he Minnewaska Area boys basketball team opened up the 2023 portion of its winter schedule with a pair of losses last week.  The Lakers, who dropped to 1-9 overall, lost at West Central Area, Friday, 78-49, and also lost at home to Pipestone Area, Saturday, 72-48.

The Lakers earned their first win of the season during the HLWW Holiday Tourney over Hope Academy.  Minnewaska Area fell to the host HLWW team in the finals, 72-66.  A recap of that game is included in this story.

Minnewaska Area was also set to play at Litchfield last Tuesday, but that game was pushed back to Saturday, Jan. 28 due to weather.

On tap this week are games at Melrose, Tuesday (tomorrow) and at BOLD, Thursday.  The Lakers also play at BBE, Monday, Jan. 16 before coming home again for a game against Barnesville, Thursday, Jan. 19.

at HLWW Tourney

The Lakers fell to Howard Lake-WW in the title game of the HLWW Holiday Tourney, Thursday, Dec. 29, 72-66.  Minnewaska Area trailed 37-30 at halftime before outscoring the hosts 36-35 in the second half.

Tenzin Dahl, Hunter Kloos and Blake Andreas were the leaders for the Lakers, combining for 53 of their team’s 66 points.

Dahl was 11-for-14 from the field on the way to a game-high 25 points, five rebounds and two steals before fouling out late in the game, while Kloos had 18 points and two boards, going 4-of-11 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the line, and Andreas added 10 points, four assists and four boards.

The Lakers shot 39 percent from the field (25-for-63), including 10-of-31 from three-point range and 15-of-32 on two-point field goals.

Minnewaska Area also went 6-of-9 from the line, but managed just 23 total rebounds against the tall HLWW lineup that included a number of players from the football team that also beat the Lakers this season.

Alex Panitzke chipped in with nine points and three rebounds for the Lakers, while PJ Johnson had two points, three assists and four boards, Dylan Alexander had a good all-around game with two points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals, and Rylan Martin had two steals.

WCA 78, Minnewaska 49

The Lakers were outscored 39-23 in the second half of a 78-49 loss at West Central Area, Friday.  

Hunter Kloos had 17 points and three rebounds and Tenzin Dahl added 12 points, five boards, two assist and two steals to lead the Lakers, who trailed only 38-26 at halftime.

The Lakers shot 42 percent from the field (21-for-50), including 6-of-21 from 3-point range, but Minnewaska Area turned the ball over 26 times and also went just 1-of-5 from the line.

Four players scored in double figures for the Knights, including Cole Anderson with 19 and Jake Strunk with 17.

Alex Panitzke chipped in with five points and two assists for the Lakers, who fell to 0-4 in the WCC, while Blake Andreas had five points and three boards, PJ Johnson and Levi Johnson both had three points, and Ryland Martin and Noah Palmer both had two.

Pipestone 72, Waska 48

Pipestone used a late run in the first half to up 34-19 by halftime and cruised to a 72-48 non-conference win over the Lakers, Saturday afternoon.  Minnewaska Area, which dropped to 1-9 overall, had cut a double-digit lead to 22-15 on a steal and layup by Alex Panitzke, but the Arrows went on a 12-4 run the rest of the first half and then outscored the Lakers 38-29 in the second half for the 24-point win.

Tenzin Dahl had a big night for the Lakers, going 7-for-14 from the field on the way to 19 points, six rebounds and four steals, while Alex Panitzke added 11 points, two boards and two steals.

No other Laker had more than five points as the strong Pipestone defense held the Lakers to 29 percent shooting from the field (16-for-55), including just 6-of-32 from long range.

Ryland Martin chipped in with five points and three rebounds for Minnewaska Area, while PJ Johnson had five points, four boards and two steals, Blake Andreas had four points, Dylan Alexander had two points and four rebounds, and Hunter Kloos was held to two points and three boards.

Kellen Johnson and Rysley Borman, who combined for 27 points in the first half, led Pipestone with 18 and 14 points, respectively.

at HLWW 72, Waska 66

Minnewaska (1-7) 30 36 — 66

HLWW 37 35 — 72

WASKA stats: 25-63 FG (10-31 3pt); 6-9 FT; 15 assists; 23 rebounds; 11 steals; 19 fouls; 8 turnovers. . . Scoring:  Tenzin Dahl 25, Hunter Kloos 18, Blake Andreas 10, Alex Panitzke 9, PJ Johnson 2, Dylan Alexander 2 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 5, Alexander 4, Andreas 4, Johnson 4, Panitzke 3, Kloos 2 . . . Assists:  Alexander 7, Andreas 4, Johnson 3 . . . Steals:  Alexander 4, Ryland Martin 2, Dahl 2

HLWW stats:  Stats not available

—————————————–

at WCA 78, Waska 49

Minnewaska (1-8) 26 23 — 49

WCA 38 39 — 78

WASKA stats: 21-50 FG (6-21 3pt); 1-5 FT; 8 assists; 20 rebounds; 10 steals; 14 fouls; 26 turnovers . . . Scoring:   Hunter Kloos 17, Tenzin Dahl 12, Alex Panitzke 5, Blake Andreas 5, PJ Johnson 3, Levi Johnson 3, Ryland Martin 2, Noah Palmer 2 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 5, Dylan Alexander 3, Kloos 3, Andreas 3, PJ Johnson 2, Martin 2 . . Assists:  Panitzke 2, Dahl 2 . . . Steals:  Alexander 3, Dahl 2

WCA stats:   Scoring:   Cole Anderson 19, Jake Strunk 17, Byrak Jesbo 16, Mitch Dewey 10 . . . Other stats not available

—————————————–

Pipestone 72, at Waska 48

Pipestone 34 38 — 72

Minnewaska (1-9) 19 29 — 48

WASKA stats:  16-55 FG (6-32 3pt); 10-12 FT; 4 assists; 24 rebounds; 12 steals; 13 fouls; 12 turnovers . . . Scoring:   Tenzin Dahl 19, Alex Panitzke 11, Ryland Martin 5, PJ Johnson 5, Blake Andreas 4, Dylan Alexander 2, Hunter Kloos 2 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 6, Johnson 4, Alexander 4, Kloos 3, Martin 3, Panitzke 2 . . . Assists:  Noah Palmer 2 . . . Steals:  Dahl 4, Palmer 2, Panitzke 2, Johnson 2

PIPE:   Stats not available

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!