ALEXANDRIA WENT UP AGAINST MAPLE GROVE IN A CLASS AAAA BOYS’ BASKETBALL STATE QUARTERFINAL GAME

Alexandria and Maple Grove went up against each other in a Class AAAA state boys’ basketball quarterfinal game.

Maple Grove looked to push the tempo of the game early. It took both teams a while to get used to playing on the bigger NBA floor.

Alexandria’s Gavin Roderick and Talan Witt both came up with mid-range jump shots and layups early.
It took a while for each team to figure out the other team. Maple Grove attacked the basket and scored in transition. They used a lot of time off the 35-second shot clock.

There were many ties and multiple lead changes early on. Neither team went on a large run early.

Alexandria used a man-to-man defense, and they looked to put pressure on Maple Grove.

Talan Witt kept on coming up with mid-range jump shots and layups throughout the first half.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 8:24 left in the first half. The score was Maple Grove 24, Alexandria 20.

Maple Grove’s Max Iverson and Henry Kuntson both came up with mid-range jump shots and layups in the first half.

The game remained close late in the first half. Both teams attacked the basket and looked for their shots.

Kuntson stepped up and knocked down deep 3-point shots. His teammates were able to get him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

Alexandria called a timeout with 4:16 left in the first half. The score was Maple Grove 34, Alexandria 28.

Both teams went after the ball and looked for their shots in their offense. The pace of the game slowed down late in the first half. Both teams were able to make shots that they were put up.

Both teams played hard throughout the first half. The score at halftime was Maple Grove 40, Alexandria 34.

As the second half got underway, Alexandria came out firing and looking to attack the basket.

Iverson kept on coming up with mid-range jump shots and layups in the second half. He kept Maple Grove in the game.

Alexandria called a timeout with 14:41 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 50, Alexandria 39.

Maple Grove came up with baskets early in the second half. They were able to make shots that they took.

Maple Grove was patient on the offensive end. They got everyone involved in the offense. Iverson was all over the floor. On the offensive end, he was able to make mid-range jump shots and layups.

Alexandria called a timeout with 10:52 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 58, Alexandria 46.

Maple Grove used a zone defense to spread Alexandria out. Alexandria struggled to score in the second half. Even though they struggled to shoot, they kept attacking the basket.

Both teams played hard, but Alexandria couldn’t make shots down the stretch. Even though they struggled shooting the ball down the stretch, they didn’t give up.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 7:42 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 67, Alexandria 53.

Both teams left it all on the floor. Maple Grove was quicker than Alexandria. Alexandria continued to look for their shots late in the game, but that wasn’t enough.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 5:49 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 68, Alexandria 57.

Maple Grove kept attacking the basket late in the game.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 3:58 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 72, Alexandria 59.

Both teams dove on the floor late in the game after loose balls.

Maple Grove’s Baboucarr Ann was all over the floor. He was able to get his teammates the ball where they could shoot, and he also stepped up late, knocking down mid-range jump shots and layups.

Maple Grove came away with the 82-65 victory over Alexandria. The leading scorers for Alexandria were Talan Witt with 24 and Mason Witt with 17. The leading scorer for Maple Grove was Iverson with 41 points.

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE WENT UP AGAINST ALEXANDRIA IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL SECTION SEMIFINAL GAME

On Feb. 27, Sauk Rapids-Rice went up against Alexandria the Section 8 Class 3A semifinal section game. 

Alexandria pushed the ball down the floor and looked to score baskets in transition. 

Alexandria’s Jaran Roste came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. 

Sauk Rapids-Rice pushed the ball down the floor and was able to come up with layups. 

There were several ties and lead changes throughout the first half. Neither team went on a huge run.

Roste continued to come up with huge baskets in the first half. 

Sauk Rapids-Rice got the ball into the hands of Tyler Kranz and Kobe Boraas they both came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

At halftime the score was Alexandria 36, Sauk Rapids 21.

As the second half got underway Alexandria continued to push the ball down the floor and score baskets in transition. 

Alexandria kept on moving the ball down the floor and making baskets in transition. 

Sauk Rapids got the ball into the hands of Camden Jackson. Jackson was able to make mid-range jump shots and layups.

Alexandria was quicker than Sauk Rapids was. 

Alexandria came away with the 77-59 victory over Sauk Rapids. 

The leading scorers for Sauk Rapids were Kobe Boraas with 19 points and Jackson with 13 points. 

