All-State candidate Markus Burton fired in 31 points and the No. 6-ranked Penn Kingsmen stormed to the Class 4-A Elkhart Sectional Championship, 68-44, against Concord on Saturday, March 5, 2022.
The Kingsmen cut down the nets for the 17th time in program history. The Sectional crown is Penn’s first since 2019.
Saturday’s Championship was also the 17th in Coach Al Rhodes’ career. Rhodes, who coached Warsaw to the 1984 State Championship, is 664-317 in 41 seasons overall and 210-125 in 14 seasons at Penn.
Penn advances to the Michigan City Regional. The Kingsmen (23-2) play Munster (22-4) at approximately 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 12. The first game pits South Bend Adams (14-12) against Chesterton (26-0) at 11 a.m. ET. The Regional Championship is slated for 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 12, at Michigan City.
Burton, a 6-foot-0 Junior Point Guard, also battled for 14 rebounds, dished out five assists and made three steals.
Joe Smith scored 12 points – including 5-of-5 free throws – and dished out three assists.
Trey Miller scored eight points.
PENN 68: Joey Garwood 3, Markus Burton 31, Ethan Good 0, Joe Smith 12, Dominic Bonner 3, Trey Miller 8, Josh Gatete 5, Dylan Derda 3, Mason Wilson 0, Blake Barker 3, Elijah Benson 0, Cole Wojciechowski 0.
Concord 44: Jack D’Arcy 6, Jesse Davidson 5, Thomas Wurtsbaugh 0, Andres Dixon 11, Malachi Emmons 8, Kaniel Cole 3, Amarion Moore 3, Thomas Burkert 0, Anthony Trudell 0, Zaven Koltookian 6, Javarion Sheppard 0, Ethan Kavanagh 0, Nathan Schoenherr 2, Mekhi Hall 0.
PENN 22 16 9 21 – 68
Concord 11 5 13 15 – 44
Three-pointers: PENN 6 (Markus Burton 2, Joey Garwood 1, Joe Smith 1, Dominic Bonner 1, Trey Miller 1); Concord 6 (Jack D’Arcy 2, Andres Dixon 2, Jesse Davidson 1, Kaniel Cole 1).
