Hancock boys flirted with state, were stopped just shy

Hancock's exciting ride in the 2018 post-season ended on March 16. What memories! Although the big climb ended shy of state, the Owls put together 25 wins over the course of the 2017-18 campaign. Noah Kannegiesser may have led the way but there were significant contributions from others. I didn't personally watch the team. I wish I could have.
The curtain came down in the March 16 game that had Mahnomen/Waubun as the opponent. The game was for the 6A title. This time the winning magic eluded the gallant HHS crew. The Owls were stopped in a 71-64 final at the Concordia-Moorhead fieldhouse.
Mahnomen-Waubun has the "Thunderbirds" nickname. They entered the game as somewhat less than a world beater, with a loss total over ten. But it was the Thunderbirds who got the advantage and thus the right to advance to state. The halftime situation was the T-birds up by four, but Hancock made things more than interesting in second half play. Coach Cory Bedel's Owls got the score tied 52-52 with 9:45 left. Then the Owls climbed further as they seized the lead at 59-54. The time remaining: 7:32. Alas, the Owl crew could score just five more points. The final horn sounded with the T-Birds up by seven.
The books are closed on the HHS boys' season with a won-lost record of 25-3. The T-Birds outscored the Owls by a dozen points over the final seven minutes. Hancock was seeking its first state tournament appearance since 2003. Kannegiesser scored a bushel full of points as is his habit. His total on this night: 32. So his career total was upped to 2,688.
The Owls hadn't lost a game in over a month. Coach Bedel had his team streak out to a 7-1 record at season's start. Then it got even better with a win streak of 12 games. Finally they fell to Dawson-Boyd on February 12. The jets got going again with a seven-game win skein that included three wins in post-season.
Bennett Nienhaus complemented Kannegiesser with offensive prowess in many games. He was No. 2 in scoring behind Kannegiesser in the March 16 game with 15 points. Connor Reese found the range to score nine points. Cole Reese scored seven and Peyton Rohloff one. Kannegiesser and Nienhaus each made three 3-point shots.
Mahnomen-Waubun was led by Treston Spalla who poured in 22 points. Other double figures scorers for the T-Birds were Dion Bower with 18 points and Jayden Heisler with 13. Parker Syverson and Jon Starkey each scored six points. The list wraps up with Logan Pazdernik (4) and Will Bly (2). Heisler and Bower each made three 3-point shots.
Amidst all the excitement of reaching such a high level in post-season, a notable individual honor was announced. Kannegiesser, the Owls' superstar guard, is one of ten finalists for the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association McDonald Award. He's the only Class A player to be so honored. He's on the prestigious list with lots of metro area players and Division I recruits. Without a doubt Kannegiesser belongs on the list - he led the state in scoring with his per-game average of 36 points. He scored over 1,000 points on a notable shooting percentage of 57.3.
The McDonald Award is named for coach Bob McDonald. This year's award is the first. Where can fans enjoy Kannegiesser's talents in the future? Glad you ask. He'll be scoring for those Comets of Concordia-St. Paul of Division II.
 
Owls 61, Ortonville 54
The Owls reached the Section 6A championship game with their success vs. the Trojans of Ortonville. This game might have been postponed in light of the terrible van accident that resulted in Hancock students seriously hurt. Coach Cory Bedel reported that the team discussed the matter and decided to move forward and play the game. They'd play it with the injured students in mind, feeling inspired by them and their strength to persevere.
Amidst an atmosphere of prayer for those kids, the Owls went out and won their game at the Concordia fieldhouse floor. Hancock led at halftime 29-22. But the Trojans were a quite undaunted unit and seized momentum for a time in the second half, good enough to wrest the lead away from the Owls and to lead by four with six minutes left. The Owls fought back to prevail in the end, 61-51, for their third win over Ortonville this season.
Coach Bedel recited the old wisdom about how it's hard to beat an opponent three times in a season. Ah, it's superstition, right? Well, I don't know. "The kids came down and hit some big shots," Bedel was quoted saying. The reward for the winning surge was the South Sub-Section championship. Upon savoring the win, everyone's thoughts turned back to the tragedy of the accident and how the kids are striving to recover. So many people talk about "prayers." IMHO I'm not sure the prayers accomplish much.
Kannegiesser poured in 36 points in the March 12 win. He was one of just five Owls putting in points. His reliable sidekick in the offensive scheme of things, Bennett Nienhaus, scored nine points. Cole Reese added eight points to the mix. Peyton Rohloff scored six and Daniel Milander two. Kannegiesser brought waves of cheers with his five 3-point shot successes. Nienhaus made three 3-pointers and Cole Reese made one.
Rohloff led in rebounds with nine while Connor Reese and Nienhaus each grabbed eight. Kannegiesser showed his unselfish play with seven assists. He was all over the court as shown by his five steals.
Ortonville had four double figures scorers led by Tyson Powell who scored 15 points. Then we have DaVonte Edwards with 12 points and Mitchell Meyer and Caden Wellnitz each with ten. Peter Treinen added seven points to the mix. Meyer made a 3-pointer.
 
Owls 69, Battle Lake 61 (OT)
The Owls' exciting ride included a come-from-behind victory that required overtime. The site was the big floor of our U of M-Morris. It's too bad more post-season games don't get played there (like in the old days). The Owls got the advantage in overtime over Battle Lake in a 69-61 final on March 10. Whew!
Kannegiesser's point output on this day was 35 with every point important as the Owls had to rally from an eight-point halftime deficit. The halftime score was 37-29 with the Owls in that worrisome hole. The Owl faithful had to cross fingers and keep the faith, for what would be a wild second half here in Morris.
Sure enough, the Owls had what it took to surge and win. They outscored Battle Lake 40-34 in the second half and overtime to win.
Kannegiesser's 35 points were followed by Connor Reese's nine. Bennett Nienhaus and Cole Reese each finished with eight points. Peyton Rohloff put in seven points and Daniel Milander had two. It was bombs away by Kannegiesser as he sank six 3-point shots. The Reese boys - Cole and Connor - each made one '3'. Rohloff led the Owls in rebounds with six. Kannegiesser and Cole Reese were tops in assists, each with four. Kannegiesser led in steals with four followed by Milander and Nienhaus each with three.
The Battle Lake scoring list had four in double figures: Nick VanErp led their charge with 19 points. Colton Kirschbaum put in 15. Isaiah Dorn had a point total of 14 and Bennet Cameron contributed ten. The list wraps up with Brady Scholten and his three points. VanErp built his total with three 3-pointers. Cameron made two shots from long range and Dorn made one.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com