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Routt boys basketball goes beyond North Mac | Jobs Vox

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Still trying to deal with the loss of a classmate, the Routt boys basketball team took the court for the first time in two weeks Wednesday afternoon and managed to edge North Mac 47-43 at Illinois College.

“You can’t measure how it affects the kids,” Routt coach Will Whalen said. “Of course, our hearts go out to the Peters family.”

It was Root’s first game in 12 days. That, in part, was responsible for the team’s performance Wednesday, but Whalen said it was difficult to gauge the emotional toll of a devastating week. It is clear that the players’ thoughts were elsewhere.

“The kids stayed together and were able to get the win,” the coach said.

Root shot poorly but still managed a 12-6 start that included a pair of Michael Wilson layups and a steal generated by the Rockets’ full-court press.

Wilson’s jumper to start the second quarter extended the Root lead to 14-6. But North Mac scored on five of its next five possessions in a 10-2 run that tied the score at 16-16. Isaac Long made a 3-pointer that gave the Rockets a 19-18 halftime lead.

“We took some shots that we normally go for and didn’t,” Whalen said. “It was just one of those games.”

North Mack led by seven points in the third quarter, eventually outscoring Routt 17-11 in the period for a 35-30 lead heading into the fourth. But the Rockets went back to their court press, forced some turnovers and regained the lead, outscoring North Mack 17-8 for the win. Raut made 8 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter. Nolan Killion and then Long each made two free throws to seal the win down the stretch.

“Our kids did what they had to do to win the game — make free throws, take care of the ball, and in the fourth quarter, we were able to turn them over a couple of times and defend,” Whalen said.

Wilson scored 18 points to lead the Rockets, who improved to 7-1.

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