Boys Basketball: Class AA Uncertainty
It was week that showed that the Class AA race in boys basketball is very uncertain (save #2 Goodhue).
Gophers Top East Co-leader Cotter, Albert Lea to Win Sixth Straight
Chatfield’s boys continued to roll. On Monday, they notched a win over TRC-East leader Cotter/Hope Lutheran (4-0, 11-2), a team that had been ranked #6 in the January 5 A.P. poll. Jerremy McBroom’s group used its defense to subdue the Ramblers. Cotter shot 35% (22 of 63) and the Gophers blocked seven shots. Chatfield led 34-27 at halftime, went inside for several buckets mid-second-half, including four by 6’3” sophomore Brooks Lea. Kash McBroom had key three, Chatfield’s only deep make of the stanza, to turn a 53-47 lead into a 56-47 edge (3:00). The Gophers built their largest lead of the game (62-50) in the final two minutes and prevailed 67-57. Junior Ross Stoehr (23 pts, 8-12 FGs, 3-6 threes, 4-6 FTs, 6 rebs) continued his strong play. The Gophers other four starters, Lea (12 pts, 6-9 FGs, 6 rebs), Carson Harstad (11 pts, 9 rebs, 4 stls, 3 blks), K-McBroom (9 pts, 6 rebs), and Brandt McBroom (6 pts, 5 rebs, 8 asts) also did work. While Cotter/HL struggled to shoot, Chatfield was 28 of 59 (48%). The Gophers then took care of Albert Lea in non-conference action, 77-57. Harstad (29 pts, 4-9 threes, 10 rebs, 7 stls) led the way. Stoehr (18 pts, 7-12 FGs, 5 rebs) and B-McBroom (16 pts, 4-7 threes, 7 rebs) also hit double figures. Chatfield shot 47% (10 of 21) both from deep and the field (29 of 61). The Gophers (5-2, 9-6) have won six in a row, trail L-A (6-1, 10-2) atop the TRC-West race.
Warriors Rally to Beat D-E, Fall to Lewiston-Altura
Caledonia, which has been ranked, had an up-and-down TRC week. At Dover-Eyota, the Eagles led 21-11 early. The Warriors, down senior starter Aaron Stemper, struggled to shoot (7 of 32) but trailed just 33-31 at intermission. Cal was 16 of 18 at the free throw line in the stanza though. Brad King’s group was 9 of 45 from the field six minutes into the second half, trailing 40-37. They then hit 11 of 12 shots, which helped to build a 64-56 lead. Cal sophomore Grant King was massive. He scored 12 points in a four-minute span in the second half, had a trio of three-point plays, scored 25 points in the stanza, and 37 for the game with 7 boards and 6 assists. The Warriors got the win 80-68. They outscored D-E 49-35 in the second half, hit 23 of 28 free throws (82%) to the Eagles’ 12 of 18 (67%). Coby Hammell added a double-double (12 pts, 13 rebs). Colin Stemper (11 pts) and Griffin Gantenbein (8 pts) helped. D-E was led by Mat Matejka (22 points). The East co-leading Warriors (5-1, 8-4) then hosted TRC-West leading Lewiston-Altura (5-1, 9-2). Caledonia fought from behind most of the game. They trailed 34-27 at the half but took a momentary 57-55 lead with around 6:00 left. But the Warriors went 2 of 11 at the free throw line in the second half and 3 of 16 for the game (19%). The Cardinals also hit eight threes to the Cal’s’ four, crazily did not have a second half turnover, and ended the game hitting 9 of 12 shots. L-A prevailed 74-67. Hammell (18 pts, 9 rebs) and King (15 pts, 9 rebs, 4 asts) led the Warriors. C-Stemper and Gantenbein each added 8 points. L-A got five into double figures, Seth Lubinski (17 pts, 8 rebs), Tyson Prigge (16 pts, 7 asts, 6 stls), Payton Buytaert (15 pts), Gavin Bambenek (14 pts, 5 rebs), and Cole Kennedy (11 pts, 5 rebs, 8 asts).
