Defense down the stretch sparks Bishop Miege boys to victory

Whenever Andale looked to make a run in Wednesday’s Kansas Class 4A-Division I quarterfinal basketball game, Bishop Miege had an answer.

Miege used its quickness to force turnovers and get to the rim for baskets. The Stags hit shots, making 22 of 39.

And they knocked out fourth-seeded Andale with a 50-34 victory to advance to Friday’s 8:15 p.m. semifinal against top-seeded McPherson, 23-0, at the Salina Bicentennial Center.

“We’ve come a long way from five wins last year,” Miege coach Rick Zych said.

Jacob Meurer of Miege was especially effective, hitting seven of 10 shots for a team-high 14 points. Miege shot 22 of 39 as a team and held Andale to 13-of-50 shooting.

The Miege defense was especially impressive in the fourth quarter, when it held Andale to three points and no field goals during the game’s final seven minutes.

“Miege did a good job of getting a hand up in the face, finding shooters,” Andale coach Jeff Buchanan said.

The Stags had to deal with Andale junior Jeffery Ast inside. Ast, 6 feet 6, scored 11 points in the first half, but he didn’t score again. Miege also had six blocked shots.

“I thought our post player, Jacob Meurer, played a great game. We had a tough time covering (Ast). I think we hit some easy buckets late in the second half that catapulted us, gave us some energy. We hit some shots right before half that helped, too,” Zych said.

Andale made two straight baskets to get within 36-31 with 2:15 remaining in the third quarter, but Semaj Ray got a steal and scored in transition. Miege had a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, and never relinquished it.

Ray finished with 13 points, while Alston Jones had nine.

“They’re a good transition team that doesn’t let one thing on the defensive end slow them down,” Buchanan said. “They go right to the offensive end.”

This story was originally published March 11, 2015 at 10:54 PM with the headline "Defense down the stretch sparks Bishop Miege boys to victory."