The three-time defending Class D1 state champion Eagles made a statement in the first game with Coach Garrison Dodge at the helm. Despite losing four starters from last year’s state title team, the Eagles looked ready to make another run after opening the season with a 59-33 road win over Lincoln Christian.
Sophomore Deacon Bernadt led the Eagles with 16-point on 7-of-12 shooting in his career start, while returning starter Brody Koehler poured in another 14. The duo’s hot start forced the Crusader defense to focus on stopping the pair, opening shots for other Eagles including Justin Meyer, who knocked down four threes on 10 attempts to finish with 12 points.
Johnson-Brock crashed the boards hard, hauling in 34 team rebounds, exactly half of which were on the offensive end. Quentin Behrends led the team in rebounds with 8, while Bernadt and Hayden Gravatt each brought in 7 boards, leading to the season-opening win for Johnson-Brock.
