MOUNT VERNON -- Though it is not the same squad that took second in Class B at the state tournament last season, it was obvious Monday night that the similarities are definitely there for this year's Mitchell Christian High School boys' basketball team.
The Golden Eagles opened their season with a convincing, 89-43 victory over Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon. It was MCHS that ended the Mustangs' season in a 51-29 district semi-final loss in March.
"I was pretty surprised with how we came out," 14th year MCHS head coach Tom Young said. "I think the big difference was we have plenty of experience back. The fact that we had gotten to see (Mount Vernon) play, and that helped us too."
Mount Vernon scored the first points of the game, a three-point shot by Tyson Paulson, but that would be the only lead the Mustangs would hold throughout the game. The teams battled and tied the score at 8-8, but the Golden Eagles went on a 22-3 run to end the first quarter up 30-10.
Of those 22 points, 18 were three-point baskets. Deryk Thomsen drained three threepointers for Mitchell Christian and finished with 15 points in the first quarter alone.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We played pretty well," said Thomsen, a senior guard. "(Mount Vernon) was doubling up on Jared (Odens) so that was opening up some shots and we were able to make them."
