Cretin-Derham Hall forward Chris Perry added 15 points to aid in the Raiders' 68-59 victory over Mounds View. Photo by Kelly McGinley.

Perhaps the only part of Daniel Oturu bigger than his 7-foot-2 wingspan is his smile on the basketball court.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore forward couldn't help but crack a grin after he led Cretin-Derham Hall over Suburban East Conference rival Mounds View in front of a raucous Mustangs home crowd.

"It was a great environment," Oturu said after scoring 17 points in the win. "It was a good win for us to keep the top (spot) in the conference."

The Raiders (17-5, 12-1) employed a stifling defense and electric ball movement in the 68-59 victory, holding Mounds View (19-4, 11-3) scoreless for the first 6 minutes, 35 seconds of the game.

Oturu, who leads Cretin-Derham Hall in scoring at 16.9 points per game, said the aggressive defense was the key factor in the Raiders' scoring.

"We just buckled down on defense and decided the way we're going to score is by playing defense and getting transition points," Oturu said.

The solid defense also helped in the rowdy environment.

Cretin-Derham Hall's home gym is a massive complex with three courts and cathedral-high ceilings, a far cry from the almost claustrophobic feel of the Mustangs' single court.

"It's not that loud in our gym, unless we get it packed," Raiders senior forward Chris Perry said. "It was kind of noisy, but we're used to it."

"This has a little 'Hoosiers' feel to it," Cretin-Derham Hall coach Jerry Kline Jr. said, referencing the 1986 movie about small-town high school basketball in Indiana.

"I love coming here," Kline said. "It's a lot of fun."

Kline's animated nature on the bench provided playful fodder for the Mounds View student section, but he attributes his antics to a love for the game.

"We talk about passion (and we) just want to bring it every night," Kline said.

The Raiders have just two seniors on the roster, and though the combination of youth and excitement could lead to over-enthusiasm, Kline said that his team's commitment to the program's philosophy helps balance the emotional and intellectual aspects of the game.

"The guys believe," Kline said. "Each possession, we have to value it, and defensively be aggressive and stay attentive."

First Report

Sophomore forward Daniel Oturu scored 17 points and senior forward Chris Perry added 15 to lead Cretin-Derham Hall to a 68-59 road win over Suburban East Conference rival Mounds View on Tuesday.

The Raiders (17-5, 12-1) held the Mustangs (19-4, 11-3) scoreless until the 11:25 mark of the first half, using an aggressive and fast-paced defense to limit Mounds View's shot opportunities and force several turnovers.

Despite the loss, Mustangs senior guard Nate Albers scored a game-high 27 points while surpassing the 1,000-career point mark midway through the second half.

Senior guard Zeke Thompson added 16 points for Mounds View in the loss.

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