MA-CA boys basketball set the tone for an especially contented holiday season with a 2-0 showing in the Wahpeton Invite (NDSCS). The success began on Friday, Dec. 17, with a nail-biting 66-60 win in overtime. Coach Mark Torgerson's boys outscored the Breckenridge Cowboys 12-6 in that OT extension, sealing the advantage.
More success was in store Saturday when the opponent was Fargo Davies. The Tigers built their early-season record to 4-2 with a win by five, 74-69.
Tigers 66, Breckenridge 60
Tyler Roske was a chief standout in this win that allowed the Tigers to creep back over .500. Roske had both of the Tigers' three-point shot successes, a department where the team numbers were two-for-eight.
In total field goals the Morris Area Chokio Alberta numbers were 26 for 61. In freethrows: 12-for-15.
Roske was at the top of the individual scoring list with 20 points. He also had three steals.
Cole Riley joined Roske in double figures scoring with ten points. Riley Ahrndt and Mac Kampmeier each put in eight, and Alex Erickson had seven. The scoring list also included Cody Cannon (4), Dan Tiernan (2), Eric Riley (4) and Travis Rinkenberger (3).
Cole Riley worked the boards for nine rebounds and Kampmeier collected seven. Erickson set the pace in assists with six.
The Tigers led 33-26 at halftime but got outscored 28-21 by Breckenridge in the second half, thus the score got deadlocked. The teams gamely took the court again for overtime. The Tigers seized the kind of momentum they enjoyed in the first half, to put this game in the win column by the final margin of six.
Tigers 74, Fargo Davies 69
Alex Erickson emerged as a prime contributor for Morris Area Chokio Alberta boys basketball Saturday. Erickson burned the nets for 19 points versus the North Dakota foe. He and Dan Tiernan each made a shot from three-point range.
Total field goals saw the Tigers make 24 of 54 attempts, and in freethrows the squad was busy with 24-for-32 numbers.
The Tigers led at halftime 29-22.
Erickson was joined in double figures scoring by Mac Kampmeier with 13 and Cole Riley with ten. Roske kept on making his important contributions, putting in eight points on this night, and Riley Ahrndt had seven.
Scorers also included Cody Cannon (6), Dan Tiernan (3), Eric Riley (3), Ethan Bruer (3) and Travis Rinkenberger (2).
Kampmeier and Cole Riley led in rebounds with ten and eight respectively. Cole Riley and Erickson each delivered four assists to lead there, and Erickson and Roske led in steals with three each.
On the wrestling beat:
It was great for yours truly seeing long-time coach Al Hendrickson and wife Dolora at DeToy's Restaurant in Morris Sunday. I discovered it was a day of celebration as it was Al's birthday!
Hendrickson coached the wrestling Tigers through many memorable campaigns. In those days Hancock was a rival. So were the Road Warriors of CACG.
Times change and today the Morris, Hancock and Chokio-Alberta communities are together in wrestling. The accepted initials are "MAHACA."
I can't be totally sure if the program goes by "Tigers." These things get complicated and change too fast for me.
As I have editorialized before, I believe that all athletic programs that are based in Morris should just be called "Morris Area." This would be nice for casual fans who have a hard time keeping track of all this. We all know that the Morris area includes some wonderful smaller towns.
The Morris Area Hancock Chokio Alberta wrestling team made the long trip Saturday for the Cass Lake-Bena Tournament, a long-time schedule highlight around the holidays. It's a veritable mecca for prep wrestling and this year included 36 teams.
Big Zach Gibson rolled past five opponents while dropping just one bout. Zach took charge in his wins, getting four of them by fall en route to finishing third at his weight.
Tim Ostby was another high-achieving MAHACA athlete, placing fifth at 152 pounds. Ostby had a 5-2 day including three pins.
There were two Ostbys carrying the MAHACA banner. Travis Ostby was at the bottom rung of the weight ladder (the little guys) and he had a 1-2 day with his win coming by fall.
Evan Nelson vied at 112 pounds and placed eighth, winning three bouts and dropping three. Two of Evan's wins came by fall.
Jordan Thooft had a 2-2 day at 140 pounds with pins accounting for both wins. Connor Metzger went 3-3 at 160 pounds with two of his wins coming fall style. Ryan Beyer at 189 pounds won one bout and dropped two.
Other Tigers vying on the mat were: Dillon Johnson (119 pounds), Aaron Wehking (125), Seth Nelson (130), Jerid Berning (135), Wade Ehlers (171) and Joel Harrison (215).
MAHACA as a team had a middle of the pack showing, tying with Detroit Lakes for 20th place. Fergus Falls had the distinction of taking No. 1 in this very large and talent-filled collection of teams.
The holidays can be a trying time for the weight-conscious wrestlers, but surely they can enjoy the season to the hilt with the rest of us!
-Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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