I remember Steve Carlton pitching for the Twins when that sign was in the background. "We like it here."
Indeed, Morris sports fans could feel buoyed by the hoops success on January 6. It was a doubleheader slate for the boys and girls with Benson on the opposing end. It was a sweep for our orange and black. We dominated the Braves, and why is Benson High School still using that nickname? It is cringeworthy.
Boys: Tigers 79. Benson 36
What a one-sided score. Fans at Tiger Center saw twelve different Tigers put in points - share-the-wealth. We had Benson buried at halftime: a 47-10 score. We came out of the day with a 10-0 record. The Braves fell to 2-7.
Might we see a nickname change for Benson in the near future? States are passing laws against this sort of thing.
A different name from the usual was at the top of our scoring list: Tyler Berlinger whose point output was 15. He was a perfect five-for-five in shooting. Jackson Loge was No. 2 on this day and he, too, made all five of his field goal attempts. Jackson scored 14 points.
Our third double figures scorer was Thomas Tiernan: 12 points on four of seven. Durgin Decker continues the list: seven points on two of four shooting. Three Tigers each scored six points: Cole Wente, Brandon Jergenson and Toby Gonnerman. Let's complete the list: Sam Kleinwolterink (4), Kyle Fehr (3), Trey Hunt (2), Evan Oberg (2) and Jack Tollefson (2).
Our team field goal numbers were 28 of 50, 56 percent. We did pretty well from long range: nine of 20 in 3-pointers, 45 percent. Tiernan had impact here, typical for this Tiger, as he made three long-rangers. Loge made both his attempts, and these Tigers made one each: Jergenson, Gonnerman, Kleinwolterink and Fehr.
The Tigers made 14 of 26 freethrow shots, 54 percent. We were led here by Berlinger at five-for-eight.
We collected 33 rebounds of which 12 were offensive. Loge and Drew Storck co-led in rebounds with six. Loge showed his unselfish play with three assists among our team total 15. Berlinger came through with four of our team total 18 steals. We turned the ball over nine times.
Blocked shots? Loge accounted for two while these mates each had one: Wente, Tiernan, Brenden Hardy and Storck.
Girls: Tigers 51, Benson 11
Aggressiveness! Intensity! These were surely strong suits in our MACA girls team performance on January 6 vs. Benson. The Tigers rolled over the Braves 51-11, partly on the strength of 23 steals.
Fans at Tiger Center could also appreciate seeing the scoring balance: four team members in double figures. Is there any better way to start out the new calendar year?
Meredith Carrington scored 16 points as she made seven of 13 shots. Maddy Grove, Kaylee Harstad and Sydney Dietz each put in ten. The rebounding charge was led by Harstad and Dietz who each had nine boards. This was win No. 4 for coach Dale Henrich's squad, against six losses. Benson was left at 1-8.
Attention, Morris boosters
And, who are the Morris community boosters, anyway? Do they exist? Do they exist merely in theory or on paper? Are these people in official positions who just sit there, or who are happy just acting important? But, the latter part of that is sure a rhetorical question.
The Chamber of Commerce can't get its act together with who is responsible for Prairie Pioneer Days. I hear the Makers Art Festival is coming back this summer, so maybe we can forget about PPD anyway. And, forget about the Chamber of Commerce, naturally. The Chamber wants to blame the city and the city has had to go public to clarify its role on such matters.
The reliable ol' Marshall at the radio station covers this with the assumption that the city is right, the Chamber of Commerce is wrong. We may all assume that Marshall is right on this, but this is a rather sad commentary.
Oh, but more sad than all this, is the belief that the once-famous UMM Jazz Festival is permanently gone, permanently erased. It should be an issue of concern for the broader Morris community. The event used to sort of "put us on the map." If anyone cares about that anymore.
The pandemic gave UMM the excuse to cancel Jazz Fest last year. Of course, people would have to "give a rip" to keep it going. Maybe there's a lot of people with long-haul covid who have experienced a drop in IQ points, like about seven. I suppose we could lose our focus some. Or, is it just endemic apathy?
What? In connection to Morris?
When summer comes, our community leaders just want to "go to the lake." What an abomination.
I write more about the UMM music state of affairs, Jazz Fest prominent, on my companion blog, "Morris of Course." This post is another vehicle for paying tribute to the recently-deceased Jim Carlson. Maybe I'm the only one going out of his way to do this. I invite you to read my post:
The grapevine indicates that the late Carlson indicated some time ago that he did not want a big deal made of his death. I assure you of one thing, though: if he were to look at the recent memorial posts I have written, posts with photos, I have NO DOUBT he would smile broadly. Laughter came easily to the two of us.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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