Howard, Heald, Mulnix help Rockets finish strong in senior night win

ROCK FALLS — In a Big Northern Conference matchup on senior night, it was only fitting who stole the show for Rock Falls.

Led by seniors Ryken Howard (21 points), Kuitim Heald (21) and Cole Mulnix (14), the Rockets finished strong in a 63-56 win over Winnebago on Tuesday night.

The Rockets (17-6, 5-1 BNC) outscored the Indians (8-15, 3-3) 21-12 in the fourth quarter to win a sixth straight game.

Austin Castaneda scored four points and Neo Menendez had three as all of Rock Falls' points were scored by seniors in the victory.

Howard thought the team did not play its best in the first half. The Rockets had nine turnovers at the break and trailed 27-23. Howard helped keep the game close for the Rockets, however, scoring 13 points in the first half and making all four of his shots in the second quarter.

“We just played as a team, passed the ball more, executed our offense and the points came,” he said of the second half. “The stops came.”

Rock Falls chipped away at the Winnebago lead and the offense found its rhythm with a 19-17 advantage in the second quarter. Heald then caught fire to start the fourth, hitting three straight 3-pointers as the Rockets took a 51-46 lead with six minutes left.

Heald said the team stepped up on both ends of the court.

“I think we just stepped it up on defense,” he said, “and we just turned up the energy.”

Brody Larson led the Indians with 22 points, hitting five-pointers, but he was held to just three points in the fourth quarter. Bryant Beck added 17 off the bench for Winnebago.

Rock Falls coach Zach Sandrock said the team was able to get in transition to help close out the win.

“[We] maybe took advantage of some tired legs on the other side,” he said. “I thought we started taking care of the ball a little bit better down the stretch.”

He said the team also got some key rebounds, made the easy plays and did a good job contesting shots. Mulnix led the team with eight rebounds.

“I think Cole Mulnix had some big boards and a couple big buckets there,” Sandrock said. “Those two guys I think kept us in that game when we were kind of loose with the ball and not quite playing up to our standard. Ryken’s aggressiveness was huge for us tonight. It not only kept us in the game early, but helped us distance ourselves at the end.”

Heald scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to help put the game away.

“Tim was cold in the first half,” Sandrock said. “When he gets hot, watch out. Those shots were big-time shots at critical points of the game.”

Sandrock was also pleased to get all nine of the team’s seniors into the game on senior night.

“It was nice to see those guys get in and play their roles,” he said, “and get a couple good stops off the bench from those seniors.”

Heald said the senior class has been playing together since they were little kids.

“The chemistry is there,” he said. “I love all my guys.”

Howard said the team’s seniors also help coach each other.

“Everyone on our team can help each other out and just make each other better, and I think we do that well as a team in practice and games,” he said. “That really just helps us and makes us better overall.”