We can sure get a "rush" this time of year, following basketball. The entry at DeToy's Restaurant had a "go Tigers" sign. I needed an extra cup of coffee to get primed for a new blog post. Sure hope more than a handful of people check in with my online writing on the Tigers.
I have actually written about Tiger sports since 1972. At the very start, it was the newspaper that approached me, not the other way around. I suspect Darrell Wetz gave the paper a referral. That was all very exciting and I wish I had foregone college to expand my "real experience." I'm age 67 and prone to looking back and doing some second-guessing. Too much free time on my hands too.
Such a blessing that the boys of today do not have to worry about getting drafted and sent to a place like Vietnam. You must stop and think about this sometime.
It is fun to see the Tigers do so well in 2022. I always temper that thought by encouraging some perspective. The boys who make it to state are not "heroes." When it comes to state-level play, let's just say "many are called, few are chosen." Let's not diminish the experience of the young people on teams that fail to climb in the tournament.
More importantly, let's lift up the young people who prioritize band and choir. The MAHS musicians head directly to Texas right after the Saturday game. Obviously the trip was planned before we knew there'd be basketball today. More on that down below. Thanks so much for finding this blog and God bless.
Well, the Tigers played the big city boys for the second straight time on Friday. They already knew the big city boys put their pants on one leg at a time: we beat Minnehaha Academy. There was some skepticism about our chances for the Minnehaha Academy game. But my, the Tigers surprised the skeptics. However, the orange and black really had to hold on for dear life in the second half. We survived and won.
So, bring on the state AA semi-finals at Williams Arena! What a thrill for all. The Friday affair did not have a happy ending for coach Mark Torgerson's boys. This time the big city boys had what it took. Surely a quality team: Minneapolis North, the Polars.
Minneapolis North has a long background of state success. They built on that background with a 71-63 win over our No. 5 Tigers. The Polars were seeded No. 1.
The game had a hard-fought look. Jackson Loge was a force for the orange and black as he so often is. He brought a smile to the Augustana crowd (of SD) with his 37 points and 14 rebounds. Jackson is headed to Augustana for his college play. I wrote about his father Kevin when Kevin was a leading force for the Tigers. That was in the two-class tournament days - more challenging, more obstacles.
The Tigers made second in state during Kevin's career. Torgy was the coach then too.
Looks official that Torgy is hanging it up after this season. Thanks to Torgy for the trouble he took getting game stats posted on "Maxpreps" during this hectic schedule. He reports that Jackson Loge made 14 of his 26 shot tries for 54 percent. Alas, Jackson was alone in double figures for the Tigers.
Here are the other totals for the Mpls. North game: Thomas Tiernan 7, Cole Wente 6, Tyler Berlinger 4, Brandon Jergenson 4, Sam Kleinwolterink 3 and Durgin Decker 2. We shot 43 percent on 24 of 56. Loge was three of six from 3-point range. Wente made both of his long-range tries. Tiernan struggled with his one-for-11 performance. Normally he's a leader with this. I wonder if the Polars put special pressure on him outside.
Kleinwolterink made one of two in 3's. So our team numbers were 7 of 22, 32 percent.
Loge made 6 of 11 freethrow tries. Jergenson was 2-for-2. I hope fans at state did not see Jergenson's name in the program and start chanting "let's go Brandon." You know how kids can be. We are learning today, Saturday, that the stench of Donald Trump has now infected our U.S. Supreme Court, with the revelations about Clarence Thomas and his wife Ginny. It is profoundly sad and troubling. Existential for America? Maybe it will be.
When people of the obvious educational attainment of the Thomas's get sucked into a cult, what in the world could be more disturbing? So, that's a cloud that hangs over everything now, plus inflation. What did the state tournament tickets cost? Seventeen bucks? How much were the hot dogs?
Continuing with game stats, we see Loge with 14 rebounds to lead, three offensive. Decker was No. 2 with his six boards. We had 30 total, ten offensive. Decker and Tiernan each had five assists to lead. Four Tigers each had one steal: Decker, Berlinger, Tiernan and Loge. We had 14 turnovers.
I feel regret that the MAHS band/music program is going to be distracted by today's (Saturday) game. The music parents are probably reluctant to state this opinion because we're all supposed to be consumed with basketball enthusiasm. I really wish to depart on that. From an email I sent to a friend yesterday (before the Mpls. North game):
Well, Tigers take to the court at 6 p.m.
A final thought on what we've been discussing, because something about all this bothers me: the convergence of the tournament and the trip. If the Tigers are in the third place game, I think a lot of the band/choir parents will think it was a mistake to even go down there. It is such a distraction for the kids, and these events really drain you. By the end of the day Saturday, those kids will have been run ragged. I think it takes some excitement away from the music trip.
Just think, they'll see the Alamo, where Fess Parker met his end swinging Old Betsy.
When they get back, ask Wanda for me what it was like to see the Alamo.
Related: This situation is a reminder of how sports HOLDS SCHOOLS HOSTAGE, in the sense that scheduling must always be done on the possibility that a team will be advancing in the tournament/playoffs. It's such a long shot for making the title game, but if you make it, those darn sports parents expect everyone to roll over for it.
I'm going to Stone's Throw to waste some money now. I do that every 5-6 weeks. I do it for Anne Barber. I will not be in church Sunday, as I have still not written out a check.
There, I've made my case. I'm sure Wanda is managing everything brilliantly, but it's so hectic and involved. A week from now there will be nothing going on.
Did you order this weather (wind)?
- BW
Footnotes: Fess Parker was of course the actor who played Davy Crockett for Disney. Boomers grew up with the strong image of him swinging "old Betsy." We were misled, just like we were misled about the Vietnam war. It was said that Walt Disney's No. 1 motivator in life was his hatred of communism. Well, that's what was behind the Vietnam war too. Nearly 60,000 dead American soldiers, young men.
The Mexicans were actually fighting against slavery at the Alamo. Sam Houston would later claim that the Alamo defenders "bought time" for his army. The truth is that Houston just wanted to cover the fact that he failed to send reinforcements to the Alamo. Can we say that slavery is even bad? I mean, what with the huge push against "CRT" by a certain element in America now? The Trump element?
Footnote No. 2: I like Stone's Throw Restaurant but of course the prices are a little steep.
Footnote No. 3: I suppose I could ask Wanda myself, what it was like observing the Alamo. Would be easy? For me, as easy as climbing Mount Everest.
Hey, think spring already!
With spring sports will come renewed attention on the "softball complex." OK, a troubling subject for me. Not a pleasant place to go and watch softball. Very limited viewing angles at new varsity field, plus parking-related safety issues, plus others. Sigh.
I write on this subject on my new "Morris of Course" post. Here is the permalink to that:
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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