Miracle may be a strong word. When R-P boys basketball beats an opponent, it’s rarely a miracle. One week plus removed from the Minneapolis Miracle, Stefon Diggs’ 61-yard TD catch to beat the New Orleans, Tom Vix’s group sent TRC shockwaves by beating some other Saints. St. Charles entered the contest coming off its only loss, 81-57 to defending Section 1AA champ Lake City. The TRC-West leading Saints (10-0, 14-1) entered ranked #3 in Class AA. SC owns a 79-75 victory over #4 Caledonia, the Warriors (7-1, 12-2) only TRC loss. R-P (4-5, 10-5) lost to Caledonia 63-36. As Chris Berman puts it, “that’s why they play the game.” R-P played nearly perfect, shooting-wise, by basketball standards. Their percentages were sick prolific; 59.1% (26-44 FGs), 75% (6-8 threes), and 92.9% (14-15 FTs). Junior guard Landon Skalet (18 pts) took six shots, hit six, and all were from deep. Dawson Dahl (14 pts, 6-9 FGs 5 rebs) had a season-high. Jake Paulson had the best all-around game (12 pts, 4-10 FGs, 4-4 FTs, 8 rebs, 5 assists). Frosh Luke O’Hare was key off the bench (12 pts, 3-5 FGs, 6-6 FTs). Ben Ansell (8 pts, 4-5 FGs) and Payton Hahn (7 pts, 6 rebs) helped. R-P posted its best win of the year, handing SC its first TRC loss, 71-55. The Saints scored a season low. They came in averaging 77.3. Top scorer Kaden Vaughn (16.3 PPG) was held to nine. Drew Leistikow (18 pts) and Keagan Maloney (10 pts) led the St. Charles. In the Class AA polls, Caledonia (14-2) moves up to #3 and St. Charles (15-2) down to #9. Lake City (14-3) is #8. PEM (13-4) is #20. Section 1A has no ranked boys teams. R-P then completed a perfect 3-0 week. They beat Cotter 52-39. Ansell (17 pts, 8-12 FGs, 6 stls) and Paulson (11 pts, 8 stls) led the way. The Trojans downed Crestwood 60-54, despite the Cadets hitting eight threes. Ansell (13 pts, 6-9 FGs), O’Hare (12 pts, 5-7 FGs), Paulson (11 pts, 5-9 FGs, 7 rebs), and Hahn (10 pts, 3-5 threes, 4 stls) did work. Skalet had 8 (pts) and 5 (assists). R-P shot 52.3% (23-44 FGs) and 35.7% (5-14 threes) with three turnovers. The Trojans (6-5, 13-5), winners of four straight, are now ranked #1 in 1A’s QRF.
Perfect R-P Miracle
