So last night (Tuesday) I "tuned in" for a portion of the MACA girls basketball game. What I saw was heartening because our GBB program looked stable, at least able to finish out the season. How disastrous it would have to be, if we just had to "fold." Doesn't seem like any such scenario is in the works.
We might have been in panic mode over the previous week's 'Waska game. Or the earlier game versus Mayer Lutheran. But last night we had a team on the floor that looked decent or "passable." We'll make it. The fact we lost seems like not a big deal. It was against Willmar.
Yes, a "big town." But we must not assume that the big towns have a big natural advantage. For one thing, those schools might have more resources by which to offer kids more activity choices. So, they'd be "divided up" more. That's at least in theory.
A friend of mine seemed to indicate over the past few days that the MACA girls program might be endangered for this year. This individual said some players were leaving the program. I envisioned a possible 5-alarm fire.
I know nothing about our current coach, in his first year. He was standing along our bench last night in typical command pose. So we wish everyone well.
You know, I'm noticing a fair number of one-sided scores in prep hoops out and around. Has the reaction to these changed from an earlier time? It is hard for me to keep up on everything. Maybe we all take these scores in stride, aren't as apt to get so horribly upset about alleged "running up the score."
That charge has always bothered me some. Because, we do not want to discourage our coaches from pushing their players to play at their best. It is disturbing when there is a deliberate departure from high standards just to help a certain opponent "save face." So maybe "chill out?" to use a poplar current expression? Remember that the score is just a pair of numbers. No one ought to get hurt by that.
And the two numbers from Tuesday night in Tiger Land were 57-23, MACA on the short end. I was actually relieved by this score. I was relieved watching YouTube and seeing everything look basically normal. Really, the sky wasn't falling. It may have been last Thursday. But not last night. Our players out on the floor looked reasonably capable.
We might trot out the old explanation "our shots weren't falling."
The West Central Tribune credited the Willmar Cardinals' defense. But it would seem maybe the Tigers need more drilling with shooting. That includes "bunnies" which good ol' Neal Hofland cited as a problem after a recent game. The halftime score last night was not a disaster: 25-13. But the Cardinals surged in second half play to outscore us 32-10.
My current post on "Morris of Course" is divided between the U of M women's basketball team and the MACA girls. The girls portion focuses on what we might call the "existential" issue, of immediate concern following the two concerning losses. Also, reports I've heard of some players leaving the team. The news about our U of M Gophers is 100 percent terrific. I invite you to read:
Willmar 57, Tigers 23
Oh shoot the West Central Tribune has "stats not available" for MACA. That old bugaboo. Can't some pressure be brought to bear on Forum Communications, owner of the WC Trib? They made a foray into Morris once and it did not go well for them. I sure do not respect that company.
The problem with our Morris newspaper these days - the "elephant in the room" - is that it only comes out once a week. Let's say that MACA had an exciting win over Willmar last night - we'd have to wait until next Tuesday to see the coverage.
This could be solved wonderfully if the paper would use its website more. Instead the SCT website just showers us with coverage of the UMM Cougars. What's the term for that? "Bizarro World?" I have been accused of misusing that term. I was with the Morris newspaper when it published twice a week. Today I don't think I would be held back with the website. But of course management sets its policy. I'm just a guy who likes writing about local sports.
I can report here on the Willmar Cardinals from last night. Many Cardinals scored but only one really stood out. This was Maddie Molacek with 21 points. Madison Norsten and Aliya Reiman each scored seven.
The rest of the list: Telilie Lange 6, Brielle Ogdahl 5, Isley Ripperger 4, Lyza Gustafson 3, Madelyn Swierenga 2, Hannah Magnuson 1 and Emmy Saulsburg 1.
Ogdahl, Reiman and Molocek each made a 3-pointer. Here's the rebound list: Molacek 7, Gustafson 7, Ripperger 5, Lange 5, Norsten 5 and Reiman 5. Ripperger, Ogdahl and Norsten each had two assists. Lange had three steals and Reiman 2.
Molacek had four blocked shots and Ogdahl 2.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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