The leading scorers for Alexandria were Hockert with 24 points, Jaran Roste with 19 points and Wensman with 17 points.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL: Brainerd finds way to remain unbeaten | BrainerdDispatch.com | Brainerd, Minnesota

By Mike Bialka:

Exactly two weeks had passed since the Brainerd Warriors’ last game and that rustiness showed Thursday night against the Alexandria Cardinals.

Brainerd shot just 37 percent from the field and 50 percent at the foul line, but good teams find ways to win when they don’t play particularly well. The Warriors did just that, securing a 62-53 Central Lakes Conference victory at Brainerd High School.

The Warriors led just 54-53 with 2:06 remaining, but came through at crunch time, scoring the game’s last eight points. Brainerd is 6-0 for the first time since Dec. 27, 2006.

“All in all, it was a good win,” Warriors coach Scott Stanfield said. “These are the kinds of games in the conference — that’s the way it’s going to be. We’re no longer the team that can sneak up on people. We’re going to get everyone’s best effort. The kids have to learn that. This was a good learning experience for us.”

Guard Jack Sauer, who scored 11 points in the first half and finished with 16 to lead Brainerd, thought the Warriors weren’t focused.

“We’ve been on a break,” the senior said. “We were just kind of sloppy but we’ll get better as we go on.

“We just practiced (during the break). We weren’t used to that game-type setting so we were kind of rusty.”

Brainerd made only 16 of 32 free throws, 9 of 21 in the second half. Fortunately, the Warriors committed just 11 turnovers and scored 19 points off of 22 Alexandria turnovers.

“We’re going to shoot free throws (Friday) probably right when we come in,” Stanfield said. “It’s such a weird thing. We practice free throws every day. You observe them, you chart them, and they’re up around 75 to 80 percent.

“It was just one of those games. At any level that happens. It seems like when one kid struggles at the line it trickles down, and it certainly did today. But we played well enough down the stretch, against a pretty good team, and pulled out a win.”

The Warriors converted just 21 of 57 field goals, 9 of 30 in the second half. They missed numerous baskets in the paint.

“We missed a lot of shots right at the rim, layups at the rim,” Stanfield said. “I think part of it is we haven’t played since Dec. 20. During that time period, we practiced and the kids were working really hard in practice, but there’s nothing like playing a game. You smooth out more when you play a game.”

Brainerd, which led 34-23 at the half, was up 40-28 when things began to unravel. The Cardinals went on a 10-point burst to climb within a basket. Brainerd stayed ahead, but the Cardinals twice climbed within a single point before Brandon Bistodeau’s three tied it at 51 with 4:41 to play.

A basket by Marcus Comstock, who provided 11 of his 15 points in the second half, and a free throw from Ian Haug put Brainerd in front 54-51. Travis Krueger’s second-chance basket for Alexandria tightened it to 54-53 with 2:06 left. Brainerd then blanked the Cardinals the rest of the way.

Staunch defense enabled Brainerd to hold off the Cardinals. Alexandria shot just 36 percent from the floor and wasn’t much better at the foul line, sinking 61 percent.

The Warriors’ interior defense did a commendable job against 6-8 post Logan Doyle and 6-4 wing Ted Deitz. The latter went to the sideline after appearing to sprain an ankle three minutes into the game and returned for about a minute in the second half. Doyle, who’s bound for South Dakota State, scored 11 points.

“He’s a load,” Stanfield said of Deitz, “but I actually think when they took him out they moved better offensively. They were able to create some space against us.

“Doyle’s a good player. He’s going Division I, and there’s a reason why, but I thought Jagar Hanson played him really well.”

Alexandria 23 30 — 53

Brainerd 34 28 — 62

ALEXANDRIA

Brandon Bistodeau 5, Joe Gorghuber 9, Chase Kohler 3, David Krivanek 11, Logan Doyle 11, Ted Deitz 3, Kevin Setterstrom 2, Travis Krueger 9. FG 18-50 (36 percent). FT 14-23 (61 percent). 3-point 6-22. Turnovers: 22.

BRAINERD

Jack Sauer 16, Jacob Blong 4, Marcus Comstock 15, Ian Haug 8, Chris Bowman 2, Jagar Hanson 8, Tony Sauer 7, Connor Bowman 2. FG 21-57 (37 percent). FT 16-32 50 (percent). 3-point 4-16. Turnovers: 11.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Brainerd finds way to remain unbeaten | BrainerdDispatch.com | Brainerd, Minnesota