(Monroe Central gym vs. Wapahani via Twitter.com/MCGoldenBears_)

 

In a big Mid-Eastern Conference game, 2A No. 4 Monroe Central welcomed 2A No. 6 Wapahani to Parker City.

 

 

Sophomore Isaac Andrews entered the game averaging 24.2 points, and he scored six of Wapahani’s first eight points of the game. The young guard hit multiple pull-ups over defenders in the 12-15 foot range.

 

Luke Jones gave Monroe Central a surprising boost with two early jumpers. He only averages eight points a game on the season but gave Monroe Central four to help the offense get going.

 

Wapahani is known for its one-two punch of Andrews and junior Aidan Franks. The latter scores 20.7 points, but Franks missed his first five shots of the game. Finally, he jumped a pass in the backcourt to score a layup. Monroe Central defended Franks well all game.

 

Andrews kept finding shots in the second quarter. The sophomore grabbed a rebound before pushing it up the court in one instance. Once in the halfcourt, Monroe Central gave him too much breathing room, so he buried a 22-foot triple.

 

In the first half, Andrews went 5-5 from the field for 13 points, and Wapahani led 24-23 at the break.

 

Jackson Ullom scored four quick points to give Monroe Central the lead to begin the second half. He scored seven points in the first half, but Jackson took things up a notch in the second.

 

Gavin Smithson-Burciaga also started to use his strength inside a bit more in the second half. He scored five points in the third quarter and played an even more prominent role in the fourth.

 

Wapahani’s Nathan Nelson found himself on the receiving end of a couple of passes that led to layups in the third. In the stanza, he scored six points to keep Wapahani neck and neck with Monroe Central. Nelson and Andrews scored 11 of Wapahani’s 15 third-period points.

 

The game was tied at 39 going into the fourth, and things stayed tight the entire way before a minute stretch that saw the lead change hands four times. The wild sequence started as Andrews made a runner in the lane to give Wapahani the 47-46 lead. Then, Smith Burciaga found Jackson Ullom for a three to take the lead right back. Andrews one-upped them by hitting a cold-bolded three-pointer on the next possession. Finally, Munchel kicked the ball out of the post to Jones for a three-pointer.

 

Monroe Central led by two points with one minute left, and Wapahani controlled the ball. Jackson Ullom stole the ball as Andrews passed to Franks and scored a transition layup. On the following possession, Smithson-Burciaga came up with another steal, and it looked like Monroe Central would salt the game away.

 

After a Wapahani foul, Nathan Nelson recovered an errant pass from Jackson Ullom to give the ball back to Wapahani. Suddenly, Monroe Central’s lead was not as secure. The Golden Bears swarmed the Wapahani shooters, but Josiah Ullom fouled Andrews as he took a tough three-pointer. He made all three free throws to make it a one-point game.

 

With more fouls to give, Wapahani fouled Josiah Ullom. Monroe Central inbounded the ball to the backcourt following the foul. While trying to evade pressure, Nelson tied up Jackson Ullom, and the possession arrow pointed to Wapahani.

 

With 14 seconds left, Wapahani had the ball down one point. But once again, Monroe Central forced a Wapahani turnover. Munchel was there to corral a pass then was fouled.

 

Munchel missed the front-end of the bonus with four seconds left. Wapahani had a last-second shot from just inside halfcourt by Andrews miss off the backboard.

 

Monroe Central remained undefeated on the season with the 54-53 win.

 

Jackson Ullom finished with 18 points and three assists. Gavin Smith-Burciaga recorded 14 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the win. Munchel added six points, nine rebounds, and two steals. Josiah Ullom and Jones each scored seven points for Monroe Central.

 

Andrews scored a game-high 29 points in the loss. Nelson tallied eight points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Franks never found his offensive rhythm but added six points and four rebounds. Nate Luce contributed six points, and Nick Cook had three points and three rebounds.