By Bill Battle
Missourian Sports Editor
Picking up the pace in the third quarter, the Borgia basketball Knights won at home over Lutheran St. Charles, 60-46.
Borgia (3-2, 1-0) led 11-4 after one quarter and 30-26 at the intermission, but just couldn’t get the run necessary to pull away.
“We got into early foul trouble,” Borgia Head Coach Dave Neier said. “We had players sitting out. Casey Kuchem missed most of the second quarter. We had an exceptional third quarter. That was a big difference in the game right there.”
Borgia outscored Lutheran in the third quarter, 23-10, to take a 53-36 lead into the final quarter.
Borgia’s leading scorer was senior Jordan Miller, who closed the game with 22 points, five assists, three rebounds and a blocked shot.
“Jordan shot the ball very well and played good defense,” Neier said. “He came up with steals and deflections. He had a breakout game. He shot the ball extremely well (4-4 two-point baskets, 4-6 three-point baskets and 2-2 from the free-throw line) and did a lot of things to help the team.
Senior John Baumstark closed with 10 points. He also had four rebounds and two assists. Three of his rebounds were on the offensive end.
Junior Zach Schweissguth came off the bench and scored five of his seven points from the free-throw line.
“He was very aggressive going to the basket and that allowed him to get to the free-throw line,” Neier said.
Schweissguth added two rebounds.
Junior Joe Helfrich scored seven points with four rebounds and two assists.
Junior Adam Meyer had six points with one assist and a steal.
Kuchem, a senior, scored four points with eight rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
Senior River Filla scored three points with three rebounds and a steal.
Junior Collin Mantle ended with one point and one rebound.
Also playing were junior Kevin Birk (two rebounds), junior Parker DuMontier (one blocked shot) and sophomore Alex Moss.
“A lot of people contributed,” Neier said. “It was a good win for us.”
Kyle Graham led the Cougars with 15 points.
Will Brockmeier netted nine for Lutheran while Logan Kluesner scored seven, Casey Cameron and Sam Preusser each scored six and Justin James and Matt Seacrist scored two points apiece.
The Knights go on the road for an Archdiocesan Athletic Association Large Division game Wednesday at Bishop DuBourg in St. Louis. Freshman action starts the event at 4 p.m.
Borgia hosts Duchesne in a key league game Friday night. Junior varsity action is set for 5:30 p.m. That’s the final home game of 2012.
“Duchesne is really tough this year,” Neier said.
On Monday, the Knights play at St. Charles West. Junior varsity action starts at 6 p.m.
“We’ve got some good challenges coming up, that’s for sure,” Neier said.
