The Becker boys basketball team won the battle of the M8 Conference undefeated teams last Friday, going on the road and winning convincingly, 67-55 over the Monticello Magic.
The Bulldogs brought a 13-3 overall record into the game and Monticello was 12-4, as both teams boasted a perfect conference record.
Coach Cory Nuest described his team as “poised and disciplined” as the Bulldogs performed well in front of the huge crowd.
“I was very proud of our boys in their biggest win of the season,” said Nuest. “They competed at a high level, stayed composed under pressure, and played for each other.”
Becker’s defense was stellar, as the team executed Nuest’s game plan to perfection in racing to a 35-21 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs consistently guarded the arc, walled up in the paint, and forced Monticello to score in the half court. Offensively, the Bulldogs were unselfish while sharing the ball.
Monticello made a late push, cutting the lead to eight with two minutes remaining, but Becker stayed composed.
Bulldogs Isiah Boyer and Troy Nuest sealed the game at the free-throw line, closing out the win and taking the lead in the M8 title race.
Becker played true team basketball, finishing with 21 assists and just eight turnovers while consistently winning 50-50 balls and controlling momentum.
Nathan Weiss led Becker with 19 points (seven rebounds, three assists), while Bryce Paumen added 19 points, (seven rebounds, five assists) and provided a strong presence on both ends of the floor.
Isiah Boyer was steady with 12 points (seven rebounds, eight assists) and Troy Nuest finished with eight points, (seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals).
Other stats included Saul Kreft with four points and three rebounds, while Nila Burau provided a spark off the bench with five points in 16 minutes of action. Paumen also drew praise from his coach for his defensive effort, holding Magic big-man Hunter Miller to just four points.
“Being connected is one of our core values, and our guys showed that all night — defending together, sharing the ball, and trusting one another in big moments,” Nuest said of his team. “When you do those things on the road against a great team, good things happen.”
Vs. Saints
Earlier last week, Becker took down the St. Francis Saints in another convincing road win, 75-52.
It was a good gauge of the Bulldogs’ improvement, as they had defeated the Saints by just eight points in a home game earlier in the season.
Isiah Boyer finished with 12 points, eight assists, and six steals, while Paumen dominated the interior with 20 points and eight rebounds. Nate Weiss anchored the defense, holding St. Francis’ leading scorer to just eight points, well below his 23-point-per-game average. Troy Nuest knocked down four three-pointers and finished with 16 points, four assists, and four steals.
Saul Kreft added eight points and set several strong screens that led directly to scoring opportunities for teammates. Nolan Burau distributed the ball effectively and was solid defensively, while senior Owen Reinking provided quality minutes off the bench and scored five points.
“This was a great conference road victory,” said Coach Nuest. “It was a solid defensive performance and team basketball. We finished with 25 assists, limited them to 52 points, and allowed only five offensive rebounds.”
