Another Mustang Stampede

Prologue
Back to #8AA Maranatha for another showdown in the MCAA. This time division foe #6AA St. Croix Prep comes calling.  The concessions always high level and Godfather's Pizza is an outstanding reason why.  Thankfully I arrive early as they run out of sausage and Ryan James scarfs up any remaining Pepperoni.  He needed a forklift to get all of his pizza to the top of the bleachers.  But at least he didn't get lost (once upon a time he was so lost he made it with 2 minutes to go in a game).  In fairness, MCA is in a strange location.  No notable officials for tonight.  We get a buzzer beater to avoid the dreaded JV overtime.

Song of the Day: Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses

Number of Teams I've Seen: 107 (77 games, 48 days, 36 buildings, 11 online)

Beverage Ticker: 542.3 ounces (5950 calories)

• A&W Root Beer: 12 ounces (170 calories)
• Barq's Root Beer: 12 ounces (160 calories)
• Coke: 28.9 ounces (340 calories)
• Dr. Pepper: 12 ounces (150 calories)
• Fruit Punch Gatorade: 145.8 ounces (1020 calories) 
• Mug Root Beer: 12 ounces (170 calories)
• Pepsi: 246.7 ounces (3080 calories)
• Sprite: 72.9 ounces (860 calories) 

Food Ticker:

• Hot Dogs: 16
• Pizza: 5
• Walking Tacos: 3
• Extras
• French Onion Sun Chips (210 calories)
• 2 Lays Chips (320 calories)
• Kit Kat (210 calories)
• 4 Snickers (1000 calories)

Game Time:
Nolan Grubisch 2 early 3s for SCPA.  Tristan Lee off the MCA bench with a couple of hoops for a 15-12 Mustangs lead at the 12:36 mark.  Forward Zach Doely off the SCPA bench with 4 buckets of his own in quality minutes.  That keeps SCPA within 20-18 at 8:25.  Hakim Daniels 3 buckets and a couple of MCA triples to expand the lead to 32-21.  Addison Metcalf with a couple late hoops as SCPA cuts the margin to 40-33 at the break.

4 different Lions score in a 9-3 SCPA spurt.  That ends with a Daniel McCarrell 3, his only bomb of the night.  47-46 Maranatha with under 11:30 to play.  But SCPA was cold to begin with and then they went ice cold.  Add in crushing offensive board and turnovers and it caves in from there.  Clarence and Hakim Daniels with putbacks after what felt like a thousand offensive boards.  Clarence Daniels 2 more hoops and a spin by Hakim Daniels.  Then Clarence Daniels with a big block to deny Doely and that turns into points at the other end.  Hakim Daniels with yet another hoop.  Its a 15-4 MCA run as SCPA goes without a FG for 6 and a half minutes.  Christian Davis runs for a layup and cuts for a free throw.  Then its Hakim Daniels to seal it.  He drives for 2 and then scores again with an intentional foul.  That will push the lead to 20 and its over.  Maranatha wins big again over another ranked opponent.  Final score 79-58 Maranatha wins.  Unlike Friday's end to end blowout, this one was tight with under 12 left.

Post Game
St. Croix Prep sees a 4 game winning streak snapped.  They fall to 10-3 overall and 3-1 in the MCAA.  Nolan Grubisch with 3 of his 4 3s in the 1st half.  He leads the Lions with 16 points.  Addison Metcalf 12 points as he carried the 2nd half offense.  Junior forward Zach Doely nice minutes off the bench with 10 points.  Quiet night for Daniel McCarrell with only 9 points.  Lots of similarities to Friday's game vs Spectrum.  Cold shooting night all the way around and getting beat on the offensive glass.  SCPA has another long trip this week to PACT.  Then they'll visit Spectrum next Tuesday.

Maranatha remains undefeated in the MCAA at 5-0 as they try to take home their final MCAA title.  They are now 12-1 overall.  Hakim Daniels leads the way with 26 points.  Everything at the rim for him.  Christian Davis with 11 points off the bench.  Tristan Lee also productive off the bench with 7 points.  Clarence Daniels adds 12 points.  These teams will meet again in Stillwater on Jan 31st.  Before that, MCA has short cross division trips to West Lutheran and Heritage next.  Then a fun old MCAA game vs SW Christian at home next Thursday.  Big win for SW Christian tonight over Holy Family.