MUS Sports News

Region Champs

For the first time since 2001, the MUS varsity basketball team is region-tournament champions following the 56-46 victory over Briarcrest in the title game last Friday evening.

But the path to the title was not easy for MUS, which finished 4-6 in the league during the regular season.

Following solid victories over Rossville and FACS in the first two rounds of the tournament, the Owls faced the overall top-seed in the region, ECS, last Tuesday in the semifinals.

Those hoping for a close game between these two rivals were sorely disappointed as MUS dominated from the outset and never let up as they cruised to the 73-39 victory.

The Owls outscored the Eagles in every quarter as they stretched their 16-4 first-quarter lead to 38-16 at the half.

But they did not let up in the second half as they continued to increase the advantage, leading at one point by 36 before taking the 34-point win.

Every Owl saw action as nine players scored, led by Elliott Cole’s 18 points. Ferrakohn Hall added 14 points and 9 rebounds, and three other players – Louis Amagliani, Taylor Reed, and Robert Counce – added 8 points. MUS shot 66.7% from the field in the first half and 55.3% for the game as they dominated the regular-season champion Eagles.

The win not only advanced the Owls to the region-title game but also clinched a berth in the state tournament. Now MUS looked to avenge two previous close losses to Briarcrest, improve their seeding for state, and win the region title.

In front of a packed Rowell Arena last Friday night, the Owls started well as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Briarcrest could score. But BCS then went on a 6-1 run to tie the game, and the battle was on.

The Saints went on the first big run of the game as they outscored the visitors, 20-5, to turn a 4-point first-quarter deficit into an 11-point lead midway through the second quarter.

But in the final five minutes of the half, MUS went on a 12-2 run to cut the gap to 28-27 at the break. Cole sparked that run with 5 points as his squad had the momentum in the locker-room.

The game slowed somewhat in the third quarter as neither team shot well, and the game remained close. Leslie McDonald’s lay-up with 1:41 left was the last points of the third quarter and gave the Saints the 36-34 advantage heading into the fourth.

Briarcrest looked to put MUS away early in the fourth as they went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-point lead, 41-34, with 6:30 left in the game.

But with the BCS home crowd ready to watch the visitors fold, the Owls got back into the game with their aggressive press and some key perimeter baskets.

MUS forced 8 Saint turnovers in the final six minutes and hit two key three-point field goals to tie the game with 4:00 remaining and take the lead with 3:45. They would never relinquish that advantage as they would ultimately extend the lead by making 8-9 free throws in the final quarter to take the 10-point win.

Cole once again led MUS with 17 points, shooting 3-5 from three-point range, while Amagliani and Reed added 13 points. The Owls forced 19 BCS turnovers, held the Saints to 39% field-goal shooting, and shot 7-14 (50%) from the three-point line. MUS ended the game on a 22-5 run to break open a close game and win going away.

Three Owls were recognized for their play at region. Hall and Cole were both named to the All-Tournament Team, and Amagliani was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. 

With the region title, the Owls (22-9) are the top-seed from the West in next-week’s state tournament, to be held at David Lipscomb University in Nashville. They will open against Pope John Paul II, the third seed from the Middle region, in the first basketball meeting between the two schools. Tipoff is set for Thursday, March 1, at 1:30 p.m. at Allen Arena.

For a complete Division II state-tournament bracket, click here.

Wrestlers Compete In Chattanooga

Last week, Coach Gehres took twelve MUS wrestlers to Chattanooga to compete in the Division II State Individual Wrestling Tournament. Though the Owls did not win any individual state championships, several wrestlers medaled and preformed very well.

MUS had three wrestlers place in the top-six in their weight class. Senior Zach Gordon, one of the Owls' best wrestlers in recent history, finished third by winning three of his four matches in the 189-pound division, making him a three-time medalist during his career.

Senior Miles DeBardeleben also had an outstanding tournament as he won four of his six matches, claiming fourth overall in the 171-pound class.

And senior Ben Stallworth also performed well as he finished sixth in the 215-pound division, winning three matches. 

The Owls had several other wrestlers win matches but not medal, including senior Ian Carruthers (285), junior Sam Goldstein (145), and sophomores Mason Gudelsky (112), Barret Folk (125), and William Alexander (140).

Other MUS wrestlers participating included eighth-grader Will Rasch (103), sophomore Andrew Maroda (130), senior Paul Kennedy (152), and junior Andrew Amos (160).

Congratulations to these wrestlers, the rest of the varsity team, and Coach Gehres on a successful 2006-07 season.

Basketball Advances To Semifinals

The varsity basketball team has chosen the right time to put together a winning streak as they have taken their last three, including claiming their first two contests in the region tournament.

