After defeating Bertha-Hewitt twice during the regular season, the Menahga boys basketball team was looking to get off to a fast start to avoid an upset when these two teams met in the first round of the Section 5A tournament Monday (March 4) at Menahga.
Sparked by a 3-pointer by Wade Berttunen and two 3-pointers by Gavin Hillukka, the Braves used a fast start to spark a 64-33 victory.
An offensive putback, jumper and layup by Zach Floyd, a jumper by Berttunen, a layup by Tristan Aho, and two layups by Hillukka combined with the three 3-pointers to give the Braves a 24-9 lead with 7:52 to play in the first half. Hillukka closed the half with another layup as Menahga led 31-19 at the break.
Two layups by Berttunen and layups by Jonah Howard and Aho gave Menahga a 41-23 lead with 11:37 to play before a layup, three-point play and two free throws by Howard along with a 3-pointer by Charlie Hodge pushed the lead to 51-29 with 6:55 left. Victor Aho scored off a rebound before layups by Mason Hotakainen, Hillukka, Berttunen and Patrick Simmons concluded the Braves' scoring.
Hillukka's 17 points and six rebounds, Berttunen's 11 points, Howard's nine rebounds and Hodge's six rebounds led the Braves, who defeated B-H 62-42 and 73-61 during the regular season. The win lifted Menahga to 12-14 on the season.
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The Bears, who missed all 15 3-point attempts, ended the season with a 17-game losing streak and 1-24 record.
BERTHA-HEWITT: Baumgartner 2 3-3 7, Christenson 0 0-0 0, Jo. Kirscht 2 0-0 4, Ja. Kirscht 1 0-0 2, Kvamme 3 1-3 7, Bertram 0 0-0 0, Hegarty 0 1-2 1, Bartels 0 2-4 2, Bauch 0 0-0 0, Kimber 0 0-0 0, Swanson 1 0-0 2, Harig 4 0-0 8. Totals: 13 for 47 (FG), 7 for 12 (FT).
MENAHGA: Hodge 1 0-0 3, Floyd 3 2-4 8, Howard 3 3-3 9, Hillukka 6 3-4 17, Berttunen 5 0-0 11, Tolkkinen 0 0-0 0, T. Aho 2 4-4 8, Litzau 0 1-2 1, Hotakainen 1 0-0 2, V. Aho 1 0-0 2, A. Aho 0 0-0 0, Treinen 0 0-0 0, Heegard 0 0-0 0, Leritz 0 0-0 0, Matson 0 1-3 1, Pietila 0 0-0 0, Simmons 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 for 59 (FG), 14 for 20 (FT).
Halftime: Menahga 31, B-H 19. Three-pointers: Hodge 1, Hillukka 2, Berttunen 1. Team fouls: B-H 19, Menahga 17. Rebounds: Menahga 46 (Howard 9, Floyd 8, Hodge 6, Hillukka 6, Matson 4, T. Aho 3, Simmons 2, Litzau 2, Berttunen 2, Hotakainen 1, Pietila 1, V. Aho 1, Leritz 1). Assists: Menahga 7 (Berttunen 2, Floyd 2, Hillukka 1, Matson 1, Pietila 1). Steals: Menahga 11 (Floyd 2, Hodge 2, Litzau 2, T. Aho 1, Howard 1, Hillukka 1, Treinen 1, Berttunen 1). Blocked shots: Menahga 1 (Hotakainen). Turnovers: B-H 19, Menahga 13.
