Edwin Suarez, Muhls, too much for Eagles in Berks I-II crossover battle

Too much Edwin Suarez. That was the story of Muhlenberg’s 76-53 Berks Conference crossover win Monday after against visiting Exeter.

The All-Berks center took it to a new level, scoring a career-high 32 points and putting on a show in the final quarter as the Berks II-leading Muhls (5-1, 11-3) bounced back from a bad defeat Saturday against Nativity.

Two days after allowing 82 points the Muhls turned things around after a slow start, holding the Eagles to nine points over the final 12 1/2 minutes of the first half to take command.

“They came out here and played defense,” said Muhlenberg coach Matt Flowers. “From the middle of the second (quarter) to the end of the game they were just flying all over the place, and they were really fun to watch, and fun to be a part of. After Saturday, we talked about our effort. The effort showed today.”

The Muhls allowed 48 points in the first half of the 82-72 loss to Nativity. That upset Flowers, a defense-first coach.

“We’re definitely not used to giving up 80 points,” Flowers said. “I think they had a hangover from the day before (a 55-47 comeback victory over Gov. Mifflin). “I’m glad they were able to bounce back tonight. That was a huge win for us, and to do it by almost 30 points is phenomenal.”

The Muhls led by 28 with two minutes left when Suarez, who made 12-of-13 free throws, came out of the game.

The 6-6 center dominated the second half, scoring 22 points. He was impressive handling the ball at the end, working out of the spread. Twice he beat his defender and drove for baskets, the second a dunk.

It was a defensive play by Suarez, midway through the second quarter, that really ignited the Muhls. He picked off a pass at the top of the key and went the length of the floor for a dunk.

“That was huge play for us,” said Flowers. “That was exactly what we needed.”

The Muhls started slowly, trailing 12-6 midway through the first quarter after Teddy Snyder hit a 3-pointer and Colin Payne followed with a pair of free throws. A minute later Payne, the league’s leading scorer entering the game, drew his third foul and went to the bench. With him sitting Muhlenberg scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 16-14 lead into the second period.

Payne returned early in the second quarter and the Eagles tied it at 19 on Snyder’s 3-pointer. After that it was a different story. The Muhls went on an 18-2 run to end the quarter and build a 16-point halftime lead. Midway through that run Payne picked up his fourth personal and left the game again.

Exeter never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Luis Valentine hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 14 for Muhlenberg. Payne finished with 15 points for Exeter; Anthony Caccese had 13 and Snyder 12.

“We played phenomenally,” Flowers said. “I thought overall as a team we coached well, we played well and the kids had fun.”