Eagles Soar Past Manchester Squires
February 18, 2017 at 6:19 a.m.
By Ryan Villanueva-
For the Manchester Squires, their last stretch of games includes some very tough opponents. A win over Columbia City would be a great momentum-builder going into the postseason.
Friday, however, just wasn’t Manchester’s night.
Led by freshman Mitchell Wilson and senior Parker Hazen, the Columbia City Eagles defeated the host Squires 52-39.
“We were giving away way too many straight-line drives to the basket,” said Manchester coach Mark Underwood. “When you do that, then you’ve got to have people come over and help and then that leaves the defense scrambling to try to cover those people that have been abandoned.”
Wilson led all scorers with 20 points, while Hazen, a Valparaiso University commit, scored 13 in the win.
Manchester (6-14) was paced by Mason Hamby’s 17 points, while David McAtee scored 13 points. Adam Byers posted four points, and Kamdyn Lester & Koehl Fluke chipped in with two points each.
The Squires were off to a great start, jumping out to a 9-5 lead after several turnovers and missed baskets from the Eagles. But the Eagles stormed back to end the quarter with a 15-10 lead.
Columbia City continued its run in the second quarter. After a three-point basket from Wilson and Hazen lay-in, the Eagles stretched their lead to 10. Manchester got back in the mix with a 5-0 run, but the Eagles increased their lead again and went to halftime with a 26-17 lead.
Underwood was less than pleased when it came to rebounding in the first half.
“Our inability to defend in the first half gave up too many baskets for them, and too many offensive rebounds for them as well,” he said.
Columbia City grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first half against the Squires.
“That’s way too many second-chance opportunities,” said Underwood. “We have to play solid defense and limit them to one shot per possession, and we didn’t do that.”
Wilson and Hazen each scored eight points in the first half for the Eagles. McAtee scored seven points in the first half for the Squires.
In the third quarter, each team traded misses, but the Squires managed to make it a two-point differential, trailing 37-31 going into the final frame.
In the final quarter of action, a quick basket and another three-pointer from Wilson put the Eagles back up by double-digits. Manchester would put together a 6-1 run, but the Eagles claimed the 13-point win, their fourth consecutive victory.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well, but I think for us it starts with defense and rebounding,” said Underwood. “If we can get stops and get rebounds, then we can get into transition and we can push it down the floor and look to score.”
The Squires return to action Tuesday night when they host Class 3A No. 4 NorthWood at 7:45 p.m. It may be a tough test, but Underwood welcomes it.
“I feel like they’re the kind of team we have to play against to win a sectional,” said Underwood. “We want to be playing quality opponents down the stretch. Columbia City exposed some things tonight that we need to work on, and we’ve got time before the sectional to try to get those things straightened out. We also need to make sure that we maintain our mental toughness.”
COLUMBIA CITY 52, MANCHESTER 39
CC 15 11 11 15 – 52
Man 10 7 14 8 – 39
C. City – Garrett Roehling 0 0-0 0, Ethan Christen 1 0-0 2, Jordan Bechtold 4 0-0 11, Brendon Slagel 0 0-0 0, Mitchell Wilson 6 4-5 20, Parker Hazen 5 3-4 13, Noah Wigent 1 2-2 4, Trent Simmons 0 0-0 0, Hammad Qureshi 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 9-11 52.
Manchester – Brayden Casper 0 0-0 0, Adam Byers 2 0-0 4, Mason Hamby 6 2-2 17, David McAtee 5 2-2 13, Kamdyn Lester 0 2-4 2, Koehl Fluke 1 0-0 2, Devon Rooney 0 0-0 0, Kane Gable 0 0-0 0, Heath Diercks 0 1-2 1. Totals 14 7-10 39.
Three-pointers – C. City 7 (Wilson 4, Bechtold 3), Manchester 4 (Hamby 3, McAtee); Fouls – C. City 8, Manchester 13; Fouled out – none; Records: Columbia City 10-12, Manchester 6-14
JV – Col. City 45, Manchester 36
Manchester – Thane Creager 11, Mason Meyer 6, Kreeden Krull 4, Spence Trick 4, Isaiah Davis 4, Austin Underwood 4, Andrew McAtee 2, Konrad Borgmann
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For the Manchester Squires, their last stretch of games includes some very tough opponents. A win over Columbia City would be a great momentum-builder going into the postseason.
