By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
It was Okarche senior P.K. Harris‘ last chance to beat rival Hennessey Tuesday night.
“We knew we had to get revenge,” he said.
Mission accomplished.
Okarche got a game-high 22 points from freshman Jett Mueggenborg, 14 from Harris and 12 apiece from Easton Roby and Hunter Mueggenborg as the Class A No. 6 Warriors made the critical plays down the stretch to beat the Eagles 63-60.
“We just had to stay more focused and not turn the ball over this time,” Harris said.
Earlier this season in the championship game of The Three Rivers Conference Tournament, Hennessey beat Okarche 50-49 on a last-second 3-pointer.
“It’s always a close game with us and Hennessey. They’re good and we’re good,” Harris said. “But we’re trying to get to the Big House and we’ve got to do what it takes.”
With a plethora of reliable ballhandlers on the floor in the final minutes, Okarche (15-2) built a narrow lead then handled Hennessey’s full court pressure and hit 7 of 8 from the free throw line to seal the win.
“When you have multiple guys you trust putting on the free throw line and trust with the ball, it’s tough to stop,” head coach Aaron West said.
Harris, the lone senior in the starting lineup, totaled a team-high three assists. He credited Roby and Mueggenborg – both freshmen – for their poise in the fourth quarter and throughout the game. The duo combined to go 10 for 10 at the free throw line and 5 of 9 from 3-point range.
“They help us out a lot,” Harris said.
There were 14 ties and 16 lead changes in the game. Okarche forced 17 turnovers from Hennessey while committing only 12.
Okarche trailed 46-44 after three quarters but battled ahead late in the game on key baskets from Harris, Roby and an old-fashioned 3-point play from Caden Schieber.
“The team is fired up. We had a bitter taste in our mouth after getting beat on our home court last time,” West said. “This was a must-win.”
James Sims scored 16 points for Hennessey but fouled out with four minutes to play. Eagles center Jael Torres was limited to 13 points after scoring 22 in the previous meeting.
“Last game, we didn’t get the key stops. Tonight, pretty much, we got those stops,” West said.
The Warriors have now won 16 of 17 after a season-opening loss at Preston. If Okarche wins its final three Three Rivers Conference games, the Warriors will clinch the regular season conference title.
“This one definitely gives us some confidence, but we’ve got to keep grinding them out,” Harris said.
GIRLS
Okarche 80, Hennessey 36
Senior forward Emma Stover was in double figures by the end of the first quarter as the Lady Warriors coasted to their seventh straight victory.
Jalie Rother poured in 21 points for Okarche (13-4) which was on pace for 100 points after one quarter and led the Lady Eagles 45-17 at half.
The Lady Warriors held an opponent under 50 points for the sixth time in their last seven games as they gear up for a postseason run.
