Storm Lake Pilot Tribune: High School Sports: M-M-C battles, but #1 SM prevails (01/27/12)

St. Mary's senior Andy Drey knocks down a jumper for two of his ten points Tuesday night against M-M-C.

STORM LAKE - Top-ranked Storm Lake, St. Mary's looked like they might run Marcus-Meridan-Cleghorn out of the gym early as they led 19-4 after one. The Eagles would battle back to make it interesting, the Panthers still had enough on an off night to win, 67-53.

"You're going to have those nights where you're not quite in sync," said St. Mary's head coach Brad Wilkening. "There were times out there where we were doing great things, but I wasn't pleased defensively, and offensively we forced some things. We just really didn't match their intensity some of the time out there."

Three pointers from Luke Lenhart and Jacob Kottke gave the Panthers an early 6-2 lead, and another Lenhart triple made it 9-4. Kennedy Drey then poured in five, Andy Drey added a two, and Bobby Ivey hit the fifth three of the quarter to cap off the 13-0 run for a 19-4 lead after one.

Nate Lenhart tumbles Tuesday. / Photos by Trent Johnson

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Andy Drey pushed it to 21-4 at the start of the second, before M-M-C began their march back.

Three pointers from Nate Rassel and Dalton Brady, plus a two from Dylan Spieler made it 21-12, before Kennedy Drey snapped the 8-0 run with a two. Rassel answered with another three, countered by another two from Drey and a three from Andy Drey to make it 28-15. Zach Specht countered with an Eagle three to make it a ten-point game again. Baskets from Andy Drey and Nate Lenhart pushed it to 35-21, before the Eagles closed with four straight to end the half.

St. Mary's would build their lead as high as 19 in the third, courtesy of a 14-2 run, and held 55-39 lead after three. The Eagles outscored St. Mary's 14-11 in the final frame.

Luke Lenhart led a balanced St. Mary's attack with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and seven steals. Bobby Ivey had 14 points and two steals, Kennedy Drey had 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks, Andy Drey had 11 points and four steals, Nate Lenhart had four points and five rebounds, and Austin Demers and Kottke had three apiece.

Spieler led M-M-C with 21 as they fell to 10-7 on the year.

The Panthers improve to 15-0 on the year and visit Pocahontas Area Friday night.