Kernels start 0-2 for first time since '02-'03 season

Prior to Saturday, the last time the Mitchell High School boys’ basketball team started the season 0-2 was the 2002-03 season.

Interestingly, the losses were against the same two teams this year’s Kernels were defeated by to open the season.

In December 2002, Mitchell lost to Brandon Valley 43-41 to open its season and was beaten by Pierre 50-47 the next day. Both games were at the Corn Palace. Ryan Krome, Mark Jacobsen and Trevor McCormick were Mitchell’s top scoring threats in the first two games of that season.

Friday, the Kernels opened their season with a 57-39 loss to Brandon Valley at the Corn Palace. Mitchell lost to Pierre 70-56 Saturday on the road for its second straight loss.

After starting 0-2 in 2002, the 2002-03 Kernels — coached by Gary Munsen — won their third game of the season, a 45-43 victory over Sioux Falls O’Gorman at the Corn Palace. Mitchell went on to finish 18-5 and took sixth place at the state tournament. McCormick was a first-team all-state selection.

That season, two Mitchell basketball teams won state titles. The Mitchell girls won the Class AA state championship and the Mitchell Christian boys won the Class B title.

The MCHS boys went 25-0 and defeated Castlewood 62-57 in the championship game. Their coach was Tom Young, now the first-year Mitchell boys’ basketball coach.

More notes on MHS boys’ basketball

- Mitchell, which starts four guards, is 17-of-44 from behind the 3-point line in two games this season, making the long-range shots at a 39 percent mark.

Seniors Jared Schmidt and Cole Morgan each lead the team with five 3-pointers apiece. Senior Seth Cavanaugh has made four.

From the field, Mitchell has hit 33 of 87 shots (38 percent). When the Kernels are shooting from inside the 3-point line, they’re hitting 37 percent of their shots.

- At 7:30 p.m. today, the Kernels look to avoid an 0-3 start when they host Brookings in an Eastern South Dakota Conference game.

Brookings (1-1) defeated Aberdeen Central Friday to open the year. The Bobcats got a tip-in with about 5 seconds left from Braxton Carlson for the 52-50 victory. After the close win, Brookings lost to Huron 51-41 Saturday.

Senior guard Kaleb Vig has led the Bobcats in scoring this season. He had 17 against Aberdeen and 19 against Huron. The Bobcats’ other top scoring threat is Tyler Nagy, who’s South Dakota State University men’s basketball coach Scott Nagy’s son.

Tyler Nagy, a 5-foot-10 junior, is the only non-senior starting for Brookings. He’s averaging 11 points per game, while Carlson is the team leader in rebounding at nine per game.

Brookings coach Travis Engebretson sees Mitchell as a similar team to his own.

“I think it’s going to be an entertaining game,” said Engebretson, whose team has shot 33 3-pointers on the season and made 10. “We’re in the same boat as them as far as inexperience.”

- When the Kernels host the Mike Miller Classic later this month, they’ll face Coronado High School, a team from Henderson, Nev., at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 at the Corn Palace.

Through four games this season, Coronado is 2-2 but has two players averaging big numbers.

According to maxpreps.com, Jordan Willis, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, is averaging 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while teammate Justice Augmon, a 6-foot-2 guard, is averaging 27.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

After Mitchell plays Coronado, it plays three-time defending South Dakota state champion Sioux Falls O’Gorman at 4 p.m. Dec. 29.

Tags: sports, updates, mitchell, basketball