Kouts used a 52-point second half to respond from a double-figure second-quarter deficit to run away from Marquette Catholic in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night. The Mustangs, winners of 44 games over the past two seasons, got 30 points from Cole Wireman to go along with 17 from brother Cale and a 10-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist performance from Parker Kneifel. Marquette Catholic was led by 6'2 junior guard Brit Harris, who notched 33 points on the strength of six made three-pointers.
Marquette came out firing thanks to the stellar play of Brit Harris and Kaden Manna. The pair combined for 15 of the Blazers’ 20 first-quarter points and eight rebounds as well in the opening stanza. Harris capped off the period with a deep pull-up three just before the buzzer.
Marquette was able to force Kouts into contested layups that struggled to fall in, as the Mustangs shot just 5-16 in the first quarter. To add to their troubles, Parker Kneifel and star guard Cole Wireman both picked up two early fouls and spent time on the bench as Marquette raced to an eight-point advantage at the quarter break.
The Blazers kept the momentum in the early part of the second, racing out to a 30-17 advantage as Kaden Manna reached double figures early in the period. The Kouts 1-3-1 defense left openings that Marquette was able to exploit. Foul trouble continued to hurt the Mustangs as Parker Kneifel and Cole Wireman both picked up their third fouls before halftime.
Cale Wireman would step up in their absence for the Mustangs, as the senior guard scored 12 in the quarter to help bring the hosts within six at 41-35 entering halftime.
Kaden Manna picked up his fourth foul early in the third, taking the only height for Marquette Catholic and placing it on the bench. A 15-5 run would follow from Kouts, with a pair of dunks from 6’3 Hunter Kneifel. Manna would pick up his fifth foul shortly after entering the game, leaving the Blazers without any interior presence.
Brit Harris would do whatever he could to keep Marquette in the game, as he scored 13 of the Blazers 18 third-quarter points, but Kouts would enter the fourth clinging to a one-point advantage.
Kouts would gradually pull away in the fourth, as a pair of Parker Kneifel to Cooper Schoon alley-oop dunks would give them a four-point advantage just before the halfway point of the period. From there, the Mustangs would lengthen their advantage as the Blazers ran out of steam during the final minutes.
Marquette 20 21 18 12 - 71
Kouts 12 23 25 27 - 87
Marquette Catholic: Brit Harris 33 points (12/21 FGs, 6/11 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 5 rebs, 6 asts; Kaden Manna 11 points (5/7 FGs, 1/3 3Ps), 6 rebs, 2 blks; Gary Lewis 11 points (3/15 FGs, 2/11 3Ps, 3/8 FTs); Connor Bakota 7 points (3/6 FGs, 1/2 3Ps), 5 rebs; Brandon Welch 5 points (2/5 FGs, 1/3 3Ps); Sam Johnson 3 points; Oz Brooks 1 points, 4 rebs
Kouts: Cole Wireman 30 points (11/21 FGs, 8/13 FTs), 7 rebs, 4 stls; Cale Wireman 17 points (7/14 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 3 rebs, 4 asts; Hunter Kneifel 13 points (5/7 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls, 2 blks; Parker Kneifel 10 points (5/8 FGs), 8 rebs, 5 asts, 2 stls; Cooper Schoon 10 points (5/9 FGs), 8 rebs; Matt Baker 7 points (2/5 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 6 rebs