Photo by Christine Vreeman
John Fenske’s Kingsland boys kept up their fantastic start by posting two SEC wins despite not having All-SEC guard Jayden Brink (ankle). Kingsland only led winless GM 26-20 at halftime, but turned it on in the second 18-minutes for the 58-30 win. The Larks had just 10 second half points. Max Erdman (14 pts, 10 rebs, 4 stls) and Sam Snitker (10 pts, 5 rebs) got to double-figures. Parker Johnson had 8 (pts) and 11 (rebs) in his first game of the year. Nine Knights scored. Logan Grafe (8 pts), Graham Eastlee (6 pts, 7 rebs), and Carter Glynn (6 pts, 5 stls) did work for GM. The Knights won despite going 3 of 15 from deep (20%) minus the good shooting Brink. They won the rebounding battle 45 to 24 though, including having 26 offensive boards. Kingsland then out-scored M-C for an 80-73 win. Erdman used his 6’4” size and versatility to go off. The junior scored a career-high 38 points, doing so from all over the floor (5-8 threes, 7-9 FTs, 13-19 FGs). He notched his second double-double of the week (11 rebs, 4 blks). Snitker (10 pts), Ayden Howard (9 pts), Johnson (8 pts), and Kaaleem Reiland (8 pts) gave the Knights five guys with at least eight points. Kingsland hit 21 of 25 free throws (84%). Seven guys made at least two. M-C was 14 of 23 (61%). Kingsland shot 50% (26 of 52), M-C 40% (25 of 62). M-C hit 9 of 28 threes (32%), Kingsland 7 of 21 (33%). The Cougars were led by Cayden Tollefsrud (24 pts, 3-10 threes), Hayden Erickson (19 pts, 5-6 FTs, 7-9 FGs), Tyler Larson (15 pts, 3-9 threes, 9 rebs), and Isaac Underbakke (8 pts, 5 rebs, 7 asts). By virtue of Southland ending Spring Grove’s 41-game SEC win streak via a 58-49 win, Kingsland (6-0, 7-0) is the last SEC unbeaten team. They lead the West over the Rebels (6-1, 7-2). The Knights are now ranked #20 in Class A.
Boys Basketball: Knights Stay Perfect, SEC’s Only Perfect Team