Yes, it was senior night in Moundsville as the John Marshall Monarchs hosted the Magnolia Blue Eagles. However, Magnolia had no intentions of going along with the program. A lot of schools try to schedule what might be considered an easy win to celebrate their seniors on senior night. This was not the case this evening in Moundsville.
The first quarter was back and forth with both teams grinding hard. Magnolia’s Brady Kocher (44) decided he was setting the tone for tonight’s matchup, dropping in 8 points in the first quarter. Teammate Dubale Greathouse (1) also decided to make his presence known with contributing another 6 points in the first, helping the Blue Eagles to a lead after 1, 14-10.
The Monarchs wasn’t exactly just in cruise control themselves. JT Schlitch (11) and Tyke Muldrew both hit a 3’s in the first. Braden Sobutka (11) and team leader on the night with 14, Roman Gray (20) both added a bucket themselves.
The second quarter is where the Monarchs went on a bit of a run, especially late. Towards the end of the first the Monarchs did start to press on defense, and this could have contributed to a bit of timing issues with the Blue Eagles even into the second. However, it was John Marshall’s Tyke Muldrew that said the second quarter was his, with adding another 8 points in the second to his total on the night of 11. Connor Fitzpatrick (3) and Braden Sobutka both added 3 points each and Roman Gray added another 6 in the second for the Monarchs to take a 30-22 lead into the half.
The Blue Eagles outscored the Monarchs in the third 10-8. All by the three headed monster the Blue Eagles had on the night. Dubale Greathouse (1) had 4 points, Hayden Pyles (5) had 6, and Brady Kocher (44) put in another 4 in the third.
Brennan Subtka (21) for John Marshall did not let things get out of hand for the Monarchs in the third by adding 4 points of his own. Even with that contribution the Blue Eagles did close the lead a little bit as the third ended 38-33 in the Monarchs favor still.
The first and third period were very similar for the Monarchs, as was the second and forth. The first and third was kind of stagnate, not saying they didn’t play well. Maybe it was just the Blue Eagles played well those two quarters. Teams do go on runs and games are often who has momentum and when.
It turned out the Monarchs has the momentum when the needed it most, when it was time to close out the game. Despite the best efforts of Greathouse, Pyles, and Kocher for the Blue Eagles, it was the Monarchs outscoring the Blue Eagles in the fourth 19-10.
Schlich had an 8-point 4th quarter, with going 6 of 7 from the free throw line helping him get there. Brennan Subtka added 7 and Roman Gray added 4 in the fourth. All of which helped the Monarchs to victory on senior night with a 57-43 win over Magnolia.
The Sobutka twins, Roman Gray, Cody Hartman, and Tyke Muldrew all received standing ovations when pulled late in the game to honor what they have down for the team.
Ty Rodgers returned to the game in the fourth after leaving in the first with what I thought was an ankle injury. You could see the determination on his face that he was not sitting out of his last home game on the bench. Hobbling and looking a little gimpy, he still managed to tough this one out. With teammate and fellow senior Schlich, they helped close this one out for the Monarchs.
In addition to the senior basketball players. We want to give a shout out to a pair of outstanding cheerleaders who also had their senior night tonight at the Fieldhouse. Emma Lykay and Kallie Moses have been team leaders all season and the amount of work these two young ladies put in is very much appreciated.
One last mention in this article and it was for senior stat guy, Cameron Anderson. All-State Lacrosse, All-State Band, All-Star Soccer, National Honor Society member, and maybe even All-Star stat guy. This young man is someone worth mentioning now and in the future. I know from being around lacrosse how much you are getting ready to hear his name from Ovathletics. Cameron was also honored tonight and rightfully so. It shows how much the Monarch family sticks together. Senior picture of all who was honored tonight is below.
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