We can all catch our breath now. On this Sunday morning, we can relax and reflect on some momentous prep basketball happenings. A peak was reached yesterday (Saturday) in the boys basketball state tournament.
Making state by itself is significant. Winning a game there elevates you a few more notches. Making the state championship game? Exhilarating. My goodness, to win it all? That's the perch now occupied by the Alexandria Cardinals. This is the boys hoops team whose accomplishments are on the heels of the Alex girls placing third.
March Madness to the utmost? I can only imagine what the mood is around Alexandria now. Church pastors will probably acknowledge it. Many of us in Morris followed the exploits of the Cardinal boys and girls in state.
Many of us are also ecstatic to see the West Central Area girls having won the state Class A title! That was with a Morris product coaching them: Becca Holland. I'm proud to say the Holland sisters Becca and Beth grew up in my church. That's First Lutheran where I'll be going in just a couple hours for coffee hour. Our weekly service will follow. Maybe hear some mention of the basketball world there?
My current post on "Morris of Course" asks the question of whether the MACA athletic program may have been able to secure Becca for coaching here. Here's the link:
Excluded in all this is MACA. Well, maybe next year. Our boys actually did have a successful season. Our girls? Well I guess not.
The Alex boys coached by Forrest Witt took the 2025 state title with a 73-64 win over Mankato East which had the top seed. It all came to a head at storied Williams Arena, U of M. Alex was seeded No. 3.
Alex exuded an emotional intensity on the court. Mankato East was a juggernaut sporting a 28-game win streak! They're known as the "Cougars."
Alex asserted itself from early-on. The Cards led for more than 34 minutes of the 36-minute game. Future Clemson player Chase Thompson, a forward, scored 28 points. Junior guard Talan Witt sported a total of 13. Thompson proclaimed "this is for the city of Alexandria."
The Alex fans could envision this victory at halftime. The Cards had an 8-2 run to close out first half play. So they were up at the halfway mark 37-28. Mason Witt hit a '3' with 12 seconds left in the half. I am trying to check out the Echo-Press coverage of the game, but a recurring problem crops up: "404 not found."
Alex closed out the campaign with a 25-game win streak. Their final record: 29-3. The co-captains were seniors Samson Hagstrom and Thompson. They'll get their diplomas from Alex High this spring.
Look for the following players to don the Alex school colors when action resumes next season: Mason Witt, Talan Witt, Gavin Roderick, Myles Gray, Thomas Hinrichs, Blake Scholl and Grady Starzl. I'm assuming that Blake is the brother of girls standout Chloe Scholl.
There are Morris connections with a lot of these folks, not just the Witts. The Witt players will be returning starters for next season. Roderick joins them in this category.
Now, I personally am exhausted! As a journalist I have tried to do all these accomplishments justice. I will need some rest just like the fans! Congrats to Cardinal country! Why do I put pressure on myself? I don't need to. Jerry Witt would smile if he read that. I came to share with him about the vicissitudes of being a press person!
In the immediate aftermath of final buzzer: win over Mankato East.
Talan Witt, 13 points in title game
Chase Thompson, 28 points in title game
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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