Photo by Heather Kleiboer
Kingsland boys’ basketball put a cap to an excellent season by posting a trio of wins. Versus Lanesboro (6-12, 7-17), the game featured 16 lead changes. The Knights led 38-34 at intermission. Down 57-52 in the second half, Kingsland had a 14-2 run to lead 66-59. The Burros closed to down 68-65 (0:22). Sam Snitker then hit two free throws to ice it. Kingsland prevailed 71-65. The Knights hit 9 of 11 free throws late. Lanesboro made just one field goal after leading 57-52. They were 6 of 8 at the line late. Max Erdman had a big double-double (21 pts, 10-12 FTs, 16 rebs) to lead the Knights. Kaaleem Reiland (15 pts, 3-6 threes), Jayden Brink (12 pts), and Snitker (10 pts) also hit double figures. The Burros were led by Mason Howard (23 pts, 3-7 threes, 6-6 FTs, 4 asts). Will Harvey (14 pts, 5 asts), Kaden Stettler (8 pts, 6 asts), and Caden Johnson (8 pts, 7 rebs) helped. The Knights won at the line 20 of 28 (71%) to 11 of 17 (65%). They committed 21 turnovers to the Burros 10, but had 21 offensive rebounds for 19 second-chance-points. Kingsland won the first contest 80-78 on an Erdman last second shot. The Knights then out-scored Mabel-Canton (9-9, 13-12) by 91-69 final. Kingsland led 41-38 early in the second half before out-scoring M-C 50-31 to the finish. Brink (28 pts, 8-16 threes, 4 rebs, 6 asts, 4 stls) had a huge night. Courtland Drury-DeBoer (22 pts, 10-15 FGs) also topped 20 points. Erdman (15 pts, 3-8 threes, 12 rebs) and Ayden Howard (10 pts, 5-6 FGs, 5 rebs) again gave the Knights four in double figures. Snitker added 8 (pts) and 5 (asts). M-C was led by Cayden Tollefsrud (21 pts, 8-13 FGs), Isaac Underbakke (18 pts, 9-11 FGs), and Tyler Larson (15 pts, 5-10 threes, 7 rebs). The Knights won from deep 11 of 29 (38%) to 6 of 14 (43%), won turnovers 12 to 20, won on the glass 35 to 22, and the offensive glass 17 to 3 with 24 second-chance-points to M-C’s nine. The Cougars shot 58% overall (29 of 50), Kingsland 51% (38 of 75). The Knights won the first match-up 80-73. The win clinched Kingsland (20-5) its first 20-win season since 2011-2012’s 1AA-West runner-up went 20-9 (Tanner Lange, Sam Eberle, Devin Pokorney, Soren Grandall, and Spencer Klevan). Kingsland then beat Alden-Conger 82-48. Drury-Deboer had 20 (pts) and 8 (rebs) to lead the way. Brink (13 pts, 5 stls) and Erdman (12 pts, 10 rebs) also got to double figures. Reiland (8 pts) and Snitker (7 pts, 7 rebs) helped. Ten Knights scored at least four points. It was Kingsland’s 12th game of scoring 70-plus (12-0). Winners of five straight, the Knights (16-4, 21-5) take second in the SEC-West behind #12 Southland (17-3, 20-5). John Fenske’s group is 1A’s 5-seed, will host will host 12-seed Lyle/Pacelli (13-14).