VERSAILLES – Versailles led throughout Friday night’s game as the Tigers beat Minster 75-60 to improve to 6-0 in the Midwest Athletic Conference.
It was all Versailles early as the home team jumped out to a 12-1 lead. Minster recovered enough to reduce its deficit to 2 points early in the second quarter, but Versailles never relinquished the lead to remain atop the conference standings.
Versailles started strong with a 3-pointer from Connor Custenborder and a basket by AJ Ahrens to go up 5-0. Justin Ahrens and Keaton McEldowney also added points to give the Tigers their 12-1 advantage.
After more than three minutes without a field goal Minster got going with a pair of 3-pointers by Aaron Ernst. By the end of the quarter Minster had reduced its 11-point deficit to just 4, 18-14.
With a basket by Isaac Schmiesing early in the second quarter Minster was back within one score at 18-16, but Justin Ahrens started heating up and quickly scored 8 points to build Versailles’ lead back up again. At the end of the half McEldowney drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and the Tigers led by 10, 36-26.
Minster and Versailles played even in the third quarter and the Tigers maintained their 10-point advantage, finishing the period up 48-38.
Versailles led by at least 8 points throughout the entire fourth quarter and finished strong, scoring the final 6 points of the night to cap off a 15-point victory.
“I think towards the end of the game we just spread them a little bit too much and they couldn’t quite stay with us,” Versailles boys basketball coach Travis Swank said. “But (Minster coach Mike Lee) can take a lot of positives from this game for his kids so I’m sure he’s real proud.”
Versailles’ Justin Ahrens led all scorers with 32 points Friday night. Also for the Tigers, AJ Ahrens scored 10 points, McEldowney scored 9, Sam Barga scored 6, Austin Knapke scored 6, Custenborder scored 5, Alex Wendel scored 5, and Cole Niekamp scored 2.
Ernst led Minster with 25 points. Also for the Wildcats, Mike Ketner scored 9 points, Issac Dorsten scored 7, Bryce Schmiesing scored 6, Jared Huelsman scored 5, Andrew Broering scored 3, Jarrod Schulze scored 3, and Isaac Schmiesing scored 2.
“We didn’t put our best foot forward on the defensive end; 60 points is way too many,” Swank said. “But again credit, they made a lot of hard shots, OK, but we take more pride than that in the defensive end.”
Versailles improved to 15-1 overall and 6-0 in the MAC with Friday’s win while Minster fell to 7-6 overall and 2-3 in the MAC. Versailles will play host to Russia Saturday night.
