Now that's a good start for St. Francis

Way to open the season, Brian McMahon.

The Spartans senior scored a career-high 30 points in Wednesday's 67-45 win against the Eagles on the first day of the Ken Peddy Windmill City Classic at Batavia.

"He's the key to our success," Spartans coach Shawn Healy said. "He's our main returner, phenomenal athlete, captain of our team. We are going to go with Brian. He is going to lead us wherever we go."

"It's a great feeling," McMahon said of his career high. "The whole team played well together. It's just good to get the first (win) off your shoulders."

McMahon did the majority of the damage in the third quarter, when the Spartans outscored the Eagles 23-9.

His teammate, Dan McCoy, however, was also a difference-maker, as the senior scored the first 11 points of the quarter. He used three 3-pointers and a basket to convincingly push the Spartans ahead by double digits for the first time all game.

"(McCoy) works so hard, he's such a streaky shooter when he's on," Healy said. "Another great thing about Dan is if you watch him play, he moves so well. He really cuts hard. He gets good looks because he moves well with out the basketball."

McMahon then took over with the next 4 points. When the 15-0 run was complete, St. Francis led 37-18 with 3:07 left in the third.

Aurora Christian attempted a run at the start of the fourth, when three players contributed a 7-0 run to cut the Spartans' lead to 45-34 with 6:12 remaining in the game.

"I thought we could maybe get it back, but then maybe we'd foul them or they'd hit a (3-pointer)," said Aurora Christian coach Don Davidson, whose Eagles led all of the first quarter. "I was pleased with the comeback we made."

The Spartans, however, scored the next 3 points and never let their lead slip under double digits.

In addition to McMahon, McCoy finished with 16 points, along with Bob Vonderhaar's 11 points.

The Eagles were led by Phil Rutherford off the bench. He finished with 15 points, all off 3-pointers. Starter Travis Cleveland added 10 points and 8 rebounds in his first varsity game.