebound last Tuesday, the Owls traveled to FACS to take on a strong Crusader squad.
Holding FACS to just 23% shooting in the first half, MUS held a 27-18 halftime lead. But in the third quarter, FACS rebounded to tie the game at 41-41 heading into the fourth quarter as they hit five third-quarter three-pointers.
But in the fourth quarter, the Owls regained momentum and blasted FACS with a 20-2 run to win going away, 61-43. Elliott Cole scored 13 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, and Zanca added 9 points and 10 rebounds. With the win, the Owls improved to 6-1.
On Friday, MUS travels to Houston to take on the Mustangs. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.