Trojans Smack St. Charles for Eighth Straight Win, Fall to Matejka and D-E 98-91
Rushford-Peterson’s boys have gotten votes for being ranked in Class AA. They started the week handling St. Charles 85-68. The Saints were just two games removed from beating Caledonia 63-61. It was R-P’s eighth straight win. Forwards Carson Johnson (27 pts, 11-15 FGs, 5-6 FTs, 9 rebs, 4 asts) and Landon Dahl (20 pts, 9-14 FGs, 9 rebs) led the way on “O.” Cayden Lea (12 pts, 5-6 FTs, 9 rebs, 8 asts) had a big all-around game. Will LaFleur (14 pts, 5 asts) and Cole Thompson (9 pts, 3-6 threes) helped. R-P shot 51% (33 of 65) from the field and 75% (12 of 16) from the line with just eight turnovers. Mat Matejka then put on an epic performance as Dover-Eyota took down the Trojans 98-91. Matejka scored 50 points including hitting 8 of 11 threes. The Eagles as a team absurdly made 15 of 21 from deep (71%). Yet, R-P cut a 12-point deficit with 5:03 left to two twice in the final three minutes. But the game was sealed on a rare moment. After the Trojans Lea hit a three to make it 91-89 with 0:40 left, an attempt at a delay of game (to set a defense) turned into a technical foul on R-P, as the ball was thrown into the stands (versus simply disrupted). D-E hit three of four free throws to make it 94-89. They prevailed 99-91. Lea scored 31 points (3-10 threes, 8-10 FTs, 5 asts) to lead R-P. LaFleur added 20 points (4-11 threes, 8 rebs), 17 in the second half. Johnson (13 pts, 4-5 FTs, 7 rebs, 7 asts), Jaxson Meldahl (9 pts), and Brode Vickerman (8 pts) helped. Luke Meyers added 25 for D-E (9-10 FTs). The Eagles were 29 of 38 from the line (75%), R-P 12 of 15 (80%).
Three Rivers Conference Boys Basketball (1/12 & 1/15)
Fillmore Central 53, Wabasha-Kellogg 68 (FC: Bridon Bahl 16 pts, 5 rebs; Logan Illg 12 pts (5-9 FGs), 4 asts; Clayton Schoepski 11 pts, 5 rebs; Adrian Rindels 8 pts, 10 rebs, 4 asts. FC trailed 33-19 at the half, got within 41-39 in the second half. Threes: FC 4 of 15 (27%), W-K 10 of 26 (39%))
PEM 73, Fillmore Central 30 (FC: B. Bahl 10 pts, 6 rebs; C. Schoepski 8 pts. FGs: FC 21%, PEM 47%)
Southeast Conference Boys Basketball (1/12 – 1/16)
Lanesboro 57, Grand Meadow 47 (L: Nick Taylor 19 pts, 14 rebs, 3 asts, 7 stls; Boone Moen 12 pts; Conor Danielson 12 pts; Preston Clarke 8 pts. GM: Cohen Craft 18 pts; Carter Glynn 11 pts, 13 rebs; Logan Grafe 10 pts, 14 rebs; Keaton Gehling 8 pts. Lanesboro jumped out 7-2 only for GM to later lead 21-15. The Burros were back ahead 27-26 at the half. Via a 12-0 run to start the second, the lead grew to 39-26. GM then ripped an 18-2 run. Craft had 11 of those points. The Larks went ahead 44-41. But GM struggled against Lanesboro’s half-court zone. Taylor scored eight straight Burro points. They replied with a 16-1 run to lead 57-45. The Larks scored four points over their final 15 possessions (1-12 FGs). TOs: GM 17, L 9. FGs: L 24 of 54 (44%), GM 18 of 53 (34%). The contest was between the SEC-East leading Burros (4-1, 8-2), West second place GM (4-1, 7-4))
Mabel-Canton 54, Southland 92 (M-C: Isaac Underbakke 17 pts, 6 rebs; Cael Wangsness 9 pts. Two of M-C’s three SEC losses are to the Rebels. Southland hit 13 of 25 threes (52%), improved to 11-1)
Spring Grove 65, LeRoy-Ostrander 43 (SG: Lyric Stadtler 16 pts, 11 asts, 6 stls; Devon Williams 15 pts, 8 rebs, 4 stls; Weston Ingvalson 12 pts (4-6 threes); Ricardo Reynolds 12 pts, 12 rebs. L-O: John Bradley 9 pts, 13 rebs; Grayson Stockdale 9 pts, 6 rebs; Mason Janssen 8 pts; Reid Hungerholt 8 pts. Stadtler had 11 of SG’s 16 team assists)