On Friday, February 9, the Owls wrapped up their region schedule and the regular season with a home game against St. Benedict.

MUS relied on balance as eight players scored, led by Robert Counce's 10 points. The Owls built on their 6-point halftime advantage as they held the Eagles to only 28% shooting in the second half, including giving up only one three-point field goal in the second stanza.

MUS forced 22 turnovers and outrebounded SBA, 36-27, to take the 57-38 victory and sweep the season series over St. Benedict.

The win gave the Owls the fourth-seed in the region tourney and a home date against Rossville Christian in the first round.

MUS was never seriously challenged by the game-but-outmanned Rebels, even without leader Elliott Cole, who sat out the game because of illness.

All dressed players saw action as the Owls built a 30-15 halftime lead and ended up winning, 69-28. MUS was just too much inside for the smaller Rebels as the hosts outrebounded Rossville, 47-20, and outscored the visitors in the lane, 36-6.

Ferrakohn Hall led MUS with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

With the win over Rossville, MUS advanced to the quarterfinal round, and in another elimination game, the Owls took on the small-school top-seed, FACS, last Saturday at Briarcrest.

MUS started sluggishly as they hit only two of their first sixteen field-goal attempts, but even with the poor shooting, the Crusaders could not take advantage as they did not shoot much better and held only a 5-point lead in the second quarter.

But in the final two minutes of the half, the Owls went on a run as Cole, who returned after his absence, scored his team's final six points of the half to give MUS the 17-16 lead at the break.

Much of the third quarter was back and forth as both teams used zone defenses to slow each other down. The lead changed hands six times in the third quarter, but ultimately, MUS began to take control inside by the end of the quarter to lead, 40-33.

In the fourth quarter, the Owls took care of the basketball and hit enough free throws to stay ahead and ultimately win going away, 56-43, ending the Crusaders' season at 23-5.

Hall led MUS in scoring with 21 points, while Cole and Louis Amagliani each added 11. Hall and Amagliani also led the team in rebounds, both tallying 8. The Owls shot 54.5% from the field in the second half, and held FACS to only one three-point field goal in the game, a crucial statistic for a team that relies so heavily on their perimeter game.

With the win, MUS (20-9) advances to the semifinals and will play the region's overall top-seed, ECS, Tuesday evening at Briarcrest. The winner will play for the region title and clinch a berth to the state tournament, while the loser must win a consolation game Thursday to advance. Tipoff Tuesday is set for 6:00 p.m.

Diamond Owls Begin Practice on Monday

MUS Baseball will begin practice Monday in preparation for the 2007 season that opens March 14 with a doubleheader against Olive Branch and White Station High School in the Metro Invitational Tournament.

“Both the coaches and players are ready for the start of the preseason,” shared Head Coach Marc MacMillan ’92.

“Preparation for the 2007 season is a process that began with summer baseball, continued with our physical development program, and wrapped up with the Spring Fling Challenge. Now, it’s time to continue our preparation by getting back on the field.”

The Diamond Owls are coming off their most successful season in school history, finishing as Division II State Semifinalists in 2006. However, Coach MacMillan is aware that this-year’s team is different than his 2006 club.

“While we do have players returning from last-year’s squad, each year brings a different team as players graduate and new ones join the program,” explains Coach MacMillan.

“Therefore, I rely heavily on our seniors (Miles DeBardeleben, Jay Edwards, Luke Jensen, Chase Moore, Michael Park, Zach Scott, and Jeffrey Wright) to lead by example and continue to assist in developing this team’s identity.”

The Diamond Owls' preseason and regular-season schedules are available on the MUS Baseball website.

Basketball Loses Two

The varsity basketball team just cannot seem to catch a break right now.

The Owls fell to 17-9 overall, 3-6 in the region following two tough losses last week, including one home contest.

MUS began with last Friday's game at ECS, which was played despite the snow and cold weather that canceled school earlier in the day.

Both teams looked as if the rare snow day affected them as the play was ragged and sloppy throughout.

ECS led 10-6 at the end of the first quarter and 17-10 at the half as neither team could get any offensive flow.

Having combined for 55 total turnovers in their first game, both teams continued playing poorly on this night as turnovers and bad shooting plagued both.

Yet the Eagles did just enough to maintain their lead throughout and win, 40-25.

MUS had eight players score, but none tallied more than Elliott Cole's 6 points. ECS held the Owls' senior leader in check with their box-and-one defense, limiting Cole to only 5 shots. For the game, MUS shot only 27.6% and turned the ball over 20 times in the loss.

The Owls looked to turn their losing streak around this past Tuesday as they returned home to face Briarcrest.

