SYCAMORE — Mohawk has won its first three games of the season. If the results so far are any indication, the Warriors will be a force to be reckoned with in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference.
Bucyrus is the first team in the conference to get up close and personal experience.
Mohawk (3-0, 1-0 N10) got 29 points from A.J. Hess as the Warriors rolled to a 79-45 win. Their first two wins were by 40 and 25-point margins.
“I told the kids before the game they’re probably a top 2-3 team in the league,” Bucyrus varsity assistant coach Brian Hargis said. “They’ve got one of the top players (Hess) in the league and he’s unselfish.”
Hess can afford to be unselfish with a stable of shooters surrounding him. Mohawk finished the night with seven 3-point shots, only one of which was by Hess.
Warriors coach Paul Dunn — who was honored pregame for his recent 100th win as Mohawk head coach — is well aware of his embarrassment of riches.
“We knew coming in that we would have the guard play and obviously inside out action to be able to attack them,” Dunn said.
Bucyrus (0-3, 0-1) scored consistently throughout the game but were unable to keep up due to turning the ball over and getting outrebounded, which resulted in the Warriors getting 30 more shot attempts.
“We knew they had shooters. The starting five all have the green light, with good reason,” Hargis said. “They run their sets well, end of quarter, beginning of quarter.
“We just came off 29 (turnovers) at Vanlue and we’re a poor shooting team,” he added. “It’s a recipe for a 30–35-point loss.”
Mohawk eased put to a 20-11 lead after one and held a 38-22 advantage at intermission. Dunn thought his team was a little complacent and a step slow to begin the game but was happy with the shot discrepancy.
“That’s one of our goals, to out-attempt the other team,” Dunn said. “We want to make sure they’re good ones. I thought we did a good job of turning the pressure up and forcing them into rushed shots at the least.”
The Warriors erased any doubt when they scored on their first four possessions of the second half. The Redmen got just a 3 from Malachi Bayless and the lead ballooned to 47-25.
Bucyrus was hampered by early foul trouble for post Noah Burke. It left the Redmen at even more disadvantage considering the Warriors’ size.
“I took a chance putting him on Hess,” Hargis said. “It’s a length thing, getting him to shoot over Noah. He picked up the two (fouls in the first quarter). I took a chance in the second putting him in. He picked up his third. But I was just trying to keep it close as long as possible.”
Bayless was one bright spot for the Redmen offensively, though Mohawk made him work for his points. Bayless led Bucyrus with 13 points, including three 3s.
“We knew coming in that he’s a really good player,” Dunn said of Bayless. “He’s the straw that stirs the drink over there. We lost him a few times and a couple times he was out there 25-26 feet. It’s a tough shot. If he makes that, you tip your hat to him.”
Besides Hess’ 29 points, the Warriors got 15 points each from Brayden Chester and Boomer Cleveland and Hunter Haynes added 10. Hess grabbed 11 rebounds, five were offensive.
“We have so many guys who can get off the dribble and get by their guys,” Dunn said. “That puts so much pressure on the defense. When we get that, we’re a really tough team to guard.”
Blayne Barto supported Bayless’ 13 with 10 points for the Redmen. Burke had seven boards.
“When we get down, it’s every man for himself, sometimes,” Hargis said. “That’s the frustrating part right now. But I’m proud of them. They didn’t quit. They played hard to the end. That’s all I could ask.”
Mohawk also won the junior varsity game, 40-26. H. Parker scored 17 for the Warriors. Georgie Floyd led Bucyrus with nine.
Box score
Bucyrus 11 11 11 12 — 45
Mohawk 20 18 22 19 — 79
Bucyrus (0-3, 0-1 N10): Shots 15-37; 3-pt. shots 7 (Malachi Bayless 3, Tyson O’Brien 2, Blayne Barto, Dylan Coppler); Free throws 8-16; Rebounds 27 (Noah Burke 7); Turnovers 25. Scoring: Tyson O’Brien 2 0 6, Blayne Barto 2 5 10, Noah Burke 2 1 5, Kameron Lewis 1 0 2, Jackson Farrar 2 1 5, Dylan Coppler 1 1 4, Malachi Bayless 5 0 13.
Mohawk (3-0, 1-0 N10): Shots 30-67; 3-pt. shots 7-20 (Brayden Chester 3, Hunter Haynes 2, Boomer Cleveland, A.J. Hess); Free throws 12-15; Rebounds 37 (A.J. Hess 11); Turnovers 8. Scoring: Boomer Cleveland 5 4 15, Hunter Haynes 4 0 10, A.J. Hess 12 4 29, Connor Flood 0 2 2, Bryce Hannam 3 2 8, Brayden Chester 6 0 15.
JV: Mohawk 40-26.