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Sports from the week of March 2, 2005

Arrows end TMB's state hoop quest

The Tracy/Milroy/Balaton girls’ basketball team saw its season come to an end Tuesday night at Redwood Falls, in the finals of the Sub-Section 3AA South Tournament, with a 54-52 loss to Pipestone-Jasper. The Panthers’ banner year ended with a 22-4 record.

“The most revealing statistic is that we were out-rebounded 30-15,” said Panther Co-Coach Ric Haberman. “The Arrows picked off 15 offensive rebounds giving them many second and third chances to score.”

The Panthers, with their usual freewheeling style, forged to a 27-21 lead after one period of play. That spurt included 8 points by Ashlee Domine and two2 three-pointers by Alyssa Kirk and one by Jenna Schaar.

From that point the Panthers seemed to play more tentatively as though worrying about committing fouls. The Arrows outscored TMB 12-6 in the second quarter and 10-7 in the third period to find themselves down 45-40 with eight minutes remaining. The Arrows were effective on their own offensive rebounding to get extra shots.

“There were quite a few fouls called in that first quarter and we reacted by being very cautious,” said Haberman. “Pipestone, on the other hand, played much more aggressively.”

The Arrows used a good defensive effort in the final quarter to hold off the Panther comeback efforts. In spite of the Arrows efforts TMB closed the score to 54-52 with 1:10 remaining. The Panthers, because they had been so careful not to commit fouls, being charged with only one in the second half at that point, found themselves at a disadvantage when the Arrows were holding the ball with a 54-52 lead and 1:10 to play. T/M/B had to foul 5 times to put the Arrows on the free throw line. Pipestone-Jasper then successfully thwarted the final Panther efforts and held on for the win.

The Panthers failed to score in their final two possessions. Alyssa Kirk missed a shot with about ten seconds left. TMB got the ball back with five second lefts after a missed Arrow free throw. But a TMB pass was intercepted and the Panthers never got a shot off.

Ashlee Domine scored 17 poinnts, followed by Kirk with 13 and Miller with 10. TMB had 19 assists ( J. Tholen 6) to 14 for the Arrows, 8 steals (Miller 3) to 7 for Pipestone. TMB had 14 turnovers to 11 for P-J. The Panthers hit 20 of 42 shots for 47% while the Arrows hit 21 of 47 for 45%.

 

T/M/B 27-6-7-12 -52

P-J 21-12-10-11-54

T/M/B-Schaar, 2,1/4,6; Nelson 2,0/0,4; Tholen,1,0/0,2; Kirk,5,0/0,13; Domine,8,1/1,17; Miller,2,6/6,10. Totals 20,8/11,52.


Cards eliminate Panther boys

Luverne eliminated the Panther boys from post-season basketball play with a 66-37 victory Saturday.

“We had them close at the end of the first quarter and were down only 11-8,” said Panther Coach Nat Boyer. A 22-7 Luverne burst in the second period put the game out of reach, even through TMB was able to limit No. 1 seeded Luverne to seven points in the third period.

The loss concluded the Panthers’ season with a 3-21 record. The game was the final high school game for seniors Sean Kirk, John Knott, Jason Heern, Anthony Vroman and Guillaume Frebault.

“It is difficult to lose the five seniors who were all an integral part of the TMB Panther Boys Basketball Program,” said Boyer. “ They will all be missed.”

Derek Radke led the Panther scoring with 8 points while John Knott, Andrew Prairie and Gary Knott had 6 points each and Sean Kirk added 5. TMB hit 12 of 39 field goal attempts for 31 % and were 0 for 8 on threes. The Cardinals hit 23 of 54 shots for 43 % and were 1 of 6 on three pointers.

Luverne out-rebounded the Panthers 38-29 (Kirk 11, J. Knott and G. Knott 8 each), had 10 assists to 2, 7 steals to 5 (Nelson 3, Kirk 2), 0 blocks to 7 (J. Knott 2, Kirk 3) and turned the ball over only 9 times to 23 for TMB.

TMB 8 7 10 12 37

Luverne 11 22 7 26 66

TMB-Nelson, 1,1/2,3; J. Knott, 3,0/0,6; Kirk, 1,3/4,5; Heern, 0,1/2,1; Radke, 3,2/3,8; Prairie, 2,2/3,6; Zwaschka, 0,1/2,1; G. Knott, 2,2/4,6; Rignell, 0,1/2,1. Totals, 12,13/24,37.


TMB wrestlers find tough foes at state

Three Panther wrestlers Cole Cooreman, Ross Ryan and Paul Carlson gained state tournament experience over the weekend, but all lost their opening match. Cooreman qualified for wrestle backs, but lost his first match.

“All of our guys qualified for the state tournament by placing second in the sections,” said Panther Coach Brian Michelson. “It is pretty tough coming into the state as a second place qualifier because you are matched against the winners and we had some tough draws.”

Cooreman, who brought a 27-12 record to state, drew Mike Thorn (35-2) his first match at 119-pounds. Thorn pinned the Panther sophomore in 1:23. In wrestlebacks the next day, Cooreman lost a 16-3 decision.

In the 130-pound class, senior Ross Ryan drew Joe Grygelko, also of St. Michael-Albertville. Grygelko, who was 38-4 entering the state tourney, recorded an 11-2 decision over Ryan.

Paul Carlson brought a 29-10 record to state at 171-pounds. Kevin Landry of Cannon Falls (34-2) beat the Tracy/Milroy/Balaton junior 17-5.

The Panther wrestling program plans an awards banquet that has tentatively been scheduled for Thursday, March 17, at the Mediterranean Restaurant.