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Maurchie notches 1,000 career points as Indians earn seventeenth win
By Trenten Scheidegger
The Winnebago Indians boys’ basketball team went on a three-game winning streak and went 4-1 over a five game stretch, in recent play.
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Indians extended their winning streak to three games with a 44-40 victory over the Eastland Cougars. It was an impressive win as the Indians went into Eastland and stole a win from a 15-13 Cougars squad. It was the duo of Jaden Horton and Ray Maurchie that led the way as they each posted 11 points, combining for 22 in the win. Maurchie also posted a double-double with 11 rebounds on the game.
The victory improved Winnebago’s record to 16-10 on the year. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Indians had another tough matchup as they played host to the Rockford Christian Royal Lions. It was the second meeting between these two as Rockford Christian won the first matchup 60-42.
Once again, the Lions gave Winnebago some trouble in their second meeting. At halftime, the Indians sat in a good spot as they trailed 21-18. It was the fourth quarter when things got away from the Indians as Rockford Christian outscored them 19-15.
Maurchie postes another double-double with 16 points and twelve rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as Winnebago fell 48-39. Despite shooting more than 50 percent from the floor, Winnebago was just 17 percent from three-point range. That left the Indians playing catchup for a majority of the game.
The very next day, the Indians were looking to get back in the win column. It wouldn’t be easy, however, as the Indians had to travel to face off with the Rock Falls Rockets. Their first matchup of the season came down to the wire as Winnebago picked up a 44-40 victory. The Indians would need to be resilient if they wanted to come out on top of another close matchup.
The Indians got off to an efficient start. One thing that was evident was their much improved three-point shooting. After hitting just 17 percent of their three-point attempts the night before, Winnebago shot at a 50 percent clip from behind the arc against the Rockets. The Indians also shot at a 58 percent clip from two-point range on the game.
At the end of the first quarter, the Indians held a 16-13 lead. A special moment neared as Maurchie was quickly approaching a monumental achievement of his basketball career. While Maurchie tried to keep the Indians in the lead, he eventually scored point number 1,000 of his career with a second quarter basket. While it was a special moment, Maurchie and the Indians kept their eyes on the prize with a game on the line.
Late in the fourth quarter, the game would come down to some Maurchie free throws. On his big night, Maurchie was perfect at the line, hitting all eight of his free throw attempts. Two of those free throws were clutch as they put the Indians up by four with just over three seconds remaining. The final score made it seem closer than it was as the Rockets sunk a three-pointer at the buzzer, leaving Winnebago with a 68-67 victory.
It was the perfect night for the Indians as they not only got back in the win column, but got to celebrate Maurchie’s 1,000 career points, as well. Maurchie also posted another double-double performance with a team leading 18 points and ten rebounds. Myles Smith impressed on offense with fourteen points, and Brody Larson finished with 12. Braylon Garrigan was the fourth Indian in double figures as he finished with 10 points.
The victory improved the Indians’ record to 17-11 on the year and made them 5-3 in conference play.
