The Minnewaska Area boys basketball team fell three times over the last week, dropping the team’s overall record to 0-12 and conference mark to 0-6.  The Lakers dropped a 68-49 decision at Pipestone, Saturday, Jan. 6, before losing twice last week to Melrose last Tuesday (66-43) and to BOLD, Thursday (76-64).

Marc Gruber led the Lakers in scoring all three games, scoring a combined 46 points during the three losses.

West Central Area currently leads the WCC with a 5-1 record, followed by Melrose (4-1), Sauk Centre and BOLD (both 3-2), Montevideo (3-3), Morris Area-CA (2-2), Benson (0-3) and Minnewaska (0-6).

The Lakers have possibly their best chance at picking up a win this year during a WCC game at home against Benson, Thursday.  Minnewaska then gets set to play at Barnesville, Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Pipestone 68, Waska 49

The Lakers held Pipestone to 28 first-half points before the Arrows took off in the second half to score 40 more on the way to a 68-49 win over Minnewaska, Saturday, Jan. 6 at Pipestone.

Marc Gruber and Connor Frey combined for 28 points for the Lakers, but overall, the Lakers shot just 28 percent, including just 5-of-26 from long range.  Gruber had 16 points and five boards to lead Minnewaska, while Frey added 12 points, two assists and four rebounds.

“We played a great first half defensively to hold a talented team like Pipestone to 28 points, but in the second half we missed our first five shots, with three of those being layups and Pipestone was able to get the lead up to about 15,” coach Zach Traphagen said.  “The shooting woes continued to hurt us, but the boys kept battling and made a couple little runs to keep us in it for a few stretches. I was proud of the fight that we showed today.”

After trailing 28-21 at halftime, the Lakers would score just 28 more points in the second half.

Tenzin Dahl chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds for the Lakers, while Dylan Alexander had six points and six boards, Ryland Martin had five points, and Ian Mills added three.

Melrose 66, at Waska 43

The Lakers fell behind by 17 points by halftime before playing even with the visiting Dutchmen for most of the second half during a 66-43 home loss to Melrose last Tuesday night.

The Lakers shot 36 percent on 3-pointers (9-of-25), but were only 32 percent overall on all field goals (17-for-53) and also went to the line only two times, missing both.

“It was another tale of two halves tonight as we were outscored by 17 in the first half and played the second half very evenly with Melrose,” coach Traphagen said.  “We did some really good things to build off of, but also had some areas that we need to address and work on fixing.”

Marc Gruber led the Lakers in scoring again with 12 points, two assists and three rebounds, while three others added six points each.

It was the seventh time already this season the Lakers have been held under 50 points in 11 games.

Dylan Alexander put in six points and added three assists, five rebounds and two steals for Minnewaska, while Ryland Martin had six points, two assists and two boards, and Connor Frey also had six points to go along with four rebounds.

Also scoring for the Lakers were Zach Palmer with five points, Jack Majerus with four points, two assists, two steals and two rebounds, and Owen Meulebroeck and Levi Johnson with two points each.

BOLD 76, Waska 64

The Lakers played one of their best games of the season, but still found themselves on the losing end of a 76-64 decision to the visiting BOLD Warriors, Thursday at home.

Minnewaska Area trailed 34-24 at halftime before adding 40 more points in a wild and high-scoring second half.

“We found some success tonight scoring the basketball, but unfortunately, we didn’t make enough timely shots and get the needed defensive stops when the game was still within our reach,” coach Traphagen said.  “BOLD hit a couple really big 3’s late in the game to push their lead back up to double digits and seal it.”

Marc Gruber had 18 points and three assists to lead the Laker offense, while Tenzin Dahl added 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.

The Lakers shot 43 percent from the field (25-for-57) in one of their best shooting nights of the season, including 9-of-21 on three-pointers.  However, the Lakers also turned the ball over 19 times.

“We had too many turnovers at critical moments,” coach Traphagen said.  “In order to close out games and win, that can’t happen. We are learning the hard way right now, but I know good things are on the horizon for this team.”

Alex Panitzke was back in action for the Lakers and he had eight points and four assists, while Dylan Alexander added six points, five boards and two steals and Connor Frey had six points and two steals.

Also scoring for the Lakers were Owen Meulebroeck with three points and three blocked shots, and Zach Palmer, Levi Johnson, Ryland Martin and Jack Majerus with two points each.

at Pipestone 68, Waska 49

Waska (0-10) 21 28 — 49 Pipestone 28 40 — 68

WASKA stats:  18-64 FG (5-26 3pt); 8-16 FT; 9 assists; 31 rebounds; 7 steals; 13 fouls; 14 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Marc Gruber 16, Connor Frey 12, Tenzin Dahl 7, Dylan Alexander 6, Ryland Martin 5, Ian Mills 3 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 7, Alexander 6, Gruber 5, Frey 4, Owen Meulebroeck 3, Jack Majerus 2, Zach Palmer 2  . . . Assists:  Frey 2, Meulebroeck 2, Gruber 2 . . . Steals:  seven with one each

PIPE:   Stats not available

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Melrose 66, at Waska 43

Melrose — 66

Waska (0-11) — 43

WASKA stats:  17-53 FG (9-25 3pt); 0-2 FT; 16 assists; 26 rebounds; 5 steals; 7 fouls; 13 turnovers . . . Scoring:   Marc Gruber 12, Connor Frey 6, Ryland Martin 6, Dylan Alexander 6, Zach Palmer 5, Jack Majerus 4, Levi Johnson 2, Owen Meulebroeck 2 . . . Rebounding:  Tenzin Dahl 5, Alexander 5, Frey 4, Gruber 3, Johnson 2, Martin 2, Majerus 2 . . . Assists:  Alexander 3, Majerus 2, Dahl 2, Meuelebroeck 2, Martin 2, Gruber 2 . . . Steals:  Alexander 2, Majerus 2

MEL:   Stats not available

————————————–

BOLD 76, at Waska 64

BOLD 34 42 — 76

Waska (0-12) 24 40 — 64

WASKA stats:  25-57 FG (9-21 3pt); 5-9 FT; 18 assists; 4 blocked shots; 21 rebounds; 9 steals; 18 fouls; 19 turnovers . . . Scoring:   Marc Gruber 18, Tenzin Dahl 15, Alex Panitzke 8, Dylan Alexander 6, Connor Frey 6, Owen Meulebroeck 3, Jack Majerus 2, Ryland Martin 2, Levi Johnson 2, Zach Palmer 2 . . . Rebounding:  Alexander 5, Dahl 5, Gruber 2, Panitzke 2, Johnson 2, Frey 2. . . Assists:  Dahl 5, Panitzke 4, Gruber 3, Majerus 2 . . . Steals:  Alexander 2, Dahl 2, Frey 2

BOLD stats:   Scoring:   Jack Gross 22, William Penkert 21, Maverick Kaufenberg 10, Owen Baumgartner 10 . . . Rebounding:  Penkert 10 . . . Other stats not available

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