Back, and 100%…Brogan Stephey brushed off the rust to score 21 points and lead Minster Friday to a 48-31 win over Versailles. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Coming off a quality win over Botkins on Tuesday, Minster rode Brogan Stephey’s season-high 21 points to build on that and win their fifth game of the season, 48-31, over Versailles.
Minster, OH – With all his heart Minster coach Mike McClurg must have believed that all his team needed to snap a recent four-game losing streak was a good win to change its luck – to build a little confidence. After all, success begats success, and confidence is contagious amongst teenagers.
They got that win earlier in the week, on Tuesday, against a good Botkins team (10-3) on the road, winning 70-56, and playing with everything they needed – energy, offensive flow, and defensive intensity.
The Minster Bank proudly sponsors MAC sports on Press Pros Magazine.com.
And if you question, or doubt, the impact of just one win – that confidence really is contagious – you wouldn’t convince a Versailles Tigers, who just happened to be on the schedule Friday night, three days removed from Minster’s best outing of the year. McClurg’s ‘Cats jumped out to 20-13 halftime lead, riding Brogan Stephey’s 11 first half points and a smothering defensive effort, built that lead to as much as 18 points in the second half, and cruised to a 48-31 win, their fifth of the season, overall, while improving to 1-2 in conference play.
“It was a great defensive effort by the Wildcats,” said McClurg. “We came in prepared, we guarded really well and that excited me…and we handled that push, how to play with a lead like we didn’t do last week against St. Henry. We got on our heels and turned the ball over late, and tonight I thought we handled the ball well late in the game. So, two pretty good wins in a row for us this week.”
Minster’s Cole Albers powers past one defender, through another, to score two of his 7 points in the win over Versailles.
Make a note of this in case no one else chooses to write it. Considering all the parts…considering all those parts have been through with injuries and missed time…this is a talented Minster basketball team. And with Brogan Stephey back, and 100% healthy at the point guard position, it oozed that confidence Friday night, that which had been missing through their first ten games.
Stephey came out and scored the game’s first six points, attacking the rim, and comfortable with shooting the mid-range jump shot…to serve notice that a broken hip last year, and a broken arm this year (both football injuries) are behind him and in the rear-view mirror.
“I’m 100% back,” he smiled, post-game Friday. “I feel great.”
And he played like it, slashing through the Versailles defense for 21 points, and facilitating teammates with 5 assists. Add a steal and a handful of rebounds from the guard position and there’s nothing more you can ask from anyone’s point guard. And even with the small sample size thus far, McClurg has seen enough to believe that his is one of the top two players in the Midwest Athletic Conference.
Phelan Insurance sponsors the best sports and the best sports stories on Press Pros Magazine.
They led by 4 points at the end of the first quarter, and by seven by the end of the first half, Stephey punctuating his 11-point performance with a rising three-pointer from the wing as the half ended.
As an omen that they did learn something from last Friday – about how to play with the lead (against St. Henry) – Minster promptly came out to start the third quarter and went on a 14-4 run, doubling up Versailles, 34-17, forcing Tigers coach Travis Swank to call a timeout and circle the wagons. By the end of the quarter Minster had built the lead to 17 points, 35-18.
Brogan Stephey and Ian Homan (#0) double down on the shooting effort of Versailles’ Gabe White.
You can’t play better defense without shutting a team out. Minster allowed Versailles just 5 points in the third quarter, and just one field goal, by Drake Ahrens.
But owing to the competitive culture of Versailles, Minster would be forced to draw upon what it had learned…about playing with a lead.
In the fourth…Versailles shook off its doldrums to rally behind three quick 3-pointers in a span of five possessions – a pair by Gabe White and one by Carson Heitkamp. And lo and behold, just like last week, with 4:12 remaining in the game, Versailles had whittled what looked to be an insurmountable lead down to 10 points, 38-28. Minster called a timeout.
But unlike last week, out of that timeout they didn’t turn the ball over to further fuel a Versailles comeback. Rather, Stephey attacked the rim, scoring to push the lead back to twelve points. Cole McClurg would hit an uncontested three-pointer from the high wing, and from that point Minster salted away the win from the free throw line, hitting six of nine.’
Dorsten Contracting proudly supports MAC and Shelby County League sports on Press Pros.
Stephey, having scored 15 points entering the fourth, needed just six to crack 20, and got the final four at the line.
“Tonight was great,” he said, post-game, speaking of the win. “I think everyone is now filling into their roles really well, our chemistry is coming together with every game, and it feels great to have two good wins like this in a row.
Minster’s James Niemeyer challenges the shot attempt of Versailles’ Drake Ahrens during Friday’s Wildcat win.
“This helps our confidence a lot. We have a lot of games the next two weeks and this gives us some momentum going into that stretch. The St. Henry came was a battle, and disappointing, but these two games this week are going to help us a lot.”
It’s hard to quantify…to be an athlete of Stephey’s ilk in multiple sports, and yet be sidelined with injuries like he’s endured in back-to-back seasons.
“But I’m 100% now,” he smiles. “I’m feeling good, and I’m getting back in basketball shape. So, it’s good, because football ‘shape’ and basketball ‘shape’ is a lot different. It’s taken some time, but I’m getting there and that makes the game a lot easier.”
Stephey’s 21 led all scorers, but he had predictable help, given his personal impact that had taken defensive pressure off the other scorers. Cole McClurg splashed that lone three-pointer, and ended with 11 points. Cole Albers and James Niemeyer each had 7 points, and Cole Richard finished with 2 points.
“We need to get better, learn how to play together, and just be ready to go. Any of these teams can beat you, and that’s what we’ve got to expect.” – Mike McClurg
For Versailles, Drake Ahrens had 6 in the first, 5 in the second, and finished with 11 points. Gabe White had 6, Carson Heitkamp had 5, Jace Watren and AJ Griesdorn each had 4, and Ethan Wilker contributed a free throw.
They have now a favorable schedule over the next two weeks, realistically, to further build confidence and added consistency. But McClurg is having none of it – any talk about potential ‘get’ games.
“It’s a reality,” said McClurg. “But I’m not taking the bait. We need to get better, learn how to play together, come out and just be ready to go. Because, we all know that any of these teams can beat you, and that’s what we’ve got to expect.
“All of them are coming in to beat us.”
VPP Industries helps your business grow. Let us help you deliver your message.