Friday, however, just wasn’t Manchester’s night.
Led by freshman Mitchell Wilson and senior Parker Hazen, the Columbia City Eagles defeated the host Squires 52-39.
“We were giving away way too many straight-line drives to the basket,” said Manchester coach Mark Underwood. “When you do that, then you’ve got to have people come over and help and then that leaves the defense scrambling to try to cover those people that have been abandoned.”
Wilson led all scorers with 20 points, while Hazen, a Valparaiso University commit, scored 13 in the win.
Manchester (6-14) was paced by Mason Hamby’s 17 points, while David McAtee scored 13 points. Adam Byers posted four points, and Kamdyn Lester & Koehl Fluke chipped in with two points each.
The Squires were off to a great start, jumping out to a 9-5 lead after several turnovers and missed baskets from the Eagles. But the Eagles stormed back to end the quarter with a 15-10 lead.
Columbia City continued its run in the second quarter. After a three-point basket from Wilson and Hazen lay-in, the Eagles stretched their lead to 10. Manchester got back in the mix with a 5-0 run, but the Eagles increased their lead again and went to halftime with a 26-17 lead.
Underwood was less than pleased when it came to rebounding in the first half.
“Our inability to defend in the first half gave up too many baskets for them, and too many offensive rebounds for them as well,” he said.
Columbia City grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first half against the Squires.
“That’s way too many second-chance opportunities,” said Underwood. “We have to play solid defense and limit them to one shot per possession, and we didn’t do that.”
Wilson and Hazen each scored eight points in the first half for the Eagles. McAtee scored seven points in the first half for the Squires.
In the third quarter, each team traded misses, but the Squires managed to make it a two-point differential, trailing 37-31 going into the final frame.
In the final quarter of action, a quick basket and another three-pointer from Wilson put the Eagles back up by double-digits. Manchester would put together a 6-1 run, but the Eagles claimed the 13-point win, their fourth consecutive victory.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well, but I think for us it starts with defense and rebounding,” said Underwood. “If we can get stops and get rebounds, then we can get into transition and we can push it down the floor and look to score.”
The Squires return to action Tuesday night when they host Class 3A No. 4 NorthWood at 7:45 p.m. It may be a tough test, but Underwood welcomes it.
“I feel like they’re the kind of team we have to play against to win a sectional,” said Underwood. “We want to be playing quality opponents down the stretch. Columbia City exposed some things tonight that we need to work on, and we’ve got time before the sectional to try to get those things straightened out. We also need to make sure that we maintain our mental toughness.”
COLUMBIA CITY 52, MANCHESTER 39
CC 15 11 11 15 – 52
Man 10 7 14 8 – 39
C. City – Garrett Roehling 0 0-0 0, Ethan Christen 1 0-0 2, Jordan Bechtold 4 0-0 11, Brendon Slagel 0 0-0 0, Mitchell Wilson 6 4-5 20, Parker Hazen 5 3-4 13, Noah Wigent 1 2-2 4, Trent Simmons 0 0-0 0, Hammad Qureshi 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 9-11 52.
Manchester – Brayden Casper 0 0-0 0, Adam Byers 2 0-0 4, Mason Hamby 6 2-2 17, David McAtee 5 2-2 13, Kamdyn Lester 0 2-4 2, Koehl Fluke 1 0-0 2, Devon Rooney 0 0-0 0, Kane Gable 0 0-0 0, Heath Diercks 0 1-2 1. Totals 14 7-10 39.
Three-pointers – C. City 7 (Wilson 4, Bechtold 3), Manchester 4 (Hamby 3, McAtee); Fouls – C. City 8, Manchester 13; Fouled out – none; Records: Columbia City 10-12, Manchester 6-14
JV – Col. City 45, Manchester 36
Manchester – Thane Creager 11, Mason Meyer 6, Kreeden Krull 4, Spence Trick 4, Isaiah Davis 4, Austin Underwood 4, Andrew McAtee 2, Konrad Borgmann
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