Metro Sports Report

Brawner-Henley leads Mustangs in romp

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Mount Mercy men's basketball team opened the 2018-19 campaign in style Thursday night.

Mychael Brawner-Henley poured in 30 points and the Mustangs broke their school record with 22 3-pointers in a 107-84 victory over La Crosse at the Beggs Sr. Gymnasium.

Brawner-Henley shot 7-for-8 on 3-pointers and finished 11-for-12 overall from the field in a near-flawless performance.

Dennis McKinney made four 3-pointers and scored 22 points for the Mustangs. He also dished out eight assists.

Antwain Strong hit three triples and finished with 18 points and five assists. Emilio Villagrana made three 3-pointers, while Mohammed Albagami and Bailey Basala hit two apiece. Joseph Kehinde made one triple.

The former school record for most 3-pointers in a single game was 18 in 2000.

'New' Eagles begin year ranked No. 5

Bryan Petersen thought he'd have lots of experienced guards on the Kirkwood men's basketball team this season, but then the exodus began.

Bailey Kale left the team a year early to pursue a music career. Tajen Ross quit to pursue a modeling career. Jay Small transferred to a school closer to home so he could play basketball AND golf at the collegiate level. LJ Stansbury and Semaj Raj left for schools closer to their homes as well.

That stripped the Eagles of five guards and 29.1 points and left them with no experience in the backcourt, unless you count Traivon Washington, who got into three games last season before red-shirting.

Petersen is entering his sixth year at Kirkwood with a 126-34 record and one national title, but it's the first time he's starting a new year with a brand-new backcourt.

"That's been unique," he said. "To be honest, I'm a little bit more concerned because of that."

Mustangs rally for tourney victory

The Mount Mercy women's volleyball team refused to let its season come to an end on its own floor Wednesday night.

The Mustangs rallied for a 3-2 victory over Missouri Valley in the first round of the Heart of America Conference tournament at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mount Mercy (20-13) will vist 21st-ranked Central Methodist (28-5) in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament Saturday at 11 a.m.

Missouri Valley won the first two sets 25-23, 25-21, but the Mustangs stormed back in the face of elimination to win the next three sets 27-25, 25-17 and 15-5.

Mustangs aiming for NAIA tourney again

The Mount Mercy men's basketball team played in the NAIA national tournament in 2016 and 2017, but the Mustangs failed to qualify for the tournament last season and finished with a 15-16 record.

That stunk.

"They've tasted success. So last year is supposed to stink," said Coach Aaron Jennings. "You're supposed to say, 'That's not the way things are supposed to be done here. Let's put in the work and let's get this turned around.'

"I'm coaching this year with the expectation that's happening," he said. "I'm excited to get going."

Mount Mercy has plenty of experience on the club and there's a strong senior class that's been bolstered by talented newcomers, giving Jennings lots of options heading into the season opener Thursday night at Viterbo.

"We're going to play fast, we're going to create tempo," he said, anxious to begin the season.

The Mustangs averaged 81.7 points last seasson but allowed 81.5, which led to their so-so campaign. This year Jennings would like to average 87 or 88 per game, but allow only 77 for a healthy 10-point advantage.