Aurora Central shoots Montini into submission

Montini opened up its boys basketball season by taking the first lead of the game against Aurora Central Catholic.

But it would be the only deficit the Chargers would face as Brett Czerak drained a 3-pointer on the ensuing trip.

The work 'harbinger' is perhaps most apt to describe what transpired over the next three-plus quarters at the Burney Wilkie Classic, hosted by Aurora Christian.

ACC drained 16 3-pointers during the course of its 81-45 blowout win Wednesday night in Aurora.

ACC post Mario May even got into the act by converting his only attempt, midway through the third quarter.

But it was his play in the paint in the opening half that established the Chargers' game-long hegemony.

May grabbed 8 first-half defensive rebounds, and the Chargers had 14-0 runs in the first two quarters to snare a 36-16 lead at halftime.

"(May) is the one who allowed us to run out like we did," ACC coach Nate Drye said. "We got a lot of points in transition because he can board. He dominated the glass."

May, who finished with 8 points, claimed a game-high 12 rebounds in roughly 18 minutes of playing time.

"I feel that's where I can help the team out," May said. "We wanted to start fast early and keep the foot on the gas pedal the whole game."

Mac Cowen hit four 3-pointers in the second quarter alone; it would constitute his entire 12-point output.

Czerak then duplicated the Cowen feat of single-handedly outscoring the entire Montini team in the third quarter.

The Chargers (1-1) unleashed a barrage against the Broncos (0-1) that left the nets smoldering.

Erupting for 29 points in the quarter, Czerak, who finished with a game-high 23 points, hit three of his five 3-pointers in the third.

Evan Schuetz was almost as effective for ACC, augmenting the 12 points Czerak scored in the third with nine of his own.

May followed his 3-pointer with a 3-point play, exiting the game for the final time with 10-plus minutes remaining.

"Coach lets me shoot (3-pointers) if I'm open," May said.

"They start out shooting 3s from the get-go," Montini coach Brian Opoka said of the Chargers' onslaught. "We came out with energy. But when they got confidence (from beyond the arc), they started rolling."

"One of the strengths of our team is perimeter shooting," Drye said.

Schuetz finished with 22 points for ACC.

The outcome was long decided when reserves Kyle Czerak, Luis Samano and David Rios accounted for the Chargers' final four 3-pointers.

Mike Mooney had almost half the Broncos' field-goal output in scoring a team-high 17 points.