WINONA — The Rochester John Marshall boys basketball team is showing signs of life.
The Rockets, who won just a combined two games the previous two years, won for the second time in three games on Friday. This time it was in a rout as the Rockets blasted Winona 81-58.
JM moved to 2-4 in the Big Nine Conference and 3-8 overall. Winona is 3-3, 5-6.
"Our kids came out strong right out of the box tonight," JM coach Richard Cain said. "They played with intensity right away. They were aggressive and stayed with it; I felt like they had great game preparation this week."
JM got its biggest game from guard John Mattison. The junior had 27 points and held Winona star shooter Will Leaf to zero points.
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"We went into this game with the attitude that we can't lose games like we did last year," Mattison said. "My teammates played great."
JM led 42-27 at intermission.
The Rockets also got 12 points from Deonte Moore, 10 from Ngor Barnaba and nine from Christian Hermansen.
Winona was paced by Skyler Marks and Drew Thompson, each with 15 points.
John Marshall 81, Winona 58
JOHN MARSHALL (81)
Aaron Grad 9, Christian Hermansen 9, Riley Amy 6, Deonte Moore 12, John Mattison 27, Kadri Plott 4, Janek Walker 0, Kyle Gossman 0, John Underdahl 2, Kyle Dahlstrom 2, Mike Bosshart 0, Jeylin Smith 0, Ngor Barnaba 10.
WINONA (58)
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Hunter Gamoke 6, Drew Thompson 15, Trae Cierzan 3, Blake Watts 0, Hunter Kruse 1, Will Leaf 0, Skyler Marks 15, Jeff Schultz 11, Dylan Moger 1, Dan Schwartz 6.
Other stats:
Halftime: JM 42, WIN 27.
Free throws: JM 12-16, WIN 11-17.
Three-point goals: JM 5 (Hermansen 1, Amy 2, Mattison 2), WIN 3 (Gamoke 2, Cierzan 1).
