By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
COYLE – The No. 8 Warriors opened the 2019 Coyle Invitational with a bang.
Okarche scored 34 points in the first quarter on rout to a 79-32 blowout win over Class B Mulhall-Orlando last Thursday at Coyle.
The Warriors entered halftime with a 44-
19 lead after outscoring Mullhall-Orlando, 34-7 in the first eight minutes. Okarche all but sealed the victory with a 13-7 run in the third quarter before dropping a 22-6 run to close things out in the final eight minutes.
Okarche was led by four players in double digits, including senior Tucker Neuenschwander who led the way with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Senior Lathen Stover scored 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting while going 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. Senior Cris Avila and sophomore Logan Kroener each scored 10 points while each combining for four three-point makes.
Junior Kaleb Harris scored seven points on 3-for-7 shooting while Senior Kalen McCarthy chipped in six points. Senior Kendon Brown and freshman Trenton Neiderer each scored four while junior Kody King, sophomore Tyler Schwarz and freshman Brayden Stover each scored three points.
The Warriors shot 44-percent from the field, including 38-percent from three-point range. They also went 10-for-18 from the free-throw stripe.
Okarche won the battle on the boards, 40-27, including 22 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second-chance points. The team forced 36 turnovers as well, leading to 49 points.
Mulhall-Orlando shot just 37-percent from the field, including just 17-percent from three-point range and 29-percent from the free-throw line.
The win moved the Warriors to 15-5 on the season. Okarche continues its season Friday night, hosting Class 2A Amber-Pocasset. The boys are set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. rather than their regular time of 8 p.m. due to homecoming festivities.
