The Minnewaska Area boys basketball team improved to 5-1 overall with three more home wins last week.  The Lakers edged New London-Spicer last Tuesday night at home, 67-60, and topped Barnesville Thursday in the MAHS gym, 67-62.

The Lakers also hosted Menahga, Friday, winning 91-41, but results of that game will be highlighted next week.  In the results that follow is also information about the Lakers’ 87-47 loss to Redwood from Dec. 7.

This week, the Lakers close out the pre-Christmas schedule with three very tough games.  Minnewaska is set to play at Montevideo in the WCC opener, Tuesday (tomorrow), at EV-Watkins, Thursday, and host Melrose Area, Friday.

Redwood 87, Waska 47

The Lakers suffered their first loss with a 87-47 defeat at Redwood Valley, Saturday, Dec. 7.  Redwood, one of the top teams in Section 3AA, stormed out to a 48-31 halftime lead before settling for a 39-16 margin the second half.

Twelve different Lakers hit the scoring column, but only one scored in double figures.  Tristan O’Neil was 5-of-8 from the field and hit two 3-pointers on the way to 14 points and two assists.

Tenzin Dahl added eight points and three rebounds, while Connor Frey also had two 3-pointers on the way to six points and Levi Johnson added four points and two rebounds.

The Lakers were 16-for-43 from the field (37 percent), but only 4-of-15 from three-point range and 11-of-23 from the line (47 percent).  In addition, the Lakers also turned the ball over 24 times.

Marc Gruber ended the night with three points, two assists and a team-high five boards, while Luke Danielson had three points and two rebounds, Zach Palmer had two points and three boards, Carter Meyer and Jacob Mrnak also had two points each, and Drew Bleick, Oliver VanDerHagen and Owen Meulebroeck each had one point.

Minnewaska 67, NLS 60

The Minnewaska Area boys basketball team took a big early lead and then held on for a 67-60 victory over NLS last Tuesday night in the home opener for the Lakers.

Minnewaska Area led early, 17-5, as the Wildcats scored just five points over the first 11 minutes of the game.  The lead was 22-11 with 2:00 left in the first half before the Lakers settled for a 28-13 halftime advantage.

The two teams went wild in the second half, scoring 86 combined points after scoring just 41 in the first half combined.

“We saw a big lead shrink late in the second half, and that tested our mental fortitude a bit,” coach Traphagen said.  “There are lots of areas where we need to be better in, but we are very happy that the guys pulled it together and found a way to win.”

Luke Danielson and Connor Frey had the hot hands for the Lakers, who shot 42 percent from the field for the game (21-for-50).

Danielson was 6-of-10 from the field on the way to a great stat line of 17 points, two assists, nine rebounds, two steals and five blocked shots, while Frey was 4-of-7 from long range on the way to 16 points.

Tenzin Dahl also scored in double figures, ending the game with 11 points, six boards and two steals.  Zach Palmer had another great all-around game with seven points, four assists, seven boards and two steals, while Owen Muelebroeck was 3-of-3 from the field on the way to six points and three rebounds.

Also scoring for the Lakers, who were 19-of-29 from the line, were Marc Gruber with five points, three assists, three rebounds and three steals, Tristan O’Neil with four points, four assists and two steals, and Levi Johnson, who ended the game with one point and two assists.

Two keys to the win were a 20-11 advantage in turnovers and an 11-point advantage in made free-throws.

“We had some guys really step up tonight in a big way.  That’s what team basketball is all about; you pick each other up and keep playing together,” Traphagen said.

Waska 67, Barnesville 62

The Lakers improved to 4-1 with a 67-62 home win over Barnesville, Thursday night.  Minnewaska led 33-27 at halftime before holding on for the five-point win.  One of the keys to the victory was a 17-for-21 effort from the free-throw line. “I’m really happy with our guys effort tonight,” Traphagen said.  “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well and had a lull in the 2nd half offensively where we got stuck on 51 points for about three minutes, but our defense turned it up and we stretched the lead to 62-48 with just over two minutes to play. The guys made some big free throws though to seal the deal.

