Yellowjackets 76, Finlandia 63

SUPERIOR, Wis.: Friday marked the opening day of the 2018 Merrill Thompson Tip-Off Classic. The event, sponsored by National Bank of Commerce, is named after a longtime civic leader and educator who also had a lifelong passion for Yellowjacket basketball. This season marks the ninth year for the Merrill Thompson, and the Yellowjackets wanted to use the event to get their season off on the right foot.

The opening game of the day was a thriller, with UW-Stout defeating Lawrence 79-74 in overtime. The Yellowjackets followed that game with strong outing of their own and rolled past Finlandia 79-74 Friday at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.

Montroy Scott (Fridley, Minn./Columbia Heights) led the way for the Yellowjackets, posting a double-double, scoring 26 points while grabbing 16 rebounds. Mac Reykdal (Washburn, Wis./Washburn) also had a strong game, scoring 23 points.

Scott got the scoring started for the Yellowjackets, hitting a jumper in the paint 90 seconds into the game. The Yellowjackets built an early lead, and time and again the Lions would close the gap. The 'Jackets pushed the lead to as many as six (13-7) but the Lions went on a run midway through the first half, eventually taking a 17-16 lead with just under 10 minutes to play. Adam Arroyo (St. Paul, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran Academy) hit a layup seconds later to put the Yellowjackets back in front, but Finlandia answered with a three-pointer to go up two. Just over a minute later a Ronny Galvan (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Turner) layup gave the Yellowjackets the lead back. They would keep the edge until late when the Lions pulled in front 32-31 with 1:07 to play. Reykdal took it from there, hitting a pair of threes in the final minute and the 'Jackets went to the locker room with a 37-32 lead.

As was the case in the first half, Scott started the scoring in the second half, hitting an early layup to increase the Yellowjacket lead. Finlandia answered in a big way, scoring 10 points in just over two minutes to go up by three, 42-39. With just over five minutes gone in the half Andrew McGill (St. Germain, Wis./Lakeland Union) stole the ball and seconds later Scott hit a jumper to put the Yellowjackets up one, and they wouldn't look back from there. The Lions kept it close but weren't able to regain the lead, and in fact had a front row seat as the Yellowjackets pulled away.

Carter Brown (Eau Claire. Wis./Regis Catholic) hit a three-pointer with just over two minutes left, giving the Yellowjackets a double-digit lead for the first time in the game. Reykdal added a pair of free throws to make the lead 13, 72-59. Scott followed with four straight points to make it a 17-point game with just over a minute to play. The Yellowjackets rode it out from there, watching the final seconds tick off the clock with a comfortable 13-point lead.

McGill also hit double figures in scoring on the day, as he finished with 12 points. Galvan had six rebounds, the second-highest total among Yellowjackets.

Finlandia had four players score in double figures, led by Kevin Straih and Tyler Browner who had 13 points each.

Up Next: The Yellowjackets (1-0, 0-0 U.M.A.C.) will look to finish the 2018 Merrill Thompson Tip-Off Classic a perfect 2-0 when they take on Lawrence. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m. at The Mertz. The game can be heard live on 91.3 FM KUWS and be watched live through the iFan Sports Network.