Morris Area allowed only two Minnewaska Area players to score in double figures during a 70-34 conference victory, Thursday at Morris.

The Lakers shot 28 percent from the field and didn’t make any free-throws during their fourth-straight loss to open up the season.

Morris Area, one of the top teams in the WCC, led 35-13 at halftime before settling for the 36-point win.

“It was a tough night at Morris,” coach Zach Traphagen said.  “There was about a 7-minute stretch in the first half where we just couldn’t score and that drought affected us negatively in almost every other aspect of the game.”

Minnewaska Area has two home games on tap this week, including a. game against EV-Watkins, Tuesday (tomorrow) and a contest against BBE, Thursday, Dec. 21.

Morris Area 70, Waska 34

The Lakers struggled on offense during a 70-34 loss at Morris Area, Thursday.  

Levi Johnson had 11 points, five assists and two rebounds, going 4-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-5 on three-pointers, while Connor Frey added 10 points and two boards, going 4-of-8 from the field and hitting two 3-pointers.

However, the rest of the team was a combined 6-of-32 from the field, including 1-of-11 from long range as the Lakers couldn’t keep up offensively with the high-flying Tigers.

Hurting the Lakers even more was missing at least four regulars due to illness.  “We knew it would be an uphill battle with a few guys out this week due to illness, but that can’t ever take away from our competitive spirit,” coach Traphagen said.  “I believe in this team to regroup, get healthy, and get better from this loss.”

Marc Gruber added five points and three rebounds for the Lakers, who have scored 50 or more points only once in the season’s first four games, while Dylan Alexander had two points and five rebounds, Carter Meyer, Zach Gugisberg and Jacob Mrnak also had two points each, Ryland Martin had five boards and Luke Danielson and Kaiden Harvey both had three rebounds.

The Lakers also turned the ball over 17 times and recorded only three steals all night against the efficient Morris offense.

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.

•  Sauk Centre won last year’s WCC title with an 12-2 league mark, followed by WCA(10-4), Morris-CA (9-4), Melrose (9-5), BOLD (7-6), Montevideo (6-8), Benson (2-12) and Minnewaska Area (0-14).

•  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.

at Morris 70, Waska 34

Waska (0-4) 13 21 — 34

Morris Area 35 35 — 70

WASKA stats:  14-50 FG (6-20 3pt); 0-2 FT; 10 assists; 27 rebounds; 3 steals; 15 fouls; 17 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Levi Johnson 11, Connor Frey 10, Marc Gruber 5, Dylan Alexander 2, Jacob Mrnak 2, Zach Gugisberg 2, Carter Meyer 2 . . . Rebounding:  Ryland Martin 5, Alexander 5, Gruber 3, Luke Danielson 3, Kaiden Harvey 3, Frey 2, Tenzin Dahl 2, Jack Majerus 2, Johnson 2. . . Assists:  Johnson 5 . . . Steals:  three with one each

MOR:  Stats not available

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