Offensively, MUS was better in the contest as they matched the Saints throughout much of the first half. A last-second three from BCS was the difference as the Saints held the 33-30 halftime advantage. The Owls were bolstered by better shooting as they connected on 3-5 three-point field goals in the first stanza.

A Cole three-point play early in the third quarter gave MUS its first second-half lead and was the first of five lead changes in the third quarter as both teams looked for opportunities.

The Owls took a three-point advantage into the fourth quarter, but they could not extend it as BCS retook the lead with 4:14 left in the game.

The teams exchanged the lead four more times before an Elgin Lee putback inside of two minutes gave BCS the lead for good. MUS did not help itself as they suffered four turnovers in the final two minutes, hindering their cause.

However, MUS, facing a three-point deficit, still had a chance to tie in the final moments, but officials ruled that Taylor Reed's foot was on the three-point line as he drilled a long jumper, ending the Owls' hopes, 56-55.

MUS had three players tally double-figure point-totals, including Louis Amagliani, Kevin Gray, and Cole, who all had 10 points. The Owls did shoot much better at 51.3% from the field, including 5-10 from the three-point line. But their effort came up just short.

The Owls will face St. Benedict this Friday night at home in the last regular-season game of the year. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Owls Make Football Commitments

Five MUS football players will be trading in their Owl jerseys for a different uniform next season.

These seniors marked National Signing Day, February 7, 2007, by gathering in the Weiner Hospitality Room with their friends, families, and coaches to make commitments to play college football.

Congratulations to Drew Alston (Cornell), Tyler Horn (Miami, FL), Chase Moore (Rhodes), Zach Scott (San Diego State), and John Stokes (Vanderbilt) on their signing.

Wrestlers Battle At State

After having claimed third place in the regional tournament, the varsity wrestling team participated in their seventh straight state-dual wrestling match this past weekend in Clarksville, battling some of the top teams in the state.

Facing an extremely tough draw, the Owls opened with state-power Baylor, losing to the Red Raiders, 66-9. MUS got points as Zach Gordon defeated his opponent, 5-2, and Barret Folk pinned his opponent.

With the loss, the Owls fell to the consolation bracket, where they faced Memphis rival Christian Brothers. Despite another good effort, MUS lost, 65-10.

The Owls’ points came from Miles DeBardeleben’s pin, and Andrew Maroda won by points. Despite losing both of their team matches, the Owls still gained experience for their young squad.

Coach Gehres’ team now will look to the individual state tournament, to be held beginning next Thursday, February 15, in Chattanooga.

For a complete breakdown of the Baylor and Christian Brothers matches, click here.

Basketball Takes Two Of Three

The MUS varsity basketball team took two of three games last week as the second round of region games began.

With an encouraging, energetic Homecoming crowd to cheer them on last Friday night, the Owls first looked to avenge a previous loss to a stubborn Harding squad.

Despite losing one of its starters early in the game to an injury, the Lions stayed close throughout as the team exchanged the lead 13 times during the contest. MUS took only a 4-point led into the break as Harding guarded well and hit key three-point field goals.

The Lions ultimately erased that deficit in the second half with their perimeter game as they sent the game into overtime.

In the first extra period, Jordan Brown hit an early three-pointer to give the Owls the lead, but Harding fought back to tie the game again. Then, the visitors tried to shorten the stanza by holding the ball, but neither team could make a key play, and the game went into a second overtime.

But in the second overtime, Philip May hit two crucial three-point shots to give MUS the lead, and they went on to win the classic, 59-57, to send the largest crowd of the season home happy.

The Owls were led by John Stokes' 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Ferrakohn Hall added 12 points and 4 rebounds.

The following evening, MUS traveled south to take on Division II small school Bishop Byrne.

With both teams' playing zone, the game was sloppy throughout as the Owls held only a 17-11 halftime advantage.

But MUS ultimately took control in the second half as they went on to the 48-32 win.

Hall was the offensive leader on this night as he tallied 16 points and 5 rebounds.

Then this past Tuesday, the Owls returned to region action, traveling to rival Christian Brothers.

The contest opened with fine play as both teams were clicking offensively.

While MUS had trouble stopping CBHS' Chris Walker inside, the Wave had equal trouble containing Elliott Cole, who hit for 20 points in the first half, over half of the team's total (39).

The game remained close into the second half as neither team held more than a 7-point advantage. In fact, the game was tied at 58 with 4:30 left.

But a Drew Barham three-pointer gave the Brothers the lead for good as the Wave went on to the 70-66 win.

Cole finished with a season-high 29 points as he remained hot throughout, while Louis Amagliani added 15 points in the disappointing loss.

MUS does not have any time to hang their heads as they continue in region action this Friday night. The Owls (17-7, 3-4) will travel to ECS as they attempt to sweep the season series. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.