The Minnewaska Area boys basketball team opened up the new season with a 63-47 loss to Redwood Valley during a home game, Saturday afternoon.

The Lakers trailed by only two points late in the first half (24-22) before the Cardinals went on an 11-2 run to take control of the game with a 35-24 lead at halftime.

Taking over as the new coach of the Lakers this winter is Zach Traphagen, who also is the head coach of the Minnewaska Area boys track team.  Traphagen, who takes over for Hunter Salathe, will be assisted by Nick Danielson, Brian Walker and Gabe Eisenbacher.

“The 11-2 run at the end of the first half proved to be too much to overcome,” coach Traphagen said.  “We battled all game, but just couldn’t get some timely shots to fall in the second half.

“I’m proud of the boys’ effort and we’re excited to get back to work and clean some things up for Montevideo this week.”

The Lakers are set to play at Montevideo, Tuesday (tomorrow) before hosting Sauk Centre, Friday, Dec. 8.

•  The Lakers lost four players from last year’s team to graduation; PJ Johnson, James Ward,  Noah Palmer and Hunter Kloos.  

•  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.

Redwood 63, Waska 47

The Lakers led 11-6 with 10:18 left in the first half after two-straight baskets by Tenzin Dahl and a 3-pointer by Ryland Martin, but Redwood Valley  went on a 14-4 run to go up 20-15 less than four minutes later.

Key to that run were three 3-pointers by Redwood 5-9 junior guard Lukas Means, who ended the game with a game-high 24 points, hitting six 3-pointers overall.

The Lakers cut the deficit to 24-22 on a pair of free-throws from Marc Gruber and a 3-pointer from Connor Frey, but Redwood Valley scored 11-straight points on the Lakers to go up 35-22 before Zach Palmer made a basket off a rebound just before the halftime buzzer.

The Lakers were outscored 28-23 in the second half as Redwood Valley maintained a comfortable lead for the rest of the game

Minnewaska Area made 30 percent of its shots from the field (16-for-53), including just 8-of-29 from 3-point range.  The Lakers were also 7-of-14 from the free-throw line.

Dahl ended the game with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Gruber had nine points and seven boards, and Alex Panitzke added eight points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The Lakers also got three points each from Frey, Martin and Levi Johnson, while Palmer, Dylan Alexander and Owen Meulebroeck scored two points each.

“We have been very pleased with the effort, focus and energy level our players have brought to each practice so far.  They are very coachable young men who are eager to get better,” coach Traphagen said.  “We are a very deep team and there will be lots of opportunities for guys to play minutes on the varsity.

“The WCC is a very tough conference this year with Sauk Centre, Melrose, Morris and WCA being the teams at the top.”

Redwood 63, at Waska 47

Redwood 35 28 — 63

Waska (0-1) 24 23 — 47

WASKA stats:  16-53 FG (8-29 3pt); 7-14 FT; 13 assists; 38 rebounds; 13 steals; 18 fouls; 20 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Tenzin Dahl 12, Marc Gruber 9, Alex Panitzke 8, Jack Majerus 3, Connor Frey 3, Ryland Martin 3, Levi Johnson 3, Zach Palmer 2, Dylan Alexander 2, Owen Meulebroeck 2 . . . Rebounding:  Alexander 9, Dahl 7, Gruber 7, Panitzke 5, Palmer 2, Martin 2. . . Assists:  Panitzke 5, Johnson 3 . . . Steals:  Panitzke 3, Alexander 2, Majerus 2

REDWOOD stats:   Stats not available

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