First, a note about the news: We got word this morning of the death of Pope Benedict. The man joined the Hitler Youth as a 14-year-old and went on to serve in the German military. The silence of Pope Pius XII while millions were sent to the gas chambers is another issue. I'm sure Pope Benedict (Joseph Ratzinger) was not a cheerleader for Nazi-ism after WWII. But is that because the Germans lost? What if they had won?
The Lee Community Center was buzzing at holiday-time. It doesn't get more exciting than a 7-6 overtime MBA win on the home ice! Charlie Goff was the star player who scored the game-winner. He was a standout all game: four goals. His dramatic OT shot was at 1:16.
The Storm skated against Prairie Centre. The game was for the championship in the Storm Holiday Classic.
Earlier in the game it appeared we might cruise. Brett Miller of kmrs reports that we were up 6-2 late in the second period.
Prairie Centre has the "North Stars" name just like Minnesota's old NHL franchise. Remember the days of the Met Sports Center?
The Stars of Prairie Centre added a goal before the second period ended, then they really came on strong for a time. They got the puck in the net three times in the first 5:14 of period No. 3. Tie score! Brett tells us that the Storm started OT with an advantage due to penalties on the Stars. So it was 5-on-3. Goff came on strong to give his Storm the win. The goal was his second of the power play kind.
Ryan Tolifson made his mark with two goals and four assists. Brady Pederson and Cole Blume each came through with a goal and an assist. Goff had an assist to go with his more pronounced contributions on the ice. Bryce Lehman and Kaleb Breuer each supplied an assist. In the net we had Chris Danielson whose save total was 20.
The North Stars had Zack Bick score twice. Their goalkeeper was Carter Holman who had 18 saves.
The MBA W/L at the end of the day: 3-6. And Prairie Centre's: 3-5.
Just like the Storm, MACA boys hoops gave some excitement to the normally dull week in between Christmas and New Year's. The Tigers were in Fergus Falls for the Holiday Tournament. The highlight was their second game in which they took care of business versus Proctor. MACA outscored Proctor 32-15 in the first half en route to a 56-27 triumph.
Four Tigers scored in double figures: Tyler Berlinger 14, Drew Huebner 13, Riley Asmus 10 and Drew Storck 10. Four other Tigers entered the scoring column: Derek Waldbeser 3, Charlie Hanson 3, Kyle Fehr 2 and Matthew Giese 1.
The Tigers shot 19 of 51 for 37 percent. These three Tigers each made a 3-pointer: Berlinger, Asmus and Storck. We were 3 of 13 in 3's. Then in freethrows our stats were 15 of 29, 52 percent. Berlinger made five of eight.
We attacked the boards to get 38 rebounds, 11 offensive, led by Asmus and his seven. Three Tigers each came up with two assists: Owen Anderson, Asmus and Huebner. Asmus and Jack Tollefson each had two steals. Dan Travis blocked two shots. Asmus blocked one.
Worthington 52, Tigers 51
Our other game on the Fergus Falls floor was a narrow loss. Worthington of southern Minnesota worked to a 52-51 win over the Tigers. Very evenly-matched teams with a tied halftime score of 26-all.
Asmus put in 18 points to lead. Storck was second-high with twelve, and Berlinger scored ten. Huebner supplied seven points and Owen Anderson four.
We made 17 of 40 field goal tries, 43 percent. Asmus made both of our 3-pointers, a department where we were two of eight. Three Tigers each made four freethrows: Berlinger, Asmus and Storck. We were 15 of 21 in that department. Asmus with his seven rebounds led there. Our offensive rebounds numbered seven, our defensive 15.
Asmus dished out three assists followed by Berlinger and Anderson each with two. In steals we see Berlinger setting the pace with his five. Storck had all four of our blocked shots.
Miller of kmrs-kkok shared on some of the game's dramatics: "A running bank shot in the lane gave Worthington the lead with just seconds remaining, and the Tigers weren't able to get off a good look as the buzzer sounded in a 52-51 loss to the Trojans from the Fergus Falls Holiday Invite."
The MACA won-lost mark: 3-4. Bring on the new year!
Girls hoops: Eden Valley Tournament
The MACA girls added to the mix of holiday-time sports entertainment. The Tigers played in the third place game of the Eden Valley holiday affair and were bested by the host EV-W team, 63-47. We trailed at halftime by 16.
Our top point-scorers were Brianna Marty with 13, Lauren Hottovy with ten and Hanna Schutz with seven.
Our first game in the EV-W affair matched us against Upsala and the outcome was a 55-39 defeat. Our attack was without Maddy Grove, typically a pace-setter in scoring. Absent her, Kaylee Harstad worked to pick up the slack with 22 points and 18 rebounds. Turnovers hurt - our total was 23.
Our won-lost record is 1-5. Coach Dale Henrich wants to smile a little more in the next year!
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| Helen Jane Morrison |
I remember when Chris Matthews reported the death of John Glenn, using the word "tragedy" and then sort of corrected himself: given astronaut Glenn's very advanced age, maybe the word was not needed.
Well it was certainly tragic that Helen Jane Morrison left us recently. She was 101.
Sometimes very old people have so many issues with health and stability, we shed few tears at their passing. But we can all feel profoundly saddened at Helen Jane's passing. She was out and around this past year, sometimes strolling on her own, as she was at the fairgrounds during a PRCA event. Her son Jim was close by of course.
But Helen Jane projected an independent air - amazing given her age. Matthews would have no problem saying that Helen Jane's death was tragic.
Final rites were Thursday at the funeral home. I did not attend. I did think about Helen Jane during the day, and a few days earlier I put up a remembrance blog post. I think the post served as my little sympathy card. I used an image that was from our Williams family collection. The family may have gotten a little surprise from that.
I was concerned that the funeral attendees might include some people who I'm not fond of being around. I mean, people like Rich Moen and Anne Erickson, maybe Sue Dieter. To hell with that. Too many people there IMHO to project certain "airs" of being important.
I am also not fond of visiting the funeral home. It reminds of death too much. I think the time is coming to say goodbye to the traditional funeral. Maybe we have gone beyond cremation, for which the funeral home charges a fortune anyway, to the concept known as "natural burial."
Funerals do not bring the deceased back to life. Our loved ones have gone on to the next life.
People who attend funerals might be suspected of just being there for the "free meal." That's not me.
Helen Jane is gone. She'll be spry again in the next life. Hope I can break bread with her.
Suspense ends in Idaho
Was applying the roof rake yesterday at my home, descended down the ladder - speaking of "spry," that is a needed quality - then went inside to discover the headline that the murderer of the "Idaho four" had been caught. What a strange story we have all been through with this. I had a draft blog post ready to go before the news. With some alterations, I think this post is pretty acceptable now. So I invite you to click on link below. Thanks.
Tomorrow is Sunday
The rise of Christian nationalism prompts more thoughts from yours truly, now to the point where I'm questioning if it's time to reject the Christian faith. Seriously. So I invite you to click on this link to get my updated thoughts on this troubling matter.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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