Unbeaten Knights top Vikings, 71-39

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, ranked No. 10 in Class A, sniped for 11 three-pointers en route to a 71-39 victory over Minneota last Tuesday in Minneota.
After being outscored by 24 points in the first half (38-14), the Viking (0-2) made some adjustments and started finding success in the paint and were only outscored 33-25 in the second half.
Minneota still hasn’t had much practice time due to the late start from football and bad weather. But the young Vikings (only two seniors) showed their potential against a talented RTR team by coming out aggressive in the second half.
The game started out close with the Vikings trailing 14-12 before RTR went on a 12-0 run, including a trio of three-pointers, to make it 26-12.
Max Rost stopped the run by scoring on a floater down the lane, but the Knights then went on another 12-0 run to close out the first half.
Minneota came out in the second half and went on an 8-0 run, six of those points coming in the paint by DeSmet and the other by Rost to cut the deficit to 17 points at 42-25. That was as close as the Vikings would get, however, as the Knights went on a 17-3 run.
Max Rost scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half and Sawyer DeSmet scored all 10 of his points in the second half for the Vikings. Rost also led the team with four assists, while DeSmet pulled down eight rebounds. Ryan Dalager hit a pair of three-pointers for six points, giving him seven treys over the last two games. Peyton Sheik added four points, five rebounds and two assists. Anthony Rybinski had three points and Lucas Rybinski had two.
Drew Werkman had a double-double for RTR, finishing with game-highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds, Cody Wichmann drained five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Knights (3-0). Aiden Wichmann had four 3-pointers among his 14 points and also dished out seven assists. Matt Weber had six points, Blake Christianson had five points, Camden Hansen four, Hayden Gravley three, and Skyelar Martinez two.
Complete statistics were not available.
The Vikings’ scheduled game against Lakeview on Thursday, Dec. 22,was postponed due to the winter storm.