Tigers have their moments but fall to Willmar

MACA girls basketball visited "big school" Willmar for a Monday game. The Tigers had a respectable performance but it was shy of victory. The host Cardinals won by a 56-44 score. The host had a record just shy of .500 coming into this contest. But they had gotten on a roll having won four of their five previous games. Our Tigers began the week with a 4-8 record. 

The start of the game did not bode well for coach Dale Henrich's Tigers. We got behind 12-5. But we enjoyed a surge of momentum with an 8-0 advantage over a stretch. We led 13-12. 

Willmar wrested the lead back and then enjoyed a run of their own. The halftime situation looked good for the Cardinals as they were up 32-20. They had a 35 percent shooting performance in first half play, led by Telilie Lang who put in eleven points. 

The Tigers had more than a glimmer of hope the rest of the way. We fought to within four points. Turnovers mounted as a problem for our orange and black. Willmar seized on these breaks. Willmar enjoyed a 14-point bulge on the scoreboard with two minutes left. It would be a night for the Cardinals to get their eighth win. They have won six of their last eight games at home. Home is the "Big Red Gym" in Willmar. 

Lange finished with 13 points, plus she had four assists and three rebounds. Brielle Ogdahl supplied nine points. Then we see seven each coming from Maycee Gustafson, Maddie Molacek and Kenedee Salonek. Extra punch came from reserve players Isley Ripperger (8) and Lyza Gustafson (5). 

The Cardinals resumed play on Tuesday against another foe with the "Tigers" nickname, that being Marshall. I have been confused in the past at the early-bird cross country meet at our local golf course: the presence of Marshall with the orange and black colors blends in with our Tigers. Who's who? It was aggravating one year when I was trying to take photos! Ah, the headaches of a sports journalist in the community press. 

Marshall defeated Willmar Tuesday 62-51.

While we're on the subject of the early-bird cross country meet, I will mention too that I have always seen a safety issue with so many vehicles parked along the highway outside the golf course. People walk in and out between the vehicles. We have seen the same issue arise with Prairie Lane outside of our "softball complex." Of course I have seen many issues in connection with the "complex." Maybe there is a bigger issue here of things just not being done right or with precision anymore. Maybe the problem is that costs for everything have gone up so much. 

The Marshall Tigers girls basketball team is ranked fifth in Minnesota Class AAA.

Lange of the Cardinals made six of her eleven shots from the field against our MACA Tigers. She had six of the team's eleven steals. Ogdahl blocked two shots. Ripperger's seven rebounds was team-best. She's a 5'5" freshman guard. 

What kind of highlights can I find for the MACA Tigers? Unfortunately not much. The kmrs-kkok website mentioned two individuals. So we see that Kaylee Harstad had 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals. And, Maddie Fehr had 13 points and five rebounds. Brett Miller would have supplied us with more in his coverage, but he has left the radio station. It is too bad I cannot find more. 

Does the Stevens County Times website report anything? Check it out. Someone is paid to write sports there.

What does the radio station tell us about the MACA boys game? The Tigers crushed Benson 72-27 on Monday. Here's the detail on the kmrs-kkok site: Charlie Hanson with 18 points. That's it. So congratulations to Charlie. I would like to report much, much more. My hands are tied.

And the SCT site? You'd think our only sports teams here in Morris are "Cougars." It's outrageous IMHO. Are we all going to continue putting up with it?

 

The macro picture

Our congressperson Michelle Fischbach gives the impression that "impeaching Joe Biden" is a big priority at present in this nation. Do you agree? Do you agree that impeaching Biden is something that must be done to make your life better? Your life out here in rural western Minnesota? Maybe you do. But I doubt it. 

We get drunk on all these revelations about the outrageous conduct and language by Donald Trump. Yet our congressperson seems to take the attitude "there's nothing to see there." Trump rolls along toward the GOP nomination with the help of people like Fischbach. Below is a part of the communication she sent out just this morning. I'm on her communications list but she will not answer my questions. Very reasonable questions I might add. Here's what Fischbach communicated so urgently:

Michelle Fischbach

I voted along with my Republican colleagues to refer H.Res.503 to the Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security. This resolution, which passed on the House Floor, begins impeachment proceedings against President Biden for abuse of power and dereliction of duty charges related to the southern border. These committees will now have the opportunity to consider the allegations made in the resolution, review the evidence, and decide whether the President's conduct reaches the threshold for impeachment.
Following that vote, former Speaker McCarthy announced that the House would open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Thanks to the work of several committees, including the Ways and Means Committee, we have heard enough to be gravely concerned about the President's alleged conduct. 

The House of Representatives voted and passed H.Res.918 to formally open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, which allows Congress to subpoena additional documents and fully investigate the situation. Through this action, the House has reasserted Congress' authority to gather all the necessary evidence to complete its investigation. 

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