Mooseheart fails to grab victory over IC

Immaculate Conception 60, Mooseheart 54

Holding onto the basketball proved to be a major issue for Mooseheart's boys basketball team Monday night.

And as a result, the Ramblers never grasped the lead and saw a victory opportunity slip through their fingers in a 60-54 loss to Immaculate Conception in the opening round of the Westminster Christian Thanksgiving Classic.

"We didn't play very well," Mooseheart coach Ron Ahrens said. "We had 24 turnovers at halftime. It's hard to run an offense like that. We didn't run an offensive set, their defense bothered us and we didn't respond very well."

The Ramblers saw the Kights jump to a huge early lead, though the margin only stood at 20-13 after the first quarter. Mooeheart continued to rally and tied the game 27-27 with 90 seconds left in the half on an Ethan Grasty basket.

Immaculate Conception scored the final points of the first half and led 34-29 at halftime.

"Every time we got close, we would have a turnover," Ahrens said. "We had one spell where we had 5 straight turnovers. That's what killed us."

Mooseheart continued to try to stay close to the Knights through the second half and though the turnover situation got somewhat better, the Ramblers still finished with 36.

Immaculate Conception entered the game with nine football players missing while the Knights prepare for Friday's IHSA Class 2A championship game against Casey-Westfield.

"I knew we were going to be nervous," said IC coach Darren Howard. "A lot of them are juniors and I knew a lot of them were going to be nervous because this was the first varsity game of their careers."

Demitrius Mobley led all scorers with 21 points, the only IC player in double figures.

"I was happy that we stepped up in the end and hit some free throws," Howard said. "In the end, we got a win out of it and I think they gained some experience and confidence. I think we'll be better for it."

Grasty led Mooseheart with 15 points, while Munir Smith added 12.

Mooseheart plays St. Edward today at 4:30 p.m. as the tournament continues.