Bulldogs stop Builders

By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor
If it was indeed Kenny Romero's last game at the McPherson College Sport Center Thursday night, he gave the Bulldog faithful a performance to remember.

Romero, the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer, was held to a modest 6 points in the first half in the KCAC Postseason Tournament quarterfinals against Southwestern.

But as he so often has done in his career, the 6-5 senior erupted for 17 points in the second half to propel the Bulldogs past the Moundbuilders 79-69 and into the semifinals on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs go to Sterling at 7 p.m. Saturday for one semi, while Friends plays in Hillsboro against Tabor in the other. Should the Bulldogs win as well as Friends, then Mac would be home for Tuesday's championship game. If Mac and Tabor win, then the Bulldogs would go to Hillsboro.

Thursday's win was the Bulldogs' 20th of the season, tying the most for a Roger Trimmell-coached Mac team. The Bulldogs are now one win shy of tying the all-time school record of 21, established in the 1958-59 season.

"We've got 20. Let's go get No. 21," a pleased Trimmell said after the game. "That was a hard-fought game. It's hard to beat a team three times in a season, especially a very good team. I felt like Southwestern was as hot as any team in the KCAC the second half of the season. And to beat them back-to-back (the teams had played Saturday) is even more impressive."

It was the complementary players that staked the Bulldogs to a 41-32 halftime lead. Cody Rierson had a four-minute stretch where he scored 9 points, as the Bulldogs were able to open up as much as a 12-point lead, while Tim Cox came off the bench to score 8 in the half, as the Moundbuilders often were blanketing Romero with two players.

But in the second half, Romero started to cook with a variety of knifing moves. He had a stretch where he scored 13 of 17 Mac points, and was able to keep the Bulldogs with just enough of a working margin to steady the nerves.

While Romero was sparking the Bulldogs, Southwestern's Kalan Powers was doing everything in his power to extend the Moundbuilders' season.

Powers, who hails from Trimmell's hometown of Wamego, had 7 points at the half, but after the break he fired in shots from all angles and for the night, finished with 27 points.

"You can't stop a Wamego man, you can only hope to contain him," Trimmell mused. "He really played well for them."

With Mac up 62-57 with 5 1/2 minutes left, the Bulldogs were running down the shot clock. But Rierson launched about a 26-footer as the buzzer went off that was like a lazar, and the Moundbuilders were essentially done.

"I thought a key was that we didn't let them make that one big run," Trimmell said. "We were consistent. We were able to keep them at bay. I thought Kenny had a real good stretch there in the second half, while Cody had one of his best games."

Rierson finished with 14 points, but more importantly shut down Southwestern's 3-point sniper Brett Annis, who was just 2 of 13 and scored 7 points. He had 24 when the teams met on Saturday.

Unsung Brian Hooks, who always seems to play well in the clutch for Mac, scored 16 points and pulled down 6 rebounds. Cox finished with 10 points

Rico Marquez was the only other Moundbuilder in double figures with 17 points.

Mac now takes on a Sterling team it split with during the regular season. Mac won at the Sport Center 58-44, before the Warriors returned the favor at home, 86-77.

"They are THE hottest team going in the KCAC," Trimmell said. "They're very athletic. I hope we have a big crowd, because it should be a great atmosphere."

Mac (79) -- Klumpe 1 0-0 3; Rierson 5 3-3 14; Cox 4 0-0 10; McDonald 2 4-6 9; Soto 0 0-0 0; Hooks 6 4-4 16; Romero 9 5-8 23; Gustafson 2 0-0 4. Totals -- 29 16-21 79. 3-pointers -- Cox 2, Klumpe 1, Rierson 1, McDonald 1.

Southwestern (69) -- Powers 10 4-4 27; Holthus 0 0-0 0; Samonds 1 0-0 2; Egiebor 1 1-2 3; Sampson 0 0-0 0; Annis 2 2-4 7; Marquez 7 3-3 17; Freivogel 2 0-0 5; Riley 3 2-2 8; VenJohn 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 26 12-15 69. 3-pointers -- Powers 3, Annis 1, Frievogel 1.