Earl Austin Jr: And then there were two

And then there were two
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Earl  Austin on 04/02/2010 14:32:00
 
THAT LEAVES ONLY TWO TEAMS IN THE AREA WITH UNBLEMISHED RECORDS. THE ST. FRANCIS
BORGIA BOYS ARE 19-0 AFTER ITS CONVINCING VICTORY AT DESMET ON TUESDAY NIGHT
WHILE THE GIRLS OF MATER DEI ARE ROLLING ALONG WITH A 25-0 RECORD. IRONICALLY,
BOTH TEAMS SHARE THE SAME NICKNAME; THE KNIGHTS.
Both of these teams have earned their glittering records because they have taken
on all comers throughout the season.
During a two-week stretch in December, Borgia played and defeated Whitfield,
Chaminade, Jefferson City Helias, CBC and St. Charles West in succession. All of
those teams are threats to make deep runs in the upcoming state playoffs.
Borgia’s current winning streak is 35 games, dating back to last year’s
Class 4 state-championship run.
The Knights have built a strong tradition of run-and-gun basketball and 3-point
shooting. There are five state championships in the school’s trophy case,
including last season’s edition. This year has been no different. They have
been led all season by the dynamic senior duo of Nathan Scheer and Tyler Ressel.
The 6’5” Scheer is currently averaging 22.3 points and five rebounds a game.
He is also hitting an impressive 49 percent of his 3-point attempts. He is
headed to Missouri State University. The 6’1” Ressel is averaging 14.9
points, which included a 29-point outburst in the victory over Class 5 state
champion Chaminade. He is headed to Missouri Southern.
Providing ample support for Scheer and Ressel are 6’6” junior center Ben
Ruether, who averages 10 points and six rebounds a game, and 5’10” sophomore
point guard Bryce Dolan, who has fit in nicely in his first year on the varsity.
Mater Dei’s girls are enjoying an excellent year in athletics. The Knights’
volleyball team advanced to the IHSA Class A state-championship game, where they
finished as runners-up. Many of those same girls are on this outstanding
basketball team. The Knights have won tournaments as Alton, Mascoutah and
Highland this season. The Mascoutah and Highland Tournaments are annually two of
the top tournaments in the state of Illinois.
The leader of the pack is 5’10” sophomore Brooke Schulte, who averages 18.6
points a game. Ashley Rakers, a 5’10” junior, averages 11.6 points and 7.6
rebounds while 5’10” junior Kaley Boeckmann averages nearly 10 points a
game. Junior Alexa Becker and senior Tabitha Albers are also consistent
contributors.
Mater Dei head coach Dave Kohnen also reached a milestone this season when he
picked up his 400th career coaching victory during the Mascoutah Holiday
Tournament.