Lessons learned; Canby falls, 79-43
When other teams are making three-pointers against you, what lessons did you learn?
After Fulda landed 17 of 52 three-points shots for 83 points against the Vikings, Coach Dave Busselman knew something had to be done.
He wants to run a "high-low" scheme that keeps teams away from the basket, yet reacts to their ability to hit the long-range shots.
In the second half, Friday night against Canby, it worked so well the Lancers scored just 12 points the entire half — and not a single three-pointer.
The final result was a 79-43 win over the Lancers to drive the Viking record to 18-2 on the year.
"We were better the second half. We played behind them more and we just picked it (the pressure on Canby) up a little bit," the coach said.
The full-court, high octane defense forced 19 turnovers that led the Vikings to 16 steals that helped build a comfortable 69-35 lead with 5:41 left in the contest.
The Vikings ability to get the ball inside to Logan Sussner probably paid more dividends than it has all year. The sophomore center poured 23 points, in the process nabbed 11 of the team's 32 rebounds and, as Coach Busselman said, helped the team attain the "low" portion of their high-low offensive campagin.
"We were hoping our pressure could keep it going for us," the coach said. And it did, with freshman Jacob Hennen getting the Vikings off to a fast start. He scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds (a skill he's honed the last three games). He also sank four of the Vikings eight three-pointers.
"Jacob has been putting up some good numbers. If we can get him hot, he'll help us go a long ways," said Coach Busselman.
While Jacob was getting the job done outside, his cousin, senior Isaac Hennen was helping Sussner under the bucket.
His 14 points and three rebounds were helpful — but it was his five steals and quickness transitioning Minneota toward the basket that was the most help to the Viking offense. "Isaac played really physical tonight," the coach said.
"We are starting to get there," added Coach Busselman. And Isaac Hennen's resurgence around the basket and leading the fast break has been a big part of that.
Senior Trystan Sorensen got the start because it was Parent's Night and Busselman gave him a chance to make the evening special. Sorensen reacted with a pair of three-pointers. And Nolan Boerboom came off the bench for two more and a total of eight points.
"Nolan played well on the exterior tonight," said Coach Busselman. The 6-3 sophomore, who possess an accurate three-point shot, seems to react better off the bench than in the starting lineup — so Busselman continues to use him in that position.
It wasn't Thomas Hennen's night to score and he got just eight with three steals and four rebounds — but his usual high point total was not needed on this night.
And, while newly-crowned junior ad Minnesota State ExCEL Award winner Jared Josephson didn't score, it was his defensive leadership, especially the second half that helped hold Canby to just 12 points.
Canby didn't do much scoring, but sophomore Zach Durfee scored 16 points as the only Lancer in double figures.
Canby shot just two free throws, missing both of them — as both teams committed just nine fouls apiece the entire night.
MINNEOTA (2'S, 3'S, FT, F, TP) Jared Josephson 0 0 0-0 2 0; Thomas Hennen 3 0 2-2 4 8; Logan Sussner 9 0 5-6 0 23; Jacob Hennen 2 4 2-2 0 18; Isaac Hennen 6 0 2-2 1 14; Nolan Boerboom 1 2 0-0 2 8; Tristan Sorensen 0 2 0-0 0 6; Mitchell Rost 1 0 0-0 0 2; Grady Moorse 0 0 0-0 0 0; Alex Saltzer 0 0 0-0 0 0. Totals 22 8 11-12 9 79.
CANBY (2's, 3's, FT, F, TP) Tyler Kack 0 1 0-0 0 3; Zach Durfee 5 2 0-0 0 16; Tyler Sayre 2 0 0-0 0 4; Riley Kockelman 1 1 0-0 4 5; Ethan Thovson 0 0 0-0 2 0; Blake Mercer 0 1 0-0 1 3; Jacob Crowser 3 0 0-0 2 6; Brandon Bursack 1 0 0-0 0 2; Carter Wente 2 0 0-2 0 4. Total 14 5 0-2 9 43.
Score by Halves
Canby 31 12 — 43
Minneota 46 33 — 79
Statistics:
SHOOTING: Minneota 30 of 54 for 56 percent; Canby 19 of 54 for 35 percent.
FREE THROWS: Minneota 11 of 12 for 91 percent; Canby 0-2 for 0 percent.
REBOUNDS: Minneota 32 (Sussner 9; Jacob Hennen 7; Nolan Boerboom 5; Thomas Hennen 4; Isaac Hennen, Josephson 3 each; Sorensen 1); Canby 23 (Durfee 8; Wente 4; Mercer, Kockelman 3 each; Crowser 2; Bursack, Nolan Harding, Kack 1 each).
STEALS: Minneota 16 (Isaac Hennen 5; Thomas Hennen, Josephson 3 each; Boerboom, Jacob Hennen, Sussner 1 each); Canby 8 (Durfee 2, Kack 2, Sayre 2, Thovson, Mercer 1 each).
BLOCKS: Minneota 6 (I. Hennen, T. Hennen 2 each; Sussner, Sorenson 1 each); Canby 5 (Durfee 2).
B SQUAD: Minneota 52, Canby 44 (Vikings 12-7 on the year). C SQUAD: Undefeated.