Golike, Cam Jones Lead Explorers With 19 Points Each, Explorers Win At Father McGivney 59-23

Marquette Catholic secures 59-23 victory with strong defense and balanced scoring, strengthening their position in Gateway Metro Conference standings.

Colin Feeney, Contributing Sports Writer

Feb 7, 2026 9:42 AM

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GLEN CARBON - Cam Golike and Cameron Jones both led Marquette Catholic with 19 points apiece as the Explorers raced out to a 13-3 first-quarter lead, and were never headed as Marquette took a 59-23 Gateway Metro Conference boys basketball win over Father McGivney Catholic Friday night, Feb. 6, 2026, at Father McGivney.

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The Explorers led the Griffins at the half, 38-15, and kept the advantage all the way through, dictating the play from the opening tip in going to 6-0 in the league. For Marquette, it was a big step toward cinching the league championship.

"I just want our kids to play with a great effort," said Marquette head coach Steve Medford, "and play on the defensive end. As long as we execute on the defensive end and rebound the basketball, we're going to be in every game. Our kids are really doing a good job of that.

"I think what's kind of different from last time to this time is that we've got a little more activity in our full-court press, and we're getting some opportunities off our defense to convert into offense. And so, our guys are doing a great job, I love how we're progressing, and hopefully, we just get a little bit better over these next two or three weeks, and be ready for the regionals.

The IHSA Class 2A playoffs are indeed coming soon to high school gyms across the state, and Medford knows that his club will be ready to go.

"Absolutely," Medford said. "I think that's what we all play for, and I don't think one game or two games define your season. We have had a great season, and I don't want our kids to look back on this season. We have won the Columbia tournament, and we won a lot of great games, and our kids have gotten better. We're 18-5. I just love the way they're progressing, and have bought into it. The kids we have in our program are kids who work really hard, and they deserve this."

It's Medford's second tour of duty as the Explorers' head coach, and he's been enjoying his return to the sidelines.

"It feels good," Medford said. "I've got some really good kids. I've got a good player like Chase (Jones), and Cam, and our young kids who really love the game of basketball. I was very fortunate the first time being around here. I got to coach a lot of kids who love the game of basketball, and I have a lot of kids right now who love the game of basketball. That's what makes it a lot of fun for me."

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Medford does indeed feel very confident about the Explorers' chances when the postseason starts.

"I think we've got a real legitimate chance to make a deep run," Coach Medford said. "I don't think there's anybody that's going to be knocking on our door to play us come regional time, in the regional championship. or even the sectionals, for that matter. We're a big team, we've got a lot of guys, we've got a lot of weapons that can score the basketball, and we're getting better."

It was one of those nights where things didn't go right at all for the Griffins, but McGivney did play hard for the entire game, hung in, and never surrendered.

"I thought our kids battled until the end," said Griffins head coach Cory Clouser. "Marquette's a very good, physical team; they got on us early, dictated what we had to do a little bit, and kind of had to zone them, because of their size. They played well tonight. They hit open shots. We couldn't get going offensively."

Carson Jones, Golike, and Chase Jones all hit in the opening minutes to give the Explorers an early 6-0 lead, but the lead was halved by a three from Hayden Apotheker. As things turned out, it would be the only points the Griffins would score in the quarter as Marquette, led by Golike, Cam Jones, and Chase Jones, went on a 7-0 run to end the quarter and take a 13-3 lead at quarter time. At the start of the second quarter, a three-pointer and free throws from Chase Jones helped increase the advantage to 20-5.

Baskets by Will Rakers and Owen Kolesa did cut into the Explorers' lead to 23-9, but a basket by Chase Jones, and back-to-back threes from Jack Rea increased the lead to 31-9, with the Explorers going ahead at the interval 38-15.

Cam and Chase Jones both scored to open the second half, making the score 42-15, and a late basket made the score after three quarters 54-23, which triggered the fourth quarter running clock rule. The final score became 59-23 in favor of Marquette.

To go along with Golike and Jones' 19 points each, the Explorers saw Rea having eight points, James Sehorn scoring six points, Chase Jones had five points, and Carson Jones came up with two points. Chase Jansen led the Griffins with nine points, while Rakers scored seven points, Apotheker hit for three points, and both Brendan Kayser and Kolesa had two points each.

Marquette is now 18-5 and hosts Duchesne Catholic of St. Charles, Mo., on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., then is at Metro-East Lutheran Tuesday night, then hosts Calhoun Wednesday night, with both games starting at 7:30 p.m.

Dan Brannan also contributed to this story.