Hoops: boys & girls impress in Friday play

Boys: 69-63 win

MACA prevailed in an overtime thriller at home Friday (1/17). The opponent was Melrose.

Regulation time ended with the score 58-all. Fans at the MAHS gym were on the edge of seats for the OT extension. Jordan Arbach was a standout. This Tiger put in six points during OT. Noah Grove went to the freethrow line and showed poise. Grove made a pair of freethrows with 30 seconds left, helping seal the win for MACA.

The final score: 69-63. It was MACA's fourth win of the season against ten losses. Coach Mark Torgerson's crew outscored the Dutchmen 36-28 in the first half.
The orange and black faithful are now looking for another little win skein to start.

According to the Willmar newspaper, the Tigers' next game is tomorrow (Tuesday). But in the MAHS school calendar, it says the Tigers will play tonight (Monday) at Eden Valley-Watkins. I'm surprised at the school calendar, because isn't today a holiday? Isn't it Martin Luther King Day? Whatever, maybe the Willmar newspaper is right, and the next game is Tuesday at Paynesville. We'll see.

In beating Melrose, the Tigers were sharp and efficient in three-point shooting. They made five of nine attempts from beyond the 3-point stripe. Grove was a leader with three of the makes. Eric Staebler made the other two.

In total field goals the Tigers were 23 of 49. In freethrows: 18 of 28.

Staebler and Grove were characteristically at the fore of the Tigers' scoring. Staebler put in 25 points and Grove 15. Bryce Jergenson scored eight points followed by Arbach and Nathan Anderson each with six.

Jacob Zosel added five points to the mix and Andrew Goulet four.

Staebler topped the rebounding with seven. Zosel led in assists with five followed by Jergenson and Staebler each with four. Goulet was tops in steals with five.

Melrose wasn't at all bashful about shooting from three-point range. Melrose had fair success with this weapon too, making 13 of 29 attempts. Seth Noll, a familiar rival for MACA sports teams, was sharp with his shooting eye Friday, making eight long-rangers. Cole Van Beck and Ben Klaphake each made two 3-pointers, and Cesar Cervantes made one.

Noll scored a team-best 24 points. Tyler Braegelman pulled down 12 rebounds for Melrose. Noll led the Dutchmen in assists with five and in steals with four.

 

Girls: Tigers 68, Benson 39

The MACA girls took care of business Friday (1/17) with a 68-39 win. The Tigers were on the road playing Benson. This was a suspense-free game in contrast with the MACA boys game at home, an OT affair.

Coach Dale Henrich's girls team worked to a 33-22 halftime lead. MACA picked up steam in the second half, outscoring the maroon-clad Braves 35-17.

This was victory No. 8 on the season for our orange and black crew, against five losses. In conference the Tigers have the quite robust 6-1 numbers. They made 28 of 85 field goal attempts Friday. In 3's they had only four attempts, making two, with Beth Holland and Liz Tiernan having the two makes.

In freethrows the Tigers posted 10-for-21 numbers.

Becca Holland topped the scoring list with 14 points. She was joined in double figures by Beth Holland with eleven and Lauren Reimers with ten. Kayla Pring scored eight points and Lacee Maanum six. Liz Tiernan scored five, followed by these three Tigers each with four: Sam Henrichs, Nicole Strobel and Abbie Olson. Piper Gibson contributed two points.

Becca Holland led in rebounds with 12, followed by Pring with eight. Reimers was the assist leader with seven followed by Beth Holland with five. Olson had four steals and Reimers three.

Kaitlin Vogel had six shot blocks.

Hannah Ricard led the host Braves with her 17 points. Taylor Laumeyer made two 3-pointers for Benson. Ricard pulled down six rebounds while Cyra Carlson had five. Krista Motzko dished out three assists.

Benson has had a winless season.
Viva Morris Area Chokio Alberta boys and girls basketball for 2014!

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com