Bulldog boys basketball team repeats as conference champions
With 10 points, senior Hunter Meyer was one of five Bulldogs who scored in double digits in the Feb. 2 win over NFV. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Zach Driscoll knocked down 22 points in MFL MarMac’s conference win against North Fayette Valley on Feb. 2.
Parker Kuehl goes airborne as he prepares to make a pass to a Bulldog teammate.
Wyatt Powell drives toward the basket in MFL MarMac's win over the TigerHawks.
Carver Blietz-Bentien totaled 10 points in the conference victory against NFV.
Brock Hackett and the Bulldog defense held the TigerHawks to just 40 points in last week's win.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
Wins over Clayton Ridge, North Fayette Valley and South Winneshiek last week clinched the Upper Iowa Conference title for the MFL MarMac boys basketball team.
This marks the second straight league championship for the Bulldogs, who this season are a perfect 15-0 in the UIC and 19-1 overall.
MFL MarMac built a 19-4 first quarter lead in the Jan. 31 game at Clayton Ridge, then continued to pour on the points, winning 72-49.
The Bulldogs shot 47.5 percent from the field and drained seven long-range buckets, including three apiece from sophomores Zach Driscoll and Parker Kuehl.
Driscoll’s 20 points were second most on the team that night, while Kuehl contributed 11.
The top scorer was junior Carver Blietz-Bentien, who finished with 25 points on 11-17 shooting. He completed the double-double with 15 of MFL MarMac’s 38 rebounds. Driscoll was next up with seven.
That category was one of the difference makers in the game, as the Bulldogs held the Eagles to just 16 rebounds overall, including three on the offensive end. The MFL MarMac defense additionally collected 13 steals and two blocks.
Driscoll led the way with four steals and also had a block. Wyatt Powell snagged three steals and Kuehl two.
The Bulldogs followed that up with another convincing win—this time 66-40 over NFV on Feb. 2.
The offense shot an even more lethal 49.1 percent and added six more three pointers to the season total.
Driscoll knocked down 22 points and added six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Blietz-Bentien’s stat line included 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists, while Hunter Meyer chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Adding to the double-digit scoring were Powell and Kuehl, who also dropped 10 points apiece. Powell topped the steals column with five and distributed four assists, and Kuehl had two each of rebounds, assists and steals.
MFL MarMac’s closest game of the week came Feb. 3, in a 76-68 victory at South Winn.
The Bulldogs led the Warriors 22-18 through the first quarter, but the point totals flipped in the second, leaving the teams tied at 39 heading into halftime.
MFL MarMac finally created some separation in the fourth quarter, working past a Warrior offense that shot 50 percent on the night and sank nine three pointers.
Turnovers proved a key factor, as South Winn coughed the ball up 24 times compared to the Bulldogs’ 15. The MFL MarMac defense was responsible for 17 steals and three blocks.
Driscoll led all scorers with 31 points and also had a team-high six assists in addition to five rebounds, three steals and a block. Blietz-Bentien had another hot shooting night, connecting on 10 of 16 shots for 21 points. With nine rebounds, he was just shy of another double-double.
Powell earned nine points, eight rebounds, six steals and three assists, while Kuehl had five points, six rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block.
The Bulldogs wrapped up their regular season this week, hosting Crestwood on Feb. 6 and playing at Central Feb. 7.
