Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bernie, Missouri - The Bernie Mules hosted the Advance Hornets at the Mule Barn Friday night. It was full to capacity with fans dressed in orange and blue. It was a close game, but the Mules were able to hold on and defeat the Hornets by a score of 84-83.
“Advance really came to play tonight and had us on the brink,” stated head coach Brad Botsch. “You really have to give them a lot of credit as they put offensive pressure on us all night and we weren’t able to contain them very well defensively. They knocked down their free throws, out-rebounded us, and out-hustled us much of the night.”
Advance's Lane Below tallied a team-high 29 points before fouling out late in the game. He also hit two treys for the Hornets. Eli Seger and Dalton Wilson scored in double figures. Seger tallied 14 and Wilson added 11 points. Four hornets fouled out including the top two scorers. Austin Miller and Dawson Mayo fouled out.
B.J. Jennings had an awesome night scoring a game-high 30 points including four 3-pointers and 9 rebounds. Jake Wagner and Caleb Ellenburg each added 11 points to the board for the Mules. Wagner had three treys for Bernie. Brandon Sparks and Justin Stanfield added a trey apiece.
Bernie ended the night with 27 fouls. Advance got caught with 26 fouls.
"Fortunately, we were able to find a way to win," continued Botsch. "B.J. played very well tonight and never came out of the game. It was great to see him step up and lead and I was very proud of him."
"We have spent a lot of time in practice on offense and it has improved, but defensively we were a step slow all night. We have some things to take out of this game and work on, and we'll do just that. I am confident our kids want to continue to get better. We are never satisfied."
The Mules will be back in action on Wednesday, January 15th as they take on the Oran Eagles at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. This should be a spectacular game! Friday they will travel to Dexter to continue a long time rivalry! Game times are 6:00 p.m.
Bernie is not 11-1 on the season.
Final Score Bernie Mule 84 Advance Hornets 83
Bernie 25 17 23 19 - 84
Advance 19 22 16 26 - 83
Bernie (84) – Matt Vernon 0, Jake Wagner 11, Brandon Sparks 6, B.J. Jennings 30, Justin Stanfield 7, J.R. Pregel 7, Devin Trammell 4, Joey Walker 8, Caleb Ellenburg 11, FG 29, FT 17/30, F 27 (3-pointers Jake Wagner 3, Brandon Sparks 1, B.J. Jennings 4, Justin Stanfield 1, Foulded Out: none)
Advance (83) – Austin Miller 9, Garrett Walker 2, Lane Below 29, Eli Seger 14, Alex Morse 4, Dalton Wilson 11, Ben Trout 4, Brian Whitson 3, Dawson Mayo 4, FG 24, FT 29/34, F 26 (3-pointers: Austin Miller 2, Lane Below 3, Whitson 1, Fouled Out: Austin Miller, Lane Below, Eli Seger, Dawson Mayo)
The Bernie JV Mules lost to the Hornets by a score of 24 - 59. Mayberry recorded a team-high 10 points for the Mules. Their record is now 3-4 on the season.
