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Washington Evening Journal
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Spartans make late run; win by one over Plainsmen
DeMeulenaere scores 14 of 20 points in second half
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
BELLE PLAINE — Newer faces are in bigger roles this season, but the identity of the Belle Plaine boys’ basketball team remains the same.
It wants to pound the ball in the paint.
The Plainsmen showed great stretches of that as they lost a heartbreaker to Collins-Maxwell Monday night, 52-51.
“They executed well at times, but we had a couple bad turnovers and were robotic at times on offense,” Belle Plaine coach Brant DeMeulenaere said.
“We didn’t execute enough at the end, and that was the difference.”
The Spartans led 13-9 after one. Scoring picked up in the second quarter for both teams.
The Plainsmen trailed by seven twice, but their ability to get to the free-throw line, especially with Lane Vokoun, kept them right in the game.
“I thought tonight we did really well getting them in foul trouble right off the bat,” DeMeulenaere said. “At this level if you can get some guys in foul trouble you typically do a lot better.”
Vokoun led all scorers with 12 points at half as the Plainsmen trailed 29-26.
The third quarter belonged to Sam DeMeulenaere, who scored nine of his team high 20 in the period.
DeMeulenaere drove to the paint effectively on multiple occasions.
A corner-three from Ty Alcott gave the Plainsmen a five-point lead which held at 44-39 heading to the fourth.
Vokoun started the fourth with a basket, but then the Spartans went on a 12-2 run to take a 51-48 lead.
The Spartans were able to force multiple turnovers in the run.
The Plainsmen didn’t go away without a fight. DeMeulenaere made three of his four free throws down the stretch in the final minute.
With 1.6 seconds remaining the Plainsmen were down 52-51 with one last chance at a miracle buzzer-beater, but they weren’t able to get the ball in cleanly for a look.
The Spartans brought balanced scoring in the victory, with five guys between eight and 13 points.
Paden Myers led the charge with 13.
Three different players ended in double digits for the Plainsmen.
DeMeulenaere led with 20, Vokoun had 18 and Alcott added 10.
Gabe Kaplan made his season debut for the Plainsmen after an injury and adds another threat for the Plainsmen in the paint the rest of the season.
Luke Eichhorn will also be back from an injury soon for the Plainsmen, Coach DeMeulenaere said.
