MACA girls own 2-2 record, boys struggling

Girls hoops: Monte 55, Tigers 49

The MACA girls let a prime opportunity for a win slip away Friday (12/13) at Montevideo.

Victory was well within grasp in the closing stages of regulation. The Tigers led 42-37. Jessie Janisch infused momentum for the Thunder Hawks. She made a couple baskets, plus there was a critical make from the top of the key by Ashley Hoehne. Hoehne's make was a buzzer-beater.

Monte had bought more time by forcing a tie and regrouping for overtime. The score at the end of regulation was 44-all. Bring on overtime (groan)! 

Monte had the feeling of "mo" for the start of OT and that wouldn't change. The T-Hawks outscored the Tigers 11-5 in overtime to get the win, 55-49.

It really hurt that MACA had a rough night in 3-pointers. One more success in this department and MACA would have come home victorious. But the Tigers were one of eleven with Nicole Strobel having the make. (The Willmar newspaper spelled her name "Stroebel.")

Beth Holland topped the MACA scoring list with 21 points. There was one other double figures scorer: Lauren Reimers with ten. Strobel and Abby Olson each put in five points. Kaitlin Vogel scored four followed by Becca Holland and Lacee Maanum each with two. (The Willmar paper spelled Lacee's name "Lacy.")

Vogel worked the boards for a team-best six rebounds. The Holland sisters - Beth and Becca - each had five rebounds as did Strobel and Olson. Reimers picked up five assists and Becca Holland had four. Reimers was aggressive to get seven steals.

The Tigers made 19 total field goals in 64 attempts. The freethrow numbers: 10 of 24.

Hoehne topped the Monte scoring list with her 21 points. Hoehne's late dramatic '3' came on her only such attempt of the night. Nicole Erickson had Monte's other 3-pointer.

Hoehne led Monte's rebounding with seven and also picked up four steals. The second half saw the Tigers outscore Monte 27-22. The MACA girls entered the weekend at .500: 2-2.

 

Girls: Tigers 72, 'Waska 47

The MACA girls treated home gym fans to a 72-47 win on Tuesday, Dec. 10. It was win No. 2 of the season and it came vs. Minnewaska Area.

The squad is adjusting to the unfortunate injury suffered by Tracy Meichsner, starting wing player. Junior Meichsner is no-go for the rest of the season. The injury is to her left knee. Last season the problem was the right knee for this talented Tiger. Hopefully the rehabilitation measures can get everything back in order.

For the time being, the Tigers are adjusting, and this they did quite fine on Tuesday as they shot over 50 per cent from the field. Shooting sparingly from 3-point range - just two attempts - coach Dale Henrich's squad made 29 of 56 field goal tries.

Lauren Reimers made a 3-pointer. The Tigers led 39-20 at halftime.

In freethrows the Tigers made 13 of 20 shots. Abbie Olson and Liz Tiernan each grabbed seven rebounds followed by Reimers with five. Beth Holland dished out five assists.

Kaitlin Vogel stole the ball four times.

On to scoring: Here it was Olson setting the pace with her 18 points. Also achieving double figures were Reimers with 12 and Becca Holland with ten.

Beth Holland scored eight followed by Tiernan with seven and these three Tigers each with four: Nicole Strobel, Lacee Maanum and Vogel. Moira McNally added three points to the mix and Sam Henrichs two.

The Tigers overcame the hot hand of Carley Stewart of the Lakers who had 19 points. Madison Phillips put in eight points for the Lakers, and Ashlyn Guggisberg seven. Phillips made two 3-point shots.

'Waska came out of this game at 1-3 in won-lost.

 

Boys basketball: Sauk Centre 64, Tigers 61

The Tigers played a close game in boys hoops Thursday night (12/12) at home. The Streeters of Sauk Centre were in town.

Coach Mark Torgerson's Tiger squad challenged the Streeters well but couldn't achieve their first win. The Tigers came within three. Josh Buschette put in 21 points for the visitor who prevailed in the 64-61 final. Buschette complemented his point total with four assists and three steals.

Coming within three points was heartening for Morris Area Chokio Alberta fans, as this was versus a team that had yet to lose this season. Sauk Centre came out of the night at 6-0 in overall, 2-0 in conference.

MACA enters the weekend still in search of win No. 1, but there's an opportunity to get that tonight (Saturday) vs. Ortonville, here. At the time of this post, the Tigers are 0-5.

Buschette was Sauk's top scorer Thursday but it was Matthew Moritz who may have made the most clutch shot. Moritz deflated the Tiger hopes by making a three-pointer with under a minute left. Sauk Centre had garnered the lead for good.

Less than a minute earlier, Riley Biesterfeld made a pair of freethrows that actually gave MACA the lead. Against an undefeated team!

But the upset hopes would be dashed by the poised Moritz, who made two 3-pointers on the night. Buschette made three long-rangers, while Seth Otte and Andrew Primus each made one. Moritz finished with ten points.

Sauk appeared to be cruising through a portion of the second half as they led by as many as 16 points. They would have to work and sweat to put this one away.

It was another glowing night for the sophomore post player of the Tigers, Eric Staebler. Eric's contributions on this night included 25 points (game-high) and 14 rebounds. Staebler has had special statistical impact in most of the Tigers' games thus far.

Noah Grove made three 3-pointers and Bryce Jergenson made one. As a team the Tigers were four of 13 in 3's, and 21 of 50 overall. But their most precise numbers were in freethrows: 15 of 16!

Staebler, Grove and Jergenson led in scoring with 25, 15 and 11 points, respectively. These Tigers each added two points to the mix: Trent Wulf, Biesterfeld, Jacob Zosel, Andrew Goulet and Nic Solvie.

Staebler's 14 rebounds put him way atop the list. Jergenson picked up five boards.

Goulet topped the assist list with five. Jergenson and Staebler each picked up three steals, and Grove blocked two shots.

 

Boys: Melrose 74, Tigers 60

The MACA boys made the trip along I-94 to play the Melrose Dutchmen on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The Tigers hung in there through halftime.

Trailing by just two at the halfway mark, 36-34, the Tigers unfortunately couldn't make headway in the second half, despite the standout play of Eric Staebler and Noah Grove. Staebler finished the night with 27 points and completed a double-double with 13 rebounds. Grove got hot for 19 points, but in the end the Tigers lost this game to the Dutchmen, 74-60.

Melrose outscored the Tigers in the second half, 38-26.

The Dutchmen pulled away on the scoreboard thanks largely to 3-pointers. They made eight such shots in the second half. Melrose looked quite in the groove shooting from long-range the whole game. Indeed they looked comfortable on their home court, making 13 total 3's in 26 attempts for a percentage that even I can figure in an instant: 50 per cent.

Melrose was 28 of 57 in total field goals and five of six in freethrows.

Seth Noll, a familiar name from football, poured in 32 points for the host. Ben Klaphake scored 18 points and Nathan Goebel 11. Klaphake made six of the 3's while Noll made four and Cole Van Beck three.

Staebler and Grove were followed on the MACA scoring list by Bryce Jergenson with four and these Tigers each with two: Ian Howden, Trent Wulf, Jordan Arbach, C.J. Nagel and Andew Goulet.

Noah Grove made all four of the MACA three-pointers. The Tigers had 26 total field goals and were four of 12 in freethrows. Staebler cleaned the boards for 13 rebounds. Jergenson deftly passed for five assists.

Melrose got into the win column with this success.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, so things will slow down soon, at least a little.

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