GBB: Lakers clobber Monte, get humbled by Sauk

Minnewaska handled Monte on Thursday before being humbled on the following day against Sauk Centre. The score was 78-28 as the 'Waska girls built their 50-point margin of success over the T-Hawks. They were quite in command at halftime, up 42-19. Fans at the 'Waska gym enjoyed. 

The West Central Trib reports "Glenwood" but in fact it is in between Glenwood and Starbuck. Do Glenwood and Starbuck have the same sense of rivalry as was typical through much of my life? I turned age 71 on Wednesday. Maybe a lot of the old small town parochialism has faded. How nice if that's true. I have some memories that make me cringe - people approaching high school sports as if it's some kind of war. 

I think the four-class system for basketball has helped a lot. Your top rivals now are not necessarily so close by. Very soon into the tournament you'll be playing teams from a considerable distance away. You might not know a single person from those towns. No long-time grudges built up. 

Minnewaska really turned on the jets in second half play to outscore the out-manned T-Hawks 36-9. Monte can hope for better days ahead. 

The WC Trib lists the 'Waska scorers from top total on down . I like that. So, we see the list headed by Berlynn Green who put in 18 points. The always top-notch Lauryn Ankeny had a total of 16. Kendall Danielson and Alia Randt each supplied 11. Here are the other totals: Olivia Danielson 6, Aubrey Stark 5, Carly Jergenson 3, Nori Song 3, Jyda Kolstoe 3 and Phemie Oeltjen 2. 

Kendall Danielson and Randt supplied the main thrill in 3-pointers, each with three. Stark, Jergenson and Kolstoe each made one. Jergenson and Song co-led in rebounds, each with four. Ankeny with her four assists was tops. She was also tops in steals with six and blocked shots with four.

 

Sauk Centre 59, 'Waska 46

Alas, things did not go so well for the Lakers on Friday. We saw a setback at the hands of Sauk Centre, the "Streeters." Action was again at the 'Waska gym. The margin was 13 points as 'Waska could not work their usual magic on this night. They had just one player in double figures and this was Lauryn Ankeny with her 11 points. 

Allie Mrnak and Berlynn Green each scored nine. Nori Song contributed eight followed by Alia Randt and Kendall Danielson with seven and two respectively. Mrnak and Randt each made a '3'. Randt topped rebounds with six. Green, Randt and the Danielson girls - Kendall and Olivia - each had an assist. Four Lakers each stole the ball three times: Ankeny, Green, Randt and Kendall Danielson. Ankeny and Mrnak each blocked a shot. 

The Lakers concluded the week with a 15-4 record.

 

Boys: Montevideo 78, Minnewaska 68

It was a headlining night for Marc Gruber of the Lakers but it wasn't enough. Gruber was on fire to score 28 points. Tristan O'Neil made an impression with his play as he scored 20. Lots of talent there but the Lakers were outdone by a sharply-executing Monte T-Hawk squad. Monte established its edge by halftime with a 45-27 score. 

Drew Bleick scored ten points for 'Waska. Other Lakers putting in points were Caleb Kath 8, Luke Danielson 4 and Connor Erickson 3. (The individual totals as reported by the WC Trib do not add up to the team total, sorry.)

Gruber entertained the fans with four 3-pointers. Danielson, Erickson and Kath each made one long-ranger. 

O'Neil had the team-best eight rebounds. He was tops in assists too with four. He co-led with Erickson in steals as each performed three. Danielson blocked three shots. 

 

A T-Hawk to watch 

Monte's big star was Griffin Epema with 31 points. Caleb Koenen complemented that performance with 19. Epema was on fire from long range with five 3's. Action was on Thursday at Montevideo. 

The Lakers have a 10-6 record.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com