By coach Brian Walker

After a week of wintery weather that moved games around, the C-squad team finally got back on the court last Friday to host the New London-Spicer Wildcats.  It had been a week between games, but in the first half it looked like the layoff didn’t bother the Lakers as the team put together a solid first half of play. However, the game doesn’t end at halftime, and the Wildcats put together a complete second half to go on to defeat the Lakers 54-36.   

After the first 14 minutes the Wildcats and the Lakers were tied at 23.  In the final 14 minutes though, Minnewaska’s offense went as frigid as the temps outside, scoring just 13 points compared to the Wildcats 31 points.  For the game, the Lakers made 13 of 41 shots (31%) from the floor, but did go 11 of 16 (69%) at the FT line.  Leading the way for the Lakers was Tristan O’Neil with 15 points, while Riley Week had a solid game with eight points, Caleb Kath had four, AJ Svec added three and Ben Johnson, Conner Erickson, Drew Bleick,  and Ike Spychalla all contributed two points.  “We just have to do a better job of taking care of the ball, and sometimes make the one extra pass to set up an open teammate to get a better shot,” coach Walker said.

The team hosted the Morris Tigers last Monday and once again, the Lakers played a competitive first half to trail by five, 18-13.  In the second half, the Tigers outscored the Lakers 20-7 to earn the 38-20 victory.  The team struggled to put the ball in the basket in the second half converting on just 2 of 20 shots for a frigid 10%.  Tristan O’Neil once again led the way, scoring 12 of his team high 14 points in the first half, while Conner Erickson added four points and Marshall Kopp had two. 

The Lakers played their third-straight game without any practices last Tuesday and once again it showed as Paynesville would beat the Laker C-squad 51-15.  Waska made just 2 of 12 shots in the first half, and only 4 of 15 shots in the second half.    Paynesville made nine three pointers in the game to just two  for the Lakers.  Six Laker players put up points on the scoreboard, with Conner Erickson leading the team with five points, Drew Bleick adding three, Riley Week, Ike Spychalla and Tristan O’Neil each scored two points and Caleb Kath finished with one.