The levels to the game were many. It was a re-match of last year’s section title game. It was a renewal of a great Section 1A boys basketball rivalry. It was a firm statement by the section’s perennial power, now under a new coach, and with a near completely new cast of players. And said team’s old coach stood on the other sideline in a surreal situation. On a Monday night, Rushford-Peterson’s boys (12-6) took Spring Grove (14-1). The Lions, ranked for a spell, entered having won 12 straight, including beating Randolph (66-45) and La Crescent (56-51). The Rockets (64-46) and Lancers (71-57, 72-62) have felled R-P. The last time SG and R-P met, the Trojans rolled 66-30 to claim the Section 1A title. R-P gradated four starters off that state team. They also lost long-time coach Tom Vix. Vix coincidentally then joined Wade Grinde’s staff at SG. And yet for all the change, and for all of R-P’s youthfulness, and for SG seemingly finding themselves in a prime spot to usurp the Trojans as Section 1A’s favorite, nothing changed. R-P’s system is still R-P’s system. New Trojan head coach Chris Drinkall has long been a part of it. The Trojans play their game, which is a large monolith to eclipse. The tightly contested game saw the Trojans prevail 69-65. The main Lion-killer was senior guard Landon Skalet, who had a team-high, season-high 20 points (8 of 11 FGs, 3-4 threes). As a sophomore in a 1A East final, Skalet also thwarted SG with a game-winning three. He was one of four Trojans to hit double figures. Luke O’Hare (17 pts, 6-11 FGs, 4-4 FTs, 4 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls), Kobe Lind (14 pts) and Justin Ruberg (11 pts) also got there. Alex Folz, who was held to three points in last year’s 1A title game, had a game-high 25 (six threes) to lead SG. Noah Elton (14 pts) and Ethan Matzke (11 pts) helped. The win again confirms Section 1A is still Trojan territory, despite R-P sitting the fifth spot in the Section QRF ranking index. Hayfield (17-4), SG (14-3), #8 in A Randolph (19-1), and BP (13-5) are teams one-four. Albeit, the state-wide QRF rankings for said five teams are 10, 11, 13, 15, and 16 (as of 2/11).
Skalet, Trojans Topple
