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| JCC "Huskies" logo |
Teams within a sub-section get very familiar with each other. But once the champion moves on to the next level, the opponent seems rather a stranger. The "stranger" for the Minnewaska Area players and fans is Jackson County Central. The community is down south, just like the venue where the Lakers and the JCC Huskies will play on Thursday. Action will be at the "R/A" facility of Southwest State University in Marshall. It will unfold at 8 p.m. That's a rather late starting time in my view. I'd suggest a cup of coffee before driving home, perhaps a tall one.
It was at Marshall where the Lakers won with a pair of late dramatic freethrows Saturday. The 51-50 score vs. Redwood Valley gave them the 3AA-North title. Now the sights are focused on the South victor. JCC had to get past Fairmont, another team from quite far to the south.
An aside: I remember one year when I was still with the Morris newspaper, our football team had a first-round playoff game set to be played in Fairmont. I was not required to go and I did not go. I believe this was before the Forum ownership of the Morris paper. Under Forum ownership I most likely would have been required.
I remember grousing about the fact that a first-round game in any sport would be played so far away. Even then I felt a little old for the rigors of such lengthy travel combined with the stress of game coverage. And now? I'm on Medicare now, so would not be a tenable situation, n'est-ce pas?
It's not an issue 'cause I'm no longer with the Morris or Hancock newspapers. Well, the Forum cancelled the Hancock paper. The whole industry has gone into retrenchment. Doesn't affect me now. I can stay in my cozy living room instead of hauling a-- to some far-flung place. Nice for the kids to have the experience of course. As long as we all keep it in proportion, not getting carried away (which can happen).
Hopefully the fan assemblage at Southwest State this Thursday will have a healthy, wholesome experience supporting the student-athletes. Laker fans: maybe go get some coffee afterwards.
It'll be Lakers vs. Huskies for the 3AA title. After that it's state!
You can be sure the Minnewaska Area students are a little distracted this week. Their team had hurdles to get past, to climb this far. They endured the drama at the end of the Redwood Valley game. Two freethrows when the chips were down - doesn't get more dramatic than that.
Jackson County Central won by a slightly more comfortable margin over Fairmont. It was a showdown of rivals throughout the sports calendar. So the JCC crowd was most jubilant about the 56-51 win that was achieved. This game too was in Marshall.
Still not sure what "R/A" stands for at the venue. "Recreation/Athletics?"
The Huskies cut down the nets at the end. The South trophy was theirs.
The game wasn't true to form because JCC's leading scorer was kept in the background. This individual: Rudy Voss. Voss was held to eight points so others had to step up. And in this regard, Andrew Hesebeck came to the fore. This was to the tune of 28 points, game-high. Alex Hein, coach of the Huskies, noted Hesebeck has been coming on well over a stretch of games. The cager is counted on "down low" and on Saturday he was "dominant," Hein stated to the media.
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| Fairmont "Cardinals" logo |
Hesebeck characterized the game as a "nail biter" in comments to the Worthington Globe. "It takes a whole team."
The Jackson County boys looked to be fully recovered by halftime, owner of a 31-25 lead. Alas, Fairmont proved to be stubborn. No cake-walk the rest of the way, indeed. Fairmont got within one point several times.
Voss and Hesebeck showed chemistry where Voss launched a drive and then dumped to Hesebeck. The result: a nifty layup. Coach Hein recalled "that was huge."
The game differed from the usual form in that JCC is accustomed to scoring more, like 25 points more! They showed a different personality Saturday but it did the job. Hein was pleased to see some buckets that were particularly timely. He felt experience was weighing in, as this Husky group has been bonded a long time.
The Cardinals of Fairmont hung in there. Their surging was led by Wyatt Frank. He connected on three shots that allowed those Cards to get within one point. Yes it's anyone's ballgame. This with one minute remaining! No less suspense than in the 'Waska/Redwood game.
Frank is a formidable presence with his 6'7" height and he led his team with 20 points. Jackson County Central had drawn up tactics to "sit on Frank's backside, on his dropstep," Hesebeck explained. (This gets a little complicated for yours truly. Arcane?)
As with 'Waska, JCC needed someone to step up at the freethrow line with icewater in his veins. For 'Waska that was Grant Jensen. And for JCC, Voss was up to the task. Voss made a pair with less than a minute left. So the Huskies now lead by three. Fairmont proceeded to miss a shot. Hesebeck triumphantly made a layup with ten seconds left. The horn sounded. JCC fans let loose with a crescendo of cheers. It's "March Madness" of course.
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| Andrew Hesebeck of JCC |
JCC's scoring: Andrew Hesebeck (28), Rudy Voss (8), Brad Buhl (6), Dominic Bargfrede (6), Noah Carr (5) and Alex Bretzman (3). Buhl stood out with two 3-pointers while Hesebeck nailed one. The Fairmont scoring: Wyatt Frank (20), Caden Baarts (10), Joey Flohrs (9), Jack Hested (6), Zach Jorgensen (4) and Carson Toomer (2). Fairmont like JCC made three 3-point shots: Hested made two and Flohrs one.
Well, the stage is set for a truly climactic battle now, Thursday at Marshall. I wish fans from West Central Minnesota were not burdened by traveling so far so often. It didn't used to be like this. I have heard numerous people say they miss the "old days" of tournament games often being at the UMM P.E. Center. Might those days ever return?
Man, driving back from Marshall after a draining game that begins at 8 p.m. It's not tenable for yours truly. But maybe with a real tall cup of coffee?
(BTW it is so easy to type "Heseback" instead of "Hesebeck.")
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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