LA CROSSE, Wis. — Playing for the second straight day, the John Marshall boys basketball team suffered a 62-51 loss to Rice Lake, Iowa, on Saturday at an invitational in La Crosse, Wis.
Rice Lake's defensive pressure gave JM fits as the Rockets committed 26 turnovers.
"In the end our turnovers were the difference as we struggled with their ball pressure," Rockets coach Kirk Thompson said. "I did like how we competed until the very end as we won the fourth quarter 20-8."
Rice Lake led 37-21 at the half. High-scoring Henry Ellenson sparked the team with 25 points.
"I thought we did a solid job defending Henry Ellenson, holding him to 25 points which is about 10 below his average," Thompson said.
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Junior Michael Hurt, who officially committed to the University of Minnesota last Friday, led JM with 21 points and nine rebounds. His younger brother Matthew Hurt, an eighth-grader, had nine points and six rebounds.
The Rockets have lost three of their past four games and are now 11-5 this season.
Rice Lake 62, John Marshall 51
RICE LAKE (62)
Ben Widdes 8 P, 1 3-PT; Erik Hovde 4 P; Joe Thurston 2 P; Mitch Kleusch 5 P, 1 3-PT; Henry Ellenson 25 P; Hunter Ashlin 12 P, 1 3-PT; Andrew Mattes 2 P; Parker Buckley 2 P; Kyle Crotteau 2 P.
JOHN MARSHALL (51)
Isaiah Walden 4 P; Matthew Hurt 9 P, 6 R; DJ Hardin 4 P; Josh Mattison 4 P; Brady Tuckner 3 P, 5 R; Ross Faber 6 P, 1 3-PT; Michael Hurt 21 P, 9 R, 2 3-PT.
Halftime:RL 37, JM 21.
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Free throws:RL 5-7, JM 10-13.
Three-point goals:RL 3, JM 3.
