Tigers fade in the face of Imdieke 3-pointer

The MACA boys basketball team is maybe a little "snakebit" and by that I mean susceptible to close losses. This was the outcome for our Tigers on Monday night. Alas, a loss by two points on the road. We were up against those "Silverstreaks" of Osakis. I guess the nickname is one word, not two. Nice nickname. Look what Benson is having to deal with now. 

The Silverstreak fans went home happy Monday, their team having turned back the Tigers 57-55.

Follow hockey too

Yours truly is happy to have posted about the MBA Storm's considerable success on the ice from Friday. Our boys and girls both won impressively over Fairmont at Lee Center. Couldn't ask for a better day of hockey enjoyed here in Morris. How about that Karlie Bruns? The post is on my "Morris of Course" site. The link:

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2024/01/friday-home-wins-in-boys-girls-hockey.html 

 

Thanks for reading. 

Snakebit? The Tigers in their previous game lost to Montevideo 59-58. That game too was on the road. On January 11 the Tigers were stopped by Sauk Centre in the 63-60 outcome, here. In December 8 action, the orange and black got clipped by West Central Area 65-64, here. 

Much of the season remains to try to reverse these fortunes. Still, the orange and black has put together an impressive number of wins. We're 9-5 now, 4-1 in section play, 3-3 in conference, 3-2 at home, Not bad. Now we have to start pulling out some of these "cardiac" endings. 

The Tigers looked to be in good shape with less than a minute left vs. Osakis. The Tigers got an open 3-point shot and took advantage to make it. The three points put us up by one, 55-54. Drama unfolds. Would Osakis again try to make hay from a mismatch at the post position? The mismatch had served Osakis well. Their individual in this department: Kyle Mages. 

Mindful that this strong suit could be tapped again, the MACA defense paid the proper attention to the threat. It "collapsed" on Mages but he had the remedy: he got the ball back out to Drew Imdieke who was poised from behind the 3-point line. The clock showed 35 seconds left as Imdieke sent the ball toward the hoop. It's good! It proved to be the game-winner. That's how the ball bounces. 

Imdieke is sort of like a quarterback on offense for Osakis. He has been a mainstay on varsity for a long time. 

The Tigers were not out of time after the key "3". So Osakis needed sharp defensive tactics which they in fact showed. They watched for a "back-door cut." Their Seth Staloch was on alert for the inside shot try. And Staloch came through. He blocked a last-gasp drive to the rim. Osakis could finally celebrate this fourth straight win for them, their 11th overall. Their coach has confidence in his roster, dominated by seniors. 

Let's acknowledge Silverstreak Mekai Hoelscher who had 15 points on five 3-pointers! Quite the force. The Mages boys were instrumental, Grant with 17 points and Kyle with 16.

More on Benson H.S.

Surely Benson High school is not savoring being in the news at present. Can the Benson school administration turn the screws on the State of Minnesota, to force the state to pay the million or so dollars to change mascots/nicknames? Is this becoming a real showdown, a game of chicken as it were? 

Would the state risk alienating the community of Benson and perhaps a wider area out here by meting out harsh consequences for Benson? We have all lived with their "Braves" nickname for seemingly time immemorial. I concede maybe it's not an ideal thing: their nickname. But I suspect most people out here in this very "red" region politically would consider the state's enforcement now to be an example of woke-ism. 

The Benson "Braves"

Should Benson just try to hold firm? "Come and make us," they might say to the state "ogres." 

A school district in Pennsylvania has decided to bring back its Native American nickname and imagery. This is Southern York County School District. It's in the news. By a vote of 7-2 the "Warriors" nickname is coming back. Backers of this say it's a gesture against "cancel culture." Here's a quote: "The SYCSD school board stands as a role model and blueprint for other communities fighting for their Native names and imagery." 

Might Benson take note or find inspiration? 

Here's maybe a better suggestion from yours truly: Have no "nickname" at all. Just be "Benson High School." Aren't nicknames kind of a juvenile thing anyway? Benson might make a real statement about this.

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