The Tuesday night home hoops contest drew lots of attention. A pair of highly-touted teams did battle at Tiger Center. On one side: the visiting Melrose Dutchmen, ranked fifth in AA. The host Tigers owned firepower also, owner of the No. 10 state position.
We might have expected an uphill battle - that's because on February 2 we were handed an 82-49 loss at the hands of the Dutchmen. There was some consolation coming out of Tuesday: the score was closer. Still the Dutchmen prevailed. It was a conference game. The score was 66-58.
The Tigers had the halftime lead at 32-30. Melrose surged to outscore us by ten the rest of the way. The Dutchmen are unbeaten at 14-0. The Tigers own 12-2 numbers. I remember Melrose as a hoops juggernaut when I was a kid. They had superstar Mark Olberding, destined for the pros.
Brandon Jergenson was an orange and black standout Tuesday as he made all three of his 3-point attempts. Jackson Loge was three of six in long-range attempts, and Thomas Tiernan two of four. Our team numbers were eight of 15, 53 percent. In total field goals we were 22 of 43, 51 percent.
Loge topped the scoring list with 22 points on his eight of 17 field goal numbers. Durgin Decker scored eleven on five of seven. Jergenson's 3's accounted for his nine points. Tiernan's output was eight points on three of six. Riley Reimers put in four points, and Toby Gonnerman and Cole Wente two each.
Our freethrow numbers were six of ten. Loge made three from the stripe. Loge led in rebounds with ten including one offensive. Decker snared six rebounds and Reimers four. Gonnerman and Jergenson each produced five assists. Loge stole the ball twice. He was the only Tiger with blocked shots: three.
We had our seven-game winning streak come to an end. We led at halftime and in doing so, had to overcome the 8-0 lead Melrose carved out at the start. An 11-0 run helped put us in position to wrest the lead for halftime. But the chemistry would not continue. We actually built a lead of as many as nine in the first half. A 5-0 run by Melrose in the second half seemed instrumental for them getting the winning "mo.'
Grant Moscho was the team-high and game-high scorer for Melrose: 24 points. Then we see Rowan Nelson with 21 along with ten boards.
The softball "complex" project
My favorite route for taking walks goes around the softball fields just east of the UMM campus. It's called a "complex" which is maybe some overstatement. I was expecting some pretty big developments out there. I heard of the ballyhooed improvement project.
I was skeptical at the start of the wisdom behind this, but was ready to be surprised in a positive way. I try to be receptive to the grand schemes of government and school entities. We must have an open mind.
I cannot help but think as I walk past the "complex" now: "What gives?" Seems so underwhelming. There's a small building at center, really shack-like, and maybe it includes bathrooms? Was it so terrible using porta potties? Give government/schools a chance and they will pick your pocket. They have a never-ending wish list for new toys. They present all this in the language of "needs." We "need" this, we "need" that.
I remember when UMM soccer said it "needed" a pressbox. For most of my life there was no UMM soccer program. I think soccer is a nice thing and wish it would replace football. Show football the door - St. Cloud State did - and preserve young men's health.
Didn't you all think we had perfectly wonderful softball facilities already in this community? I never would have guessed there were shortcomings. But as we peruse the media, we always learn of these grand schemes where elaborate projects get trotted out as meeting "needs." Holy s--t.
So at present I totally turn thumbs-down on this project at the UMM softball fields. And yes, that's what most of us will continue calling it regardless of any language to suggest a "partnership."
And why the heck is the City of Morris involved with funding? There are issues with the City of Morris performance across the board these days, and now we contemplate to what extent city coffers are opened for the softball "complex."
The city manager is quoted: "There has been some discussion about adding another piece to it. And I can tell you that I've been asked whether or not the city would be interested in contributing more money to that project. We're waiting to find out what's going to happen with our budget."
More money? Take your eye off government and it will fleece you. Take away the little shack-like structure and the whole place looks essentially the same as before. Seems highly dubious. But it's up to the public to hold government's feet to the fire, to be a watchdog. Or are we too complacent in Morris?
Surprise: Chancellor Behr retiring
Did not see this coming. Many professionals in education seem to retire prematurely. Same situation with the Post Office. Seems to happen where government money is involved, hmmm. The U has been subject to finger-pointing with regard to alleged "largesse." That Mr. Bruininks seemed to be a flashpoint. (Why doesn't he spell it "Brunix?")
Seems to me, Michelle Behr at UMM, now retiring as per official word, is a vigorous person still with much to offer. I did not get to know her well. She seemed to have all the attributes for the position. A friend of mine with a cynical slant offered the following in reaction via email:
Why doesn’t the school hire someone younger that will actually stick around a few years instead of bringing in people that want to pad their resumes for a couple of years then retire?
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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