The Lakers made just 2-of-24 shots from three-point range during a 68-34 home loss to Eden Valley-Watkins last Tuesday night at home.

Minnewaska Area fell to 0-5 overall with the latest loss.  The Lakers have reached 50 points only one time this season and have been held under 35 points twice.

The Lakers have played five very strong teams to open up the season, but the schedule doesn’t get much easier in the 2024 portion of their schedule as the conference is very tough and balanced this season.

“It’s been a very difficult stretch of games to start the season against five very good teams,” coach Zach Traphagen said.  “We will keep learning, keep working and keep our focus on the next opportunity.”

Minnewaska Area was also set to host BBE, Thursday, but results of that game will be highlighted next week.

The Lakers are set to take part in the Howard Lake-WW Holiday Tournament, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 28-29.  Last year, Minnewaska Area picked up its lone win of the season at the HLWW Tournament over Hope Academy.

EVW 68, Minnewaska 34

Eden Valley-Watkins handed the Lakers their fifth-straight loss to open up the season during a 68-34 victory last Tuesday night on the Lakers’ home floor.

Minnewaska Area started off okay offensively, but then went cold midway through the first half and ended the game shooting 31 percent from the field (15-for-47).

The Lakers had 11 different players hit the scoring column, but none scored more than six points.

Marc Gruber led the Lakers with six points and three rebounds, while Luke Danielson added five points and four boards, Dylan Alexander had four points, four assists and five rebounds, and Tenzin Dahl also had four points to go along with four rebounds.

The Lakers stayed in the game for most of the first half before EVW went on a late run to get its lead to 38-19 by the halftime intermission.  EVW then outscored the Lakers 30-15 in the second half.

“It was similar start to our last game against Morris where we competed hard for the first 10-12 minutes of the game, then we let them go on a late run into halftime and never found our footing after that,” coach Traphagen said.  “We are still learning how to compete for a full 36 minutes. Making shots has also been hard to come by the last few games and that is frustrating.”

Also scoring for the Lakers were Connor Frey with three points and two steals, and Alex Panitzke, Zach Palmer, Levi Johnson, Ryland Martin, Jack Majerus and Kaiden Harvey with two points each.  

Johnson also had four assists and three steals, while Palmer added three steals.

The Lakers lineup was outsized by a large margin against EVW, which had one player at six-foot-8, one at 6-foot-5 and another key player at 6-foot-3.  

The Lakers tallest player is 6-foot-3.

Other boys notes

•  Members of the 2023-24 Minnewaska Area boys basketball varsity roster are seniors Austin Ballhagen, Alex Panitzke, Ryland Martin, Dylan Alexander and Jack Majerus; juniors Zach Palmer, Levi Johnson, Jacob Mrnak, Zachary Gugisberg, Tenzin Dahl, Ian Mills, Carter Meyer, Kaiden Harvey, Connor Frey, Owen Meulebroeck and Chase Wacker; and sophomores Marc Gruber and Luke Danielson.

•  In the postseason this winter, the Lakers will stay in Section 3AA, but KMS was added this winter to the section while ACGC and West Central Area have moved out.

•  Members of the B-squad team are juniors Carter Meyer, Zach Gugisberg, Ian Mills, Chase Wacker, Owen Meulebroeck, Kaiden Harvey and Connor Frey; and sophomores Tristan O’Neil, Drew Bleick, Carter Huckle, Connor Erickson, Luke Danielson, Mason Danielson, Riley Week, Alan Svec, Ike Spychalla and Oliver VanDerHagen.

EVW 68, at Waska 34

EVW 30 38 — 68

Waska (0-5) 15 19 — 34

WASKA stats:  15-47 FG (2-24 3pt); 2-6 FT; 13 assists; 3 blocks; 25 rebounds; 12 steals; 16 fouls; 24 turnovers  . . . Scoring:  Marc Gruber 6, Luke Danielson 5, Dylan Alexander 4, Tenzin Dahl 4, Connor Frey 3, Kaiden Harvey 2, Jack Majerus 2, Ryland Martin 2, Levi Johnson 2, Zach Palmer 2, Alex Panitzke 2 . . . Rebounding:  Alexander 5, Dahl 4, Danielson 4, Gruber 3, Harvey 2, Majerus 2, Palmer 2. . . Assists:  Alexander 4, Johnson 4 . . . Steals:  Palmer 3, Johnson 3, Frey 2

EVW stats:   Stats not available

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