Staff
It wasn’t a wave of relief that washed over the Muskie junior boys’ basketball team–it was a tsunami.
Mike Vanderaa had a game-high 18 points as the squad notched its first win this season with a 50-39 triumph over the Sioux Lookout Warriors in the seventh-place final at the Kenora Invitational Tournament over the weekend.
“This was a big win for the boys,” enthused coach Angela Petsnick.
“It was funny because Sean Huziak has been a Muskie since September, and has never won a game in football or basketball until this weekend,” she chuckled about one of her starters, who also was the punter for the gridiron team.
“He hates to lose so he was happy with our win.”
The Muskies and Warriors were close throughout the game. But when Sioux Lookout’s top scorer picked up his fourth foul midway through the second half, that opened the door just wide enough for Fort High.
“He had to lay low and not go so hard,” Petsnick said about the Warriors’ ace.
“That allowed us to creep up little by little.”
A calf injury suffered by the Warriors’ other main scoring threat sealed the deal for the Muskies, who pulled away for good.
“That one game really boosted the guys’ confidence,” noted Petsnick.
Fort High lost its opener 52-38 to the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints (Kenora), then fell 55-29 to the Red Lake Rams in the consolation semi-final.
Leading scorers were unavailable for those two games.
“We need to work on our press break, rebounding, and boxing out,” stressed Petsnick.
Following a break for exams last week, all four Muskie court teams resume NorWOSSA play here tomorrow against the Kenora Broncos starting at noon.
The Dryden Eagles then visit next Tuesday (Feb. 7), with action also beginning at noon.
