Prep boys basketball roundup: CMCS overcomes slow start

Matthew Curry, Joe Brown, Tom Elliott, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·4 min read

Jan. 18—RENVILLE — Despite starting on a scoring run, the Renville County West boys basketball team was unable to keep it going against Central Minnesota Christian, losing 79-57 Monday. CMCS senior Ben Van Eps totaled 28 points. Senior Caleb Vander Beek notched 14 points with two steals and a block.

Jaguars senior Jaden Serbus, who consistently battled with Vander Beek in the paint, had 10 points, 14 rebounds along with two blocks and a steal. Tyler Froland had 13 points for RCW.

It was the Bluejays' first , with their previous game being postponed due to a snow storm, it was their first day together in four days.

"I haven't seen them since Thursday," CMCS head coach Ted Taajes said. "(I'm) always a little nervous coming into a Monday night game, hoping that they can keep it going."

CMCS struggled in the opening minutes and RCW wasted no time in seizing the opportunity, taking a 7-0 lead to start the night.

"I was proud of how the guys didn't panic and waited for the tide there," Taajes said. "We just stuck to our system, primarily taking good shots, making the extra pass and getting the ball into the post. Then guys started hitting a couple shots."

Eventually, after finding their rhythm, the Bluejays managed to quickly route back to take a double-digit lead. By halftime, CMCS led 43-25.

"Our defense halfway through the first half really began to clamp down and really limit them to one shot," Taatjes said. "(We) didn't really give them any offensive rebounds there."

CMCS is 6-0 record in the Camden Conference's North Division. RCW is 0-5 in Camden North.

"The Camden division is tough," Taajes said. "You can't just show up and think you're going to get a 'W,' doesn't matter who, or where, you play. But that's what's good about it. It prepares you for the postseason. There is never a cupcake game in the postseason; you always have to be prepared.

"Being 6-0 is huge," he added. "We did a nice job on the north side (of the division) now we get some south (division) games. Hopefully we can keep it going."

The Bluejays play at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at Canby. The Jaguars play Lakeview at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Cottonwood.

CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN — Scoring: Ethan Bulthuis 8, Case Mulder 16, Drew Duininck 6, Kadin Dehmlow 4, Brayden Marcus 3, Ben Van Eps 28, Caleb Vander Beek 14 ... 3-point shots: Bulthuis 2, Mulder 1, Duininck 1, Marcus 1, Van Eps 1 ... Rebound leader: Bulthuis 8 ... Assist leader: Marcus 4 ... Steal leader: Vander Beek 2 ... Block leader: Vander Beek 1

RENVILLE COUNTY WEST — Scoring: Adam Schrupp 4, Ryan Schrupp 2, AJ Gasca 9, Isaac Haen 4, Jaise Miller 9, Tyler Froland 13, Hunter Bruns 2, Luki Hale 4, Jaden Serbus 10 ... 3-point shots: Gasca 1, Miller 3 ... Rebound leader: Serbus 14 ... Assist leader: A. Schrupp 4 ... Steal leader: Serbus 1 ... Block leader: Serbus 2

Senior forward Cole Visser knocked down 20 points and freshman guard Jack Gross and senior guard Maxwell Marks each had 13 in BOLD's West Central Conference victory over Minnewaska at Glenwood.

Senior guard Hunter Borer added 11 points for the Warriors, who also got eight points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals from senior forward Ethan Sullivan.

Damon Uhde had 17 points and Hunter Kostlecky 10 points and 10 rebounds for Minnewaska.

BOLD plays host to Sauk Centre at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Bird Island. Minnewaska plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Morris/Chokio-Alberta.

BOLD — Scoring: Hunter Borer 11, Jack Gross 13, Hudson Vosika 2, Ethan Sullivan 8, Cole Visser 20, Max Marks 13 ... 3-point shots: Borer 3, Gross 3, Sullivan 1, Visser 3, Marks 2 ... Rebound leader: Sullivan 8 ... Assist leaders: Sullivan 7, Gross 5, Marks 4 ... Steal leader: Sullivan 3 ... Block leaders: Gross 1, Visser 1

MINNEWASKA — Scoring: Tate Reichmann 3, Ethan Quelle 7, Alec Larson 4, Damon Uhde 17, Tenzin Dahl 4, Cade Olson 2, Hunter Kostelecky 10, PJ Johnson 3 ... 3-point shots: Reichmann 1, Quelle 1, Uhde 1, Johnson 1 ... Rebound leader: Kostelecky 10 ... Assist leader: Quelle 2, Kostelecky 2, Johnson 2 ... Steal leader: Johnson 3 ... Block leader: Quelle 1

Max Athmann scored 14 points to lead Paynesville to the Central Minnesota Conference victory at Maple Lake.

The Bulldogs led 32-9 at halftime.

Paynesville plays Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa at 7 p.m. Thursday in Paynesville.

PAYNESVILLE — Scoring: Izaak Schultz 3, Brayden Pung 5, Eli Nelson 5, Gus Johnson 4, Grayson Fuchs 6, Chase Bayer 7, Max Athmann 14, Bryce VanderBeek 8, Blayke Pung 2 ... 3-point shots: n/a ... Rebound leader: n/a ... Assist leader: n/a ... Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a

MAPLE LAKE — Scoring: Layton Johnson 3, Matteo Mangili 1, Jacob Weese 2, Ernesto Brown 5, Braden Peterson 5 ... 3-point shots: n/a ... Rebound leader: n/a ... Assist leader: n/a ... Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a

Redwood Valley improved to 11-3 with the non-conference victory over Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City at Redwood Falls.

The Falcons fell to 3-8.

ACGC plays at 7 p.m. Thursday at Eden Valley-Watkins.