The Lakers, who shot 36 percent from the field (22-for-60), were led in scoring by Marc Gruber, who went 3-of-11 from long range on the way to team-highs of 16 points and seven rebounds, and Zach Palmer, who added 10 points, two assists, five boards and four steals.

Minnewaska had eight players hit the scoring column as Tenzin Dahl recorded eight points, two assists, six rebounds and two steals, Levi Johnson had seven points, two assists and two steals, Connor Frey had seven points, two assists and three rebounds, and Luke Danielson ended the game with seven points, six rebounds and four blocks.

Also scoring for Minnewaska Area were Tristan O’Neil with six points, three assists and four rebounds, and Owen Meulebroeck with six points and six boards.

at Redwood 87, Waska 47

Minnewaska (2-1) 31 16 — 47

Redwood Valley 48 39 — 87

WASKA stats:  16-43 FG (4-15 3pt); 11-23 FT; 9 assists; 23 rebounds; 8 steals; 13 fouls; 24 turnovers . . . Scoring:   Tristan O’Neil 14, Tenzin Dahl 8, Connor Frey 6, Levi Johnson 4, Marc Gruber 3, Luke Danielson 3, Carter Meyer 2, Zach Palmer 2, Jacob Mrnak 2, Owen Meulebroeck 1, Drew Bleick 1, Oliver VanDer Hagen 1 . . . Rebounding:  Gruber 5, Dahl 3, Palmer 3, Danielson 2, Johnson 2, VanDerHagen 2 . . . Assists:  O’Neil 4, Palmer 4, Johnson 3, Gruber 2, Dahl 2 . . . Steals:  eight with one each . . . Blocks:  Danielson 1

REDWOOD stats:   32-62 FG (14-31 3pt); 9-12 FT; 32 rebounds; 17 fouls; 16 turnovers . . . Other stats not available

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at Waska 67, NLS 60

NLS 13 47 — 60

Minnewaska (3-1) 28 39 — 67

WASKA stats:  21-50 FG (6-17 3pt); 19-29 FT; 15 assists; 5 blocks; 28 rebounds; 12 steals; 13 fouls; 11 turnovers . . . Scoring:   Luke Danielson 17, Connor Frey 16, Tenzin Dahl 11, Zach Palmer 7, Owen Meulebroeck 6, Marc Gruber 5, Tristan O’Neil 4, Levi Johnson 1 . . . Rebounding:  Danielson 9, Palmer 7, Dahl 6, Gruber 3, Meulebroeck 3 . . Assists:  Palmer 4, O’Neil 4, Gruber 3, Johnson 2, Danielson 2 . . . Steals  Gruber 3, O’Neil 2, Palmer 2, Danielson 2, Dahl 2 . . . Blocks:  Danielson 5

NLS:   23-57 FG (6-24 3pt); 8-12 FT; 34 rebounds; 19 fouls; 20 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Kaden Toutges 14, Gavin Vick 10, Zach Lageson 8, Griffin Thompson 8 . . . Reb:  Vick 8 . . . Other stats NA

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at Waska 67, Barnesville 62

Barnesville 27 35 — 62

Minnewaska (4-1) 33 34 — 67

WASKA stats:  22-60 FG (6-20 3pt); 17-21 FT; 13 assists; 4 blocks; 38 rebounds; 11 steals; 17 fouls; 15 turnovers . . Scoring:   Marc Gruber 16, Zach Palmer 10, Tenzin Dahl 8, Levi Johnson 7, Luke Danielson 7, Connor Frey 7, Owen Muelebroeck 6, Tristan O’Neil 6 . . . Rebounding:  Gruber 7, Danielson 6, Dahl 6, Meulebroeck 6, Palmer 5, O’Neil 4, Frey 3. . . Assists:  O’Neil 3, Palmer 2, Johnson 2, Frey 2, Dahl 2 . . . Steals  Palmer 4, Johnson 2, Dahl 2 . . . Blocks:  Danielson 4

BAR:   21-55 FG (7-25 3pt); 13-18 FT; 31 reb; 16 fouls; 20 turnovers . . . Other stats not available

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