The Marauders couldn’t have started the 2012-2013 basketball season in a more exciting manner.
Losing in the first three quarters, the Mingus Union High School boys basketball team beat the Wickenburg Wranglers 48-35 in a come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter in the season opener on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at home.
Senior Fransisco Romero lead the night with an impressive 16 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds, five steals and 13 points. Senior Alex Brewer also had 16 rebounds with seven offensive rebounds and 12 points.
Mingus Union scored the first points of the game, but after a Wickenburg three-pointer, the Marauders didn’t take the lead again until the fourth quarter.
“The feeling wasn’t too good,” Romero said. “I didn’t like how we didn’t step up to the competition and we were on the downside. But after the third quarter we started playing up-tempo which gave us more confidence and toughness in the second half, which gave us this win.”
The Marauders seemed to have a curse at the basket since they were able to get a number of shots up, but many of them hit the rim and fell out starting early in the first quarter.
The Marauders made a good run to catch up to the Wranglers toward the end of the first quarter. Brewer was able to steal the ball before senior Clancy Odegard attempted to score from an assist by senior Rashonn Montgomery. He missed the shot but Brewer was under the basket to rebound and score.
The score was 16-11 in favor of Wickenburg at the start of the second quarter, but the Marauders’ looked stronger and more aggressive. Romero fought for the rebounds while senior Tyler Herndon was strong on defense recording a steal.
Despite playing aggressively, the Marauders allowed the Wranglers to add 10 more points to their score before halftime.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Nov. 28, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
