Mustangs clinch share of another MCAA title

Prologue
Back to the Northwest Metro and one of the finer concession stands and environments around.  Its #8A West Lutheran visiting #1A Maranatha.  The West Lutheran fans up and out in force early on.  They were arguably more vocal all night which says something considering the home court advantage that you usually see at MCA.  Unfortunately we also saw 2 new officials who were over matched for a game of this caliber.  Poor job by whomever did the assigning for this game.  Fury and GetShook in the stands taking in the action.

Game Time
Maranatha getting absolutely nothing to fall.  Isaiah Arbogast effective early for West Lutheran while Garrison Gillard had a putback and assist for MCA.  8-7 West Lutheran at the 12:30 mark as Maranatha wants a timeout.  They'd turn it over for a Morgan Barth bucket at the 10:55 and West Lutheran took a 10-7 lead.  Then West Lutheran couldn't find the basket with MCA picking up the defense.  Only 1 more Warriors FG the rest of the half, Dustin Barth at the 9:30 mark.  But he sat the last 4:47 after a bad call 3rd foul.  Garrison Gillard for 3 and then 2 more assists to his younger brother Grantham.  Grantham then taking it baseline for a 3 point play.  That's all in a 14-3 run over the last 10:30.  21-13 Maranatha at the half.

The lead extends to 11 but West Lutheran gets a 3 from Morgan Barth and another bucket.  29-23 Maranatha with 11:45 left and its a ballgame.  Then the 3s rain in.  Garrison Gillard already with 4 FTs in the half.  Some slick dribble and an assist to Josh Goldschmidt for a layup.  Then he splits a double team and gets another assist for a layup.  He counters another Morgan Barth 3 with one of his own.  Then Jeremiah Hanson pulls up on the break and buries a 3.  Another Mustangs 3 (I think by Garrison Gillard).  Hanson with 2 free throws, Garrison Gillard with yet another 3 and 4 more in a row.   He goes off for 22 in the 2nd half plus the passing.  Add in the hot shooting in the 2nd half and forget about it.  An 18-0 run breaks it wide open as West Lutheran goes 5:20 without a field goal.  Maranatha goes on to win 68-36.

Post Game
West Lutheran falls to 8-3 in the MCAA North and 17-4 overall.  Isaiah Arbogast 13 points to lead the Warriors.  Morgan Barth 3 bombs in the 2nd half on his way to 11 points.   They were tough enough to keep MCA off the offensive glass in that 1st half.  Then no good answer for Garrison Gillard in the 2nd half.  The regular season schedule has 4 cupcakes left plus either the 2nd or 3rd seed from the South division in the MCAA tournament in 2 weeks.  Not sure how the tiebreaker works since Heritage and West Lutheran split their regular season meetings.

Maranatha improves to 18-1 overall, 11-0 in the MCAA and they clinch no worse than a tie for the MCAA North Division title.  They can settle it directly with a win at #6A Heritage next Friday.  UMD commit Garrison Gillard outstanding with 27 points and a handful of assists.  Grantham Gillard the recipient on many of those (how nice).  He finishes with 12 points.  Jeremiah Hanson with 13 on my sheet, but officially listed with 10.  The Mustangs play 5 of 6 on the road, not counting the likely home game with Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity for the MCAA Tournament championship.