Photo by Emma Geiwitz
It was a good week for Class A 9th-ranked Rushford-Peterson’s boys basketball. On Monday, Chris Drinkall’s group took on Southland in a rematch of last year’s 1A semi (won by the Rebels 73-55). R-P jumped out 7-2 and never trailed. And though Southland never led, they pulled to down one four times, down two six times. Their last push made it 48-46. R-P responded spurting 7-0 run to lead 55-46 with 3:00 left. The run was part of a 5-for-5 field goal stretch. The Trojans notched a 61-52 win. Dawson Bunke’s sniper abilities spurred the effort (23 pts, 7-12 threes). Malachi Bunke added 18 points (4-13 threes, 4-4 FTs). Justin Ruberg (16 pts, 7-12 FGs, 12 rebs) did interior work. Grady Hengel and Andrew Hoiness combined for 11 assists. Eli Wolff (18 pts) and Harrison Hanna (16 pts) paced the Rebels. The Trojans were 8 of 8 at the line, Southland 7 of 14. The teams combined to hoist 51 threes; R-P 11 of 33 (33%), Southland 7 of 18 (39%). A night later, R-P slugged past GM 61-50. The Larks led 17-12 in the first only for R-P to end the half 14-5 for a 26-22 lead. R-P then led by single digits in the second half, save twice, including the final score. Ruberg (31 pts, 11-14 FGs, 9-12 FTs, 9 rebs, 4 asts) was a beast inside. M-Bunke (17 pts, 4-13 threes, 5 rebs) helped. Roman Warmka (18 pts, 7-12 FGs, 6 rebs), Jace Kraft (13 pts, 7 rebs), and Taylor Glynn (10 pts, 4 asts) hit double figures for GM. Jacob Kerrins added 8. The Trojans shot just 25% (7 of 28) from deep but 14 of 18 (78%) from the line. GM shot 20 of 43 (47%) from the field, 6 of 16 (38%) from deep. The Larks were just 4 of 10 (40%) at the stripe. R-P ended the week by beating La Crescent/Hokah 58-50, avenging an earlier 47-45 overtime loss. It was just their second win in nine meetings with the Lancers. Hengel led the way at the free throw line (17 pts, 11-15 FTs, 5 rebs). M-Bunke (14 pts, 3-4 threes) also hit double figures. Ruberg (9 pts, 5-6 FTs), Hoiness (8 pts, 5 rebs), and D-Bunke (7 pts) helped. R-P went 15 of 32 from the field (47%), 8 of 16 from deep (50%), and 20 of 28 from the line (71%). The #9 Trojans (9-3, 19-4) have now won nine in a row.