On the Bench with Byron Higgin
Here it comes, ready or not! We are about to find out how good the Minneota boys’ and girls’ basketball teams really are. First, the boys. Now 16-1, a record that includes wins over Lakeview; Westbrook-Walnut Grove and Ortonville, the Vikings are about to launch themselves into “the meat of the order,” as they say in baseball. Thursday they travel to 17-0 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton.
That game has been circled on the schedule for a long time. They will get games against 8-8 Fulda; 9-8 Adrian and 13-5 Lakeview. Then, they get Russell-Tyler-Ruthton again on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at home.
These are, as they also say, “Times that test men’s souls.” The two games against RTR, plus a couple of others will tell us if the Vikings are legitimate Section 3A contenders in search of the school’s first Class A State Tournament appearance.
No doubt Coach Dave Busselman is buoyed by the big win over Ortonville Monday as they launched, “Test Week,” for the boys squad. COACH CHAD Johnston’s girls’ basketball team also will get some BIG tests in Thursday’s game with the 14-2 Southwest MN Christian Eagles on Thursday at home; the 18-1 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Panthers at Tracy on Tuesday and Saturday, Feb. 10th’s game at the 12-3 Maranatha Academy Mustangs in the Twin Cities.
Again, these games will likely dictate the Viking girls chances of taking a run at the Section 3A crown for a trip to the state tournament.
Once a young, depth-short squad, the Viking girls have been playing outstanding basketball lately and have worked themselves to become definite contenders. It’s been an exciting year for basketball in Minneota. And it appears the best is yet to come. Strap yourselves in, it’s going to be quite a ride!
SIDETRACK: Got to take just a little space to tell you what I think about the inability of the “star” pitchers and free agents to sign contracts for big money. On one hand I applaud the owners for not dumping “big money” into pitchers who you never know if they’ll be healthy all season or for years to come.
Most teams have good farm systems and are able to build their own talent. As for the Twins, my favorite confidant Jon the G man and I both think the Twins need to sign one pitcher.
I still think they’ll get Yu Darvish ... Jon is not so sure.
But they need someone — go get ‘em Twins!
ODDS & ENDS:
• Southwest Minnesota State (6-4) took advantage of three Dakota Wesleyan forfeits and strung together four consecutive pins as a team on the way to a dominant 54-0 win last week Brock Buysse of Minneota got a win by forfeit and Cole Hennen (184), was among four straight pins. His came at 1:47. The win was the first time SMSU had shutout an opponent since a 40-0 win over Minot State back in 2013-14.
The Mustangs’ big night was its highest team point total under Head Coach Jesse Nelson, and the most points for an SMSU team since a 50-3 win over St. Thomas back in 2000.
On Thursday, Southwest Minnesota State lost to the Upper Iowa Peacocks, with 25-13. Cole Hennen (10-7) kept the Mustangs alive with an 8-2 win by decision that cut the UIU lead to, 19-13 with two weight classes remaining, but the Mustangs couldn’t catch up.
At 133-pounds, Josh Walker (Upper Iowa) defeated Brock Buysse with a major decision, 12-4.
•Meghan Travis of Minneota not only is on the women’s basketball team and participates on the track and field teams at Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell, SD, she is also an honor student. Travis is a junior biochemistry and psychology double-major and the daughter of Mary Wickstrom and recently was named to the current Dean’s List.
•The Ortonville Trojans girls’ basketball team is 9-9 on the year after losing, 77-34 to Minneota Monday night. They currently have a five-game losing streak and have lost eight of their last nine, after starting the season 7-1.