Lanesboro 62, Kingsland 32 (L: N. Taylor 30 pts (12-23 FGs), 11 rebs, 4 stls; Levi Rogers 8 pts, 8 rebs; B. Moen 8 pts. K: Collin Stuart 12 pts, 6 rebs. Each team made three threes (at under 20%) but Lanesboro made 23 twos, Kingsland nine)
Houston 53, Schaeffer Academy 75 (H: A. Florin 29 pts (12-22 FGs), 15 rebs; Tilden Witt 5 pts, 14 rebs. Houston was 1 of 14 from deep (7%). Luke Frieze scored 42 to lead the Lions)
Schaeffer Academy 39, Grand Meadow 74 (GM: C. Glynn 21 pts, 10 rebs; Logan Grafe 13 pts, 9 rebs; C. Craft 10 pts; Marshall Bleifus 9 pts (3-3 threes); Blake Hubbard 9 pts. GM hit 10 of 27 threes (375), SA 1 of 15 (7%))
Lanesboro 63, Spring Grove 65 (SG: D. Williams 22 pts (10-16 FGs), 12 rebs, 4 stls; L. Stadtler 13 pts (3-7 threes), 6 asts; W. Ingvalson 13 pts (3-6 threes); R. Reynolds 8 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts. L: N. Taylor 28 pts (11-22 FGs, 13 rebs, 5 stls; C. Danielson 10 pts; L. Rogers 8 pts, 6 rebs. SEC-East leading Lanesboro (6-1, 10-2) never led versus the second place Lions (5-3, 5-8). SG had an early 11-0 run to lead 15-4 and was up 40-30 at halftime. It was 61-49 with 3:00 left. But the Lions missed two front-ends of the one-and-one in the final minute and the Burros scored after both. A Taylor jumper with 16.4 left cut the lead to 63-61. Lion Williams hit two free throws with 12.7 left to basically ice it, putting SG up 65-61. Lanesboro was fouled taking a three with 0:00.4 left. Danielson made the first two to make it 65-63 and intentionally missed the second with the Burros getting a game-tying tip attempt but it wasn’t close. SG ended the Burros seven-game win streak)
LeRoy-Ostrander 44, Mabel-Canton 77 (M-C: N. Garness 23 pts (9-14 FGs, 5-10 threes), 5 rebs, 4 stls; I. Underbakke 17 pts (7-14 FGs), 7 rebs, 10 asts, 4 stls; Kale Tollefsrud 14 pts (5-7 FGs, 4-6 threes); Kale Eiken 10 pts. LO: R. Hungerholt 22 pts, 6 rebs; J. Bradley 7 pts, 5 rebs. M-C won the second half 45-15. The Cardinals are 2-5 in the SEC, 4-7 overall)
Schaeffer Academy 64, Spring Grove 58 (SG: L. Stadtler 16 pts, 9 asts; W. Ingvalson 16 pts (3-8 threes); D. Williams 10 pts, 18 rebs; R. Reynolds 9 pts, 6 rebs, 5 stls. SG led by 13 in the first half; SA led by 10 in second half. SA guard Luke Friese scored 37 points, hit 6 of 6 FT in final 24 seconds. SG was 8 of 22 at the line (36%). The Lions are 6-4 in the SEC, 6-9 overall)
Lyle/Pacelli 52, Lanesboro 80 (L: N. Taylor 18 pts, 11 rebs, 5 stls; B. Moen 17 pts (4-7 threes), 6 rebs, 6 asts; P. Clarke 14 pts (6-8 FGs), 10 rebs; L. Rogers 13 pts, 7 rebs. Lanesboro built a 45-24 halftime lead.)
Kingsland 47, Houston 53 (H: A. Florin 21 pts, 25 rebs; H. Ronnenberg 9 pts, 10 rebs; Sammy Nelson 8 pts.. K: Max Snitker 19 pts (3-10 threes); C. Stuart 14 pts, 10 rebs. Houston is 2-8 in the SEC, 2-14 overall. The Knights are 0-11, 0-14)
Non-Conference Boys Basketball (1/15 – 1/17)
Hayfield 91, Houston 37 (Hou: Hayden Ronnenberg 8 pts. Ten Hurricanes scored but none in double figures)
Rushford-Peterson 76, Mabel-Canton 46 (R-P: Cayden Lea 21 pts (4-8 threes), 10 rebs, 4 asts; Carson Johnson 14 pts; Jaxson Meldahl 11 pts; Brode Vickerman 8 pts. M-C: I. Underbakke 22 pts. R-P shot 57% (27 of 47).)
Grand Meadow 56, Fillmore Central 50 (GM: C. Glynn 18 pts, 13 rebs, 5 asts; C. Craft 16 pts; L. Grafe 10 pts, 18 rebs; K. Gehling 10 pts, 4 stls. FC: R. Ristau 20 pts (4-9 threes), 4 asts; A. Rindels 14 pts (7-11 FGs), 15 rebs; B. Bahl 10 pts, 11 rebs. GM trailed 46-36 before ending on a 20-4 run. FTs: GM 9 of 19 (47%), FC 0-4. The Falcons are 0-6 in the TRC, 3-11 overall)
Onalaska 78, Caledonia 54 (C: G. King 26 pts; C. Hammell 12 pts. Midwest Players Classic Game in the La Crosse.)
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