Tigers 68, ACGC 66
Overtime has spelled magic for the MACA boys this season. On Thursday night the magic spelled advancement in the post-season. We battled familiar rival ACGC, the Falcons, in the Section 3AA quarter-finals. We carved out our fifth overtime triumph of the campaign. The score: 68-66. The site: Willmar.
We were truly on the ropes in this game. A Jacob Zosel three-pointer rescued us from impending defeat. Just seconds remained to be played. In overtime, Zosel showed resolve driving the length of the court to score on a layup.
The game had a close complexion early. Back and forth the teams went, scoring regularly. At halftime we had the good fortune of being up by four points. Payton Kinzler was doing damage for the Falcons.
ACGC worked to erase their deficit shortly into the second half. Gabe Eisenbacher deftly took passes in the post to do damage in the second half. The Falcons crept out in front on the scoreboard. Their fans were buoyed, anticipating victory.
There were 7.8 seconds left when Zosel eyed the basket and let a shot fly from three-point range. Good! Bring on overtime! We seized the lead at first. An advantage of three points, but Kinzler intercepted a pass after an 'O' rebound. He connected from three-point range. Nothing was going to come easy on this night. Timeout time? No, the orange and black didn't miss a beat: Zosel took the inbound and surged up the court, undaunted. He made that game-winning layup to finally seal the deal for coach Mark Torgerson's crew.
Zosel later commented that the Tigers were resolved not to let ACGC set up their press. The theme was "just run." Coach Torgerson commented post-game that he had confidence in all his players to come through in crunch time. "They were constantly digging and going after the ball defensively," he said.
Our next tournament foe will be New London-Spicer. This game will be the Section 3AA-North final. "We know we have a chance to get out of this section," Zosel said to the Willmar paper. "We're carrying success from football." That seems a long time ago, just like the volleyball team's rise to state. "We're ready."
The Tigers and Wildcats will battle at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, 3/11, at Southwest State of Marshall.
The Tigers and Wildcats will battle at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, 3/11, at Southwest State of Marshall.
Our boys hoops team has the look of an overachiever now. Our won-lost mark isn't dazzling at 15-12. ACGC closes out with a 15-11 record.
Five different Tigers each made one 3-pointer against ACGC: Tate Nelson, Camden Arndt, Jacob Zosel, Lukus Manska and Jaret Johnson. Three Tigers scored in double figures led by Zosel with 15. Arndt put in 13 points and Manska 12. Nelson and Johnson each scored nine.
Tim Travis had six points and Connor Koebernick four. Arndt led in rebounds with eight. Zosel had four assists and Johnson had three. Manska had four steals and Nelson had two.
Kinzler was quite the force for ACGC with five 3-pointers. Jaren Kaddatz made one '3.' But it was Eisenbacher with the team-best point total of 18. Kinzler finished with 17. Erik Belgum added 12 points to the mix and Adam Johnson had 11. Kaddatz finished with eight points. Belgum and Eisenbacher each pulled down 13 rebounds. Johnson had nine rebounds and Kaddatz five. Assist leaders were Belgum (6), Kaddatz (3) and Eisenbacher (3). Ryan Amdahl and Eisenbacher each had a steal.
Click on the link below to read about the Tigers' win over YME at the start of post-season. This post is on my companion website, "Morris of Course." Thanks for reading. - BW
I invite you to click on the link below to read about the girls basketball team beating No. 2 seed 'Waska in the tourney.
Winter wanes
We've had another mild winter. You might call it an "Iowa" type of winter. It's a winter that never really asserts itself. It seemed we all got sick. A wicked illness made the rounds causing a most annoying cough. I got a prescription to harness it
I can't think of one single reason to reflect positively on this past winter. It was simply a "blah" ordeal. Wouldn't we all prefer the standard Minnesota winter with abundant crisp, dry snow, snowdrifts, "snowforts" and snowmobiles buzzing around the countryside? So what if we had to use our snowblowers more or hire snow removal. I'd gladly do that. Let the kids have a few days off from school with "snow days." And forget the "e-learning" on those days! Actually, if e-learning is so effective, maybe we wouldn't even need bricks and mortar education anymore.
The late 1960s were a time when tons of snow descended from the sky. A vicious wind would roar out of the northwest. I think it gave us all pride as Minnesotans to be able to relish life amidst all that.
No comments:
Post a Comment