Congratulations to the Fulda Raiders on their well-earned victory over Heron Lake-Okabena last Friday evening (January 4) in front of a nice-sized and enthusiastic crowd at the Fulda High School gymnasium — where many a great basketball game has been played.
Playing short-handed, the Raider boys executed with patience and precision on offense and worked hard all game long on the defensive end as they repeatedly stymied HL-O’s offensive schemes. It was the first victory of the season for the Raiders, who — despite lacking varsity-level depth — have competed favorably against several opponents and now have a memorable win under their belts.
Hats off to FHS coaches Andrew Oakland and Steve Kellen for teaching their players how to execute and hustle. The Raiders came up with numerous loose balls, worked hard at screening and passing to create scoring opportunities for the M and M boys (junior Tyler Madison and senior Payton Marquardt) and contributed strong defensive and rebounding efforts all game long.
Madison scored 29 points and Marquardt finished with 21, including a bunch of clutch late-game baskets and free throws as those two combined for 50 points in Fulda’s 63-51 victory.
While those two did the bulk of the scoring, senior Cory Renneke, sophomore Brandon Clausen and freshman Logan Erdmann all played their roles well and each one of them drilled a timely three-pointer for the Raiders, capping well-executed possessions. Sophomore Jaeden Strandberg contributed with lots of hustle and freshman Jon Hoy also saw varsity action in the first half for the Raiders as they played without senior Sam Cheadle (illness), who has been one of the team’s leading scorers and rebounders all season.
Murray County Central senior Nate Everson is having a stellar all-around senior season for the Rebels, who became 6-3 with an exciting 73-61 overtime victory perennial power Southwest Minnesota Christian at Slayton Friday night. The Rebels traveled to Cottonwood to tangle with Lakeview Monday (January 7) and go the opposite direction Thursday (January 10) for a Red Rock Conference clash with the Ellsworth Panthers.
A big game for MCC looms next Monday, January 14 when the Rebels play at Westbrook against the 7-3 Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers, who host Southwest Christian Thursday.
In MCC’s overtime win over the Eagles, Everson connected for a game-high 28 points, along with contributing six assists, five rebounds and three steals to the successful effort. Teammates Spencer Wajer (15 points) and Jack Pierson (14 points, 12 rebounds) also had big nights for the Rebels, who will certainly be in “the hunt” throughout the winter for a conference championship.
Adrian’s Dragons also have a solid boys’ basketball team this season with lots of length and athleticism. Adrian played a pair of very strong games in the Holiday Tournament at Lamberton just before Christmas, defeating Red Rock Central (56-53) on December 20 and then coming within one point (58-57) of upsetting Mountain Lake Area / Comfrey in the championship clash on December 22.
Next week, I will mention what’s been happening with the area girls’ teams as their season near the halfway point. That’s right, by next week’s paper it will be the middle of January and the girls’ tournament begins at the end of third week of February.
The unusually warm weather for the first week of January has felt a bit like the melting snow weather of March Madness. But, winter and lots of cold weather is likely to return soon and we will again be shivering when we go outside. The hours of daylight are, however, getting longer and spring will be coming. Before that happens, there’s lots of high school basketball to be played.
Adrian’s boys play at Fulda this Thursday (January 10) and travel to Okabena a week later (January 17) to tangle with HL-O. In between those two games, the Dragons host Southwest Christian on Monday, the 14th. Adrian hosts MCC on Saturday, January 19.
A big annual event happens this coming Saturday, the 12th, as the HL-O / Fulda girls and the Fulda boys travel to Marshall to tangle with Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in a varsity doubleheader on the big floor at Southwest Minnesota State University. It looks like the girls play first at 5 p.m. with the boys’ game — against the defending Class A state champions — to follow at about 6:45.
An interesting area girls’ game is on tap on Friday of this week (January 11) when the 4-6 Adrian Dragons host the 6-4 Murray County Central Rebels. The following Friday, the 18th, the undefeated Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots come to Slayton.
The San Diego — oops I mean the Los Angeles Chargers are still alive after holding off the Baltimore Ravens in a 23-17 victory last Saturday. This week the Chargers take on the New England Patriots in Foxboro (Massachusetts). I am still pulling for Philip Rivers. Go Chargers!
When the American Football League (AFL) started in 1960 one of the original eight teams was the Los Angeles Chargers. They moved to San Diego a year or two later. Who remembers the Chargers quarterback during most of the 1960s???
