MACA fans are in a four-day rest now until the curtain opens again for post-season play. Each step takes us to a higher level. Each new level brings increased interest like from the media.
Confidence was high for MACA success going into the game of this past weekend. It was another of those games at the place called the R/A Facility. It's in Marshall of course. On the Southwest State campus. Lots of high-level section competition has taken place there through the years. And it's going to happen again on Thursday. What's at stake now is the 3AA title.
On Saturday the Tigers turned back the Minnewaska Lakers by a comfortable margin. Thus they achieved No. 1 in 3AA-North. I have to concentrate hard on the terminology sometimes. The subsection title games could just as easily be called the section semis. But we'll go with how the High School League describes things. The Tigers defeated our friends to the east Minnewaska Area 74-44.
A very nice thing about this game was that it was played in the afternoon. A fun day with no suspense for the MACA faithful to deal with. Just watch the orange and black do their thing with an emphasis on defense, it would appear.
How much suspense will present itself on Thursday? It gets hard to figure at this point because now we're against a southern Minnesota team. Might be considered an unknown quantity. When you're playing Jackson County Central, you're getting to a high level of tournament play. So fans will gather at the "R/A" again on Thursday night to see how the teams match up and who can prevail.
I personally would say odds look good for the Tigers. The JCC Huskies are coming off a 77-61 win over Montevideo.
Another win means state! And my goodness, the Tigers under Jacob Torgerson have done nothing but win all season! This is truly history. The Tigers are 28-0 and are ranked No. 1 in state. The latter distinction might be assumed!
We beat Minnewaska three times this season. Those Lakers finished the campaign 18-10. Boys and girls hoops are doing well in Minnewaska country (even if referendums are such an uphill battle). Referendums always pass here in Motown.
The 'Waska BBB coach describes MACA as "phenomenal" in the defensive phase. Of course the Tigers have guns who can put points on the board too. We shot 59 percent from the field Saturday. It was a 29-for-49 performance. In 3's our numbers were 8-for-20, 40 percent.
Riley Asmus top scorer
Writing about the Tigers means you always use the first initial or first name with the Asmus last name. Senior Riley Asmus had the most productive day for us on Saturday. He had a hot hand in the first half with 19 points. His game total of 26 was team-best. He's a 6'3" presence. MACA was up 36-22 at halftime.
Riley is actually a baseball specialist! He did not play football in the fall, as a means of avoiding injury. Not that injuries don't happen in basketball! But everyone knows football is worse.
Alex Asmus, a junior, put in 16 points. The Tigers outscored the Lakers 38-22 in the second half.
Our coach Torgerson is quoted in Sunday's article on the WC Tribune website. Is this a first for the season? I think it might be.
I was hoping to see a full stat review for the Tigers also, something beyond individual points and 3-point shooting. No such surprise. 'Waska gets the full treatment that includes rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. We'll take what we an get. Another win and we'll start getting attention in the Twin Cities press.
The Asmus boys - brothers, incidentally - were complemented by these teammates on the scoring list: Ben Tiernan 9, Jack Kehoe 8, Tyson Grove 7, Tanner Friesen 4 and Jonah Huebner 4. Alex Asmus and Tiernan each made three 3-pointers. Grove and Riley Asmus each made one.
Marc Gruber was the standout for the Lakers with 19 points. He was one of three Lakers who each made a '3'. The other two were Tristan O'Neil and Connor Erickson.
If 'Waska has a trademark it is 3-point shooting from an array of players. But on Saturday the Tigers applied the defensive resistance and 'Waska had 3 of 14 numbers in 3's, 21 percent.
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| The JCC "Huskies" |
Let's take a look at those Huskies of JCC: they have a 24-6 W/L, 13-3 in section and 12-2 in conference. They're a perfect 13-0 on their home court. So far in the post-season they have turned back Pipestone (62-48), Fairmont (70-52) and Montevideo (77-63).
Get ready to rumble on Thursday! The curtain will rise at 8 p.m. Unfortunately, a late starting time. Be careful driving back home.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesote - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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