Muhls’ Kyle Archie looking to get his hands on a trophy or two (or three)
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NEFFSVILLE — Muhlenberg won four playoff games last year and reached the second round of the PIAA Class 5A Tournament but when the season was over Kyle Archie felt empty-handed.
“I’ve been playing high school (basketball) for the last three years and I didn’t win nothin’ yet,” said the 6-4 senior. “That’s my biggest goal; that’s my motivation. I want to win a county championship, a district championship, a state championship. I just need something.”
Archie got a little something Saturday night: A spot on the all-tournament team at the Manheim Township Tip-Off Tournament and a small plaque.
“It’s definitely a little accomplish,” he said of his first such honor, “but I wish we would’ve got the main trophy.”
That went to Central Dauphin, which was holding on for dear life at the end. The Muhls, once down by as many as 11 points, made a big fourth-quarter push but came up short, losing 59-56 in the championship game.
Archie fueled that comeback with a team-high 16 points, a game-high 10 rebounds and four steals.
His biggest play came with 30 seconds left when he pressured the ball at midcourt and forced an over-and-back violation.
That gave the Muhls the ball with a chance to tie it and send it into overtime.
Down three, they worked for the last shot but couldn’t get a good one. Alex Collado forced up a 3 from the left wing with a couple seconds left but it was off the mark.
“We were right there,” said Muhlenberg coach Matt Flowers. “We had opportunities to win this game, and we didn’t value the ball.
“We didn’t get on the defensive glass. They had way too many offensive rebounds. We’re gonna learn from it and we’re gonna grow.”
The Muhls (1-1) made a ton of mistakes: There were defensive breakdowns leading to easy baskets; a failure to keep the Rams (2-0) off the offensive glass; what really did them in was their inability to take care of the basketball.
They had more turnovers (25) than baskets (21). That led to Central Dauphin taking 18 more shots. It’s hard to overcome a number like that.
“We’ve gotta fix those things, and move on,” Archie said.
They Muhls couldn’t find a way to contain tournament MVP Wayne Fletcher II, at least not through the first three quarters when he got to the foul line a dozen times and scored all of his game-high 25 points.
Fletcher didn’t score in the final quarter and the Muhls tightened up their defense. They gave themselves a chance by forcing eight turnovers over the last eight minutes. They were able to close within 57-56 with 1:39 left after a pair of free throws by Alex Collado but they didn’t score on their final two possessions.
There were positives, though. Shemar Killen was a spark off the bench, with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Michael Miller knocked down some early 3’s. And the Muhls have plenty of depth; Flowers went nine deep without any discernible drop-off.
And then there was Archie, who looks like a different player from a year ago. He was aggressive around the basket and on defense and played with poise and discipline on offense.
“He’s (playing much) more loose now,” said Collado, a senior classmate. “He’s playing like himself.”
Archie knew as soon as last season ended that it was his time to step up.
“We lost eight seniors,” he said. “We lost our top scorers, Dan Dan (Mosquera) and ‘X’ (Xzavion Robertson), so somebody else has to do it. Mike (Miller) and ‘Lefty’ (Collado) can do it, but I know I can do it, too.”
Archie didn’t show much on the offensive side last season, when he averaged 3.6 points. He played in all 29 games but topped double figures just twice.
He topped his career high when he scored 18 Friday in a 75-58 win over Manheim Township and nearly matched it again Saturday.
“He’s working on his craft,” Flowers said. “He’s getting stronger, he’s getting faster. He’s more mature. And he understands his purpose. The more he understands his purpose, the better off he is.”
“Once we lost in states, the next week he was already in the gym, 5 a.m.,” Collado said. “He was working, working, working, waiting for this moment.”
Archie said he sharpened his game in the offseason by playing with the PMT Warriors and teaming up with the likes of Berks Catholic’s Josh McKoy and Exeter’s Reece Garvin.
“It was definitely good (for me),” he said. “The practices were real competitive; the tournaments were real competitive.”
Archie raised his game; his goal is raise his team’s, as well.
“As soon as last season ended he said: ‘Coach, I’m hungry, I want to win,’ ” Flowers said. “He took that leadership role. He’s showing it on the court, he’s showing it in the classroom. He’s uplifting the guys; he’s loving the guys. He’s playing phenomenal.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Central Dauphin | 17 | 16 | 21 | 5 | 59 |
| Muhlenberg | 15 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 56 |
| Rams (2-0) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Easter | 6-10 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 7 | 13 |
| Fletcher | 7-21 | 9-12 | 2-9 | 0 | 1 | 25 |
| Fried | 2-9 | 2-4 | 0-2 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Chase | 3-4 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Franz | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Sh. Starling | 2-8 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Sy. Starling | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cofield | 2-7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| Bridges | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 22-64 | 11-16 | 2-16 | 5 | 32/37 | 59 |
Turnovers: 17. Team rebounds: 5.
| Muhls (2-0) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Kantner | 1-3 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Archie | 5-8 | 5-7 | 1-1 | 1 | 10 | 16 |
| Miller | 3-7 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| A Collado | 2-9 | 2-2 | 0-5 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| J Collado | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| LeClair | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 5 | 24 |
| Marte | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Zabala | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Totals | 21-46 | 11-14 | 3-13 | 9 | 36/37 | 56 |
Turnovers: 25. Team rebounds: 1.
