The #7 (2A) Grundy Center boys basketball never trailed and led by as many as 18 to bring home a 61-44 win over Regina Catholic, Iowa City in the Class 2A District 7 final on Tuesday, as aired on 99 The Wave. The game was played at neutral site Benton Community.
Grundy Center led 9-2 out of the gates, before the Regals got within possession at 9-7. The Spartans scored the final seven points of the first quarter to go up 16-7. The Spartans took advantage of Regals turnovers and got their transition game rolling to extend their lead to 31-18 at the half. At the start of the fourth, Grundy Center led 48-32. The Regals got back within a 10 point deficit at 54-44 inside the final four minutes, but the Spartans were able to build their lead back up to 17 to cruise to the final buzzer. The Spartans defensively stepped to hold the Regals to their lowest point total all season.
Spartans Head Coach Brent Thoren on how the team took care of business on both ends of the floor to advance to their second straight substate final.
“How we came out with our overall demeanor offensively, I thought we really attacked the basket early on, really got out, ran and transitioned, gave us a lot of opportunities early on. Can’t say enough about how our kids just really were on point offensively tonight,” Thoren. “Defensively we just ratcheted up and made them work for a lot of shots. I thought our defense was really sound pretty much the entire night. They had to work for a lot of shots. Credit to Tiernan Vokes especially, working really hard against the Wallace kid, that was a heck of a matchup with those two. Great job on both ends of the floor, by my guys.”
The Spartans had four players finish in double figures scoring including Tiernan Vokes and Judd Jirovsky with 14 points apiece, Brayden Wallis with 13 points and Jalen Kirkpatrick with 10 points.
Grundy Center (21-2) will face Northeast (18-5) in a Class 2A Substate 4 Final on Saturday at Wartburg College on 99 The Wave.
Grundy Center Head Coach Brent Thoren:
Spartan Senior Preston Martens:
