BV Lynx Finish Strong, Sweep Axtell Park

A Game

BV 52, Axtell Park 36

(Sioux Falls, SD)--Monday night's match-up between Brandon Valley and Axtell Park was unique for more than one reason. First, it was the last game of the year for the Lynx and secondly, Coach Klumper was not able to be at the game. C Team Coach Reese was unable to coach, leaving Klumper to attend to the C and D teams in Brandon. However, Klumper cleverly set up a web cam in the Axtell Park gymnasium to make sure he could keep an eye on the A and B teams, thus enabling him to write an accurate description of the last games. So in reality, Klumper was able to watch all four games for the first time all season. Due to the web cam, the events being foretold will carry a high level of accuracy. To the game...

Despite being ranked last in the Sioux Falls league, The Axtell Park Lions showed up with their "A" game for the visiting Lynx. Tight through the first quarter, the Lynx struggled making any shots. "I am pretty sure the rims are a little smaller on our end of the court," observed Chase Marso. Immediately, Marso was tackled to the ground by a sprinting Trevor Tobin, angered about hearing such a ridiculous comment. Adam "The Baller" Bauer responded with irritation: "The rims are smaller on both sides!" After yet another scuffle, the Lynx began to play with confidence and poise. At halftime, the Lynx held a comfortable 12 point lead. Tobin, who has been one of the best shooters all year, was not finding any success from beyond the arc. Tobin may have been a little off to start the game because he took the absence of Klumper especially hard. In fact, he was balling like a baby the entire bus trip to Axtell Park. Midway through the first quarter, Tobin was laying down behind the bench, pounding his fists on the floor, still weeping over the loss of Klumper. Coming out of the half, the Lions of Axtell Park caught fire and began to "roar" back from the deficit. Hitting three, after three, Axtell tied the game and actually overtook the Lynx towards the end of the third quarter. As the fourth quarter opened up, the Lynx found themselves down by 33 points. "Well, at least we aren't down by 34 points," quipped the ever-optimistic Jacob Bruget. During the between quarters time, Coach Bisbee gave his best speech of the year, igniting a spark to get these Lynx going. In fact, he actually breathed real fire and some of the Lynx shorts started on fire. After the distinguisher calmed things down and after employing the stop-drop-and roll method, the Lynx came out ready for a comeback. The fourth quarter was all Lynx, as everything they threw up went in. Tobin regained his composure, snapping out of his depression and started knocking down shots. Luke Hyronimus had his best game of the year, leading all scorers with eleven. Colin Lloyd finished the game with ten points. The Lynx came all the way back and ended the game victorious, defeating the Lions soundly, 52-36. "It was a great game," said Bisbee, "We are starting to come together and should have a great second half of the year." At this point, Tony Tripp reminded Coach Bisbee that this was, indeed, the last game of the year. It was a total team effort for the Lynx as they finish the season 8-5. Jarad Bakker was disappointed because due to the absence of Klumper, no pictures were taken, thus no chance of Bakker getting another picture of him touching the net. Nate Winter not only won in the game, but also in the stands as a girl actually asked him out afterwards. Great job, Nate. Congratulations to the 2008-2009 BV Lynx A team on finishing their season with a win. Go Lynx.

A- Game

BV 49, Axtell Park 19

(Sioux Falls, SD)--Perfect, Perfection, Without Flaw, Flawless, unspoiled, complete, whole, champion, greatness, distinguished, celebrated, majestic, astonishing, remarkable, heroic, grand, magnificent, incredible, extraordinary. All words used to describe the GOATS of Brandon Valley. Yes, it was truly a magical night as the GOATS proved their name true and made history, going 13-0. The BV Lynx now can add their name to the list of other great teams: '72 Dolphins, '76 Indiana Hoosiers, Birds' Celtics, Magic's Lakers, Jordan's Bulls, '27 New York Yankees, '07 New England Patriots, '08 BV Lynx 8th Grade football team and on and on....This historic season ended in an anti-climactic way, as the Lynx pummeled the Axtell Park Lions 49-19. In a game that could have been 150-0, the Lynx showed class and sportsmanship as they ran a stalled offense instead of running the score up. "It just shows what kind of kids we have on this team," remarked Klumper via web cam. Leading the balanced Lynx scoring attack was Zach Van"Vern"Ede with 10 and Jared (I think) Mulder with eleven, respectively. Despite the fact the game was not exactly edge-of-your-seat entertainment, there was something done on this occasion that has never been done in the history of sports. The visiting team actually had a "Parent's Night" on the other teams court. Before the game, all of players on the Lynx that are in 8th grade (Marso points out that they are all in 8th grade) came down to the middle of the court and met their dad with a hug and their mom with a rose to thank them and show them how much they have appreciated their support throughout the undefeated season. It was an emotional moment as even Klumper teared up via web cam. Actually, one of his tears hit the web cam in Brandon and caused it to short-circuit, shooting an array of sparks in every direction. Once it was back up and running, Klumper witnessed his team finish the season with a win. "The call came to me late Sunday evening about missing the B game, it was bitter sweet. I was excited about getting to coach the C and D games, but devastated I would not be there for my teams last game, being able to celebrate with them on a perfect season," said Klumper, "All the credit in the world goes to the kids. They achieved their perfect season. It was all them." There were numerous notable performances to end the year: Adam Guthmiller, Garret Martinmaas, and Philip Volk played with their usual "faster-than-everybody-else" style, completely overwhelming the lowly Lions. Trey Ethreim, Cole Vanderbeek and Brandon Hintz controlled the perimeter on offense and defense, consistently making great passes and steals. The Mulder Twins continued their assault on the record books for shot attempts and played defense as if they had jet packs on their back. Thomas Gardner and Zach VanEde dominated the post with smoothness, finesse and skill we are only accustomed to seeing in College. It was a great season and a great team, a team that this blog author will miss dearly.

C and D Games are coming soon...

Axtell Park Game Summaries, Final Thoughts, Coming Soon

Lynx B, C, D Wins, A Falls to Whittier

A Team: Lost
B Team: Won
C Team: Won
D Team: Won

(You may be wondering about the lack of description for the four games. Reason: The A team is/was too painful to write about as they dropped a close one that they should have won. The B game went pretty much like every other game this year, 30 point win. The C and D team games I did not witness and their coach had to take his child to the hospital and was unable to write anything. I apologize for the let down on game summaries. However, Lynx Hoops will end with a bang as there is one game left, as well as the "Season Wrap-Up")

BV Lynx Take 3 out of 4 from Patrick Henry

A Game:

BV 32, Patrick Henry 38

(Sioux Falls, SD)-- Coming off three straight wins a week ago, the Brandon Valley Lynx "A" team was looking to keep their winning streak rolling. It was not to be on this night, however, as they dropped a heart breaker to the Patrick Henry Panthers. The theme for the first half was lack of scoring on the Lynx part. BV only managed to put up three points in the entire first quarter. Missed layups and turnovers resulted in scoring woes. The second quarter witnessed some improvement as they Lynx found a rhythm and put up twelve points to take the lead at half-time. In the second half, it was more of the same as the Lynx struggled to find any lasting rhythm and the refs struggled to find a consistent approach to officiating. The normally relaxed coach Klumper had this to say after the game: "I couldn't believe some of the calls that we were not getting. I mean, its not a good sign when I have to use all the gauze bandages in one game because of our players getting hacked so badly." Despite the poor officiating, the Lynx players did a decent job of not letting it affect them. Nothing can be done once a call has been made and the Lynx have gotten better at letting things go and focusing on things they can control, like their effort and attitude. Still, one must wonder when a Lynx player would drive to the basket and come out with a compound fracture in their arm and no foul call. So it goes... In the fourth quarter, offensive sluggishness hit again, as the Lynx only managed 4 points, which proved to be their undoing on this occasion, losing to Patrick Henry 32-38. Despite the fact that Patrick Henry did not run an offensive play the entire game, their wild, just-drive-to-the-basket-and-throw-up-some-horrible-shot-and-hope-for-a-miracle-that-it-goes-in style of play annoyed the Lynx just enough to beat them. It could also have been attributed to the fact that the court was extremely small and tiled. But excuses are not what this team is about, they know they had their chances and no outside factors cost them the win. The trip was not without highlights, however. As the Lynx were walking into the school when they arrived, a collection of 8th grade girls from Patrick Henry let out a few whistles towards the manly Lynx. Nate Winter was pretty sure that those whistle were for him: "Hey guys, I am pretty sure they were whistling at me. I did comb my hair differently today, that must have been it." Winter, excited that a girl whistled at him, kept asking coach Klumper if he thought they would still be there after the A and B games. "I simply, calmly explained to Nate that those girls would not stand outside for two hours while we played the game," explained Klumper. A dejected Winter found comfort in the huge PowerAde that his dad brought him and forget all about it. Leading the Lynx in scoring was Chase Marso with 13 and Adam Bauer with 7, respectively.



B Game (It's called the "B Game" but we are actually A-)

BV 56, Patrick Henry 28

(Sioux Falls, SD)-- The A game left a bad taste in the mouths of all the GOATS as they watched their good friends lose a close one. They definitely wanted to avenge that loss and make sure we at least left Sioux Falls with one victory. "I could see the fire in the eyes, they were really ticked off," said a scared Klumper. The GOATS have been earning respect all season with their tough style of play. In fact, as the GOATS arrived at Patrick Henry Middle School, the Patrick Henry students actually made a tunnel for the GOATS to walk through, entering the gym. It was a special moment. The always alert Trey Ethreim quipped, "I think a girl almost looked at me while we were walking through the tunnel." The gesture was nice, but still the GOATS showed no mercy as they pounded the P.H. Panthers 56-28 for their eleventh straight win and their eleventh straight game reaching the fifty point mark. Coach Klumper was a little nervous to start the game, "I was nervous because during warm-ups, I saw Jared Mulder flashing his huge wad of money all over instead of shooting." Klumper's nervousness soon dissipated as the Lynx began the game with the same fiery intensity that has been the staple all season long for these dudes. Thomas Gardner turned in a Buffalo-in-the-middle-of-a-pasture-of-bunnies-like dominant performance, filling up the scoring column with 16 points. Adam Guthmiller also hit double digits with 12 points. Individual accolades are nice, but these GOATS are only worried about one state, the big "0" in the L column. If they finish out their last two games with the same intensity and effort they have displayed all season long, a perfect record will be theirs. The summary of the actual game is something like this: the Lynx got a bunch of steals, scored a bunch of points and crushed another opponent by almost 30. The key to tonight's game was the warm-up song "Eye of the Tiger" which, you may not know, has a direct connection to Coach Klumper. It got the players and Klumper very pumped-up for the game. The video is below and will not work at School since it is YouTube.

The C Game

BV 35, Patrick Henry 20
(Wire Reports from Matt Reese)

(Brandon, SD)--Leading Scorers: Forrest Hanisch 9, Dylan Tibke 7, Nick Wilde 6
Free throws (team) 6 for 10
P-H attempted to slow the pace of the game to a crawl by employing an attempt at the Princeton offense. The C-team was not phased by this attempt to set basketball back 30 years, and with the help of swarming defense and much improved free throw shooting were able to over come a slowed pace to emerge victorious. In a total team effort each player contributed with solid defense, timely rebounding, and solid shooting.

The D Game

BV 47, Patrick Henry 9
(Wire Reports from Matt Reese)

(Brandon, SD)--Leading Scorers: Jack McCann 12, Sawyer Barth 8, Derek Bose 6 (and four others with at least 4 points)
Free throws (team) 3 for 11
The BV D-team dominated from the tip racing out to a 17-2 lead and never looking back. Sawyer Barth started the first quarter run by hitting consecutive 3's and the rout was on. Nine of eleven players scored for the night. The D-teamers hustled all night, diving for loose balls, scrapping for rebounds, and fast breaking at every opportunity. P-H was drastically over matched and BV called off the dogs in the fourth quarter and coasted to the victory.


On a side note, this may have been the best managed game of the year by the Lynx managers. My hat goes off to their stellar performance. They have been very consistant all year and do a great job.

Sioux Falls Rocky

Great Week in BVMS History: 8th Graders go 10-1, put stamp on the Record Books

To all my avid readers, I apologize for the tardiness of the game summaries from our previous games. Having three games in a row makes it difficult to keep up with Lynx Hoops. Thank you for your understanding. I appreciate your readership.

The A Team:

BV 53, Memorial 48

(Brandon, SD)-- The BV Lynx A team faced three tough opponents last week. The Lynx faced Memorial Middle School, Yankton, and Edison Middle School in three straight days. Three games in three days may make things difficult for some teams, but not for these Lynx who are starting to find their stride offensively and defensively. Despite the challenging opponents, the A won all three games, usuing strong defense and teammwork that has really come around. In game one of the week, the Lynx defeated the previous #1 ranked school in Sioux Falls Memorial Mustangs 53-48 behind the sizzling shooting from the Lynx guards. The lynx hit nine 3-pointers in the game, setting a school record. Leading the 3-point barage was Trevor Tobin, making 4 out of 33 attempts. Tobin credits his big night to some adjustments he made during warm-ups: "I knew I had to 'play the wind.' It was just a matter of aiming a little to the left. I knew the wind would bring it over." The Lynx played a steady game offensively and defensevly and would not be rattled by the poor attitudes of the Memorial Middle School players. The Lynx would not let the constant cheap shots and profanity get to them as they focused on their goal of winning. The Mustang did have great athletisicm, but nothing special compared to what the Lynx showed Wednesday night. Chase Marso led all scorers with 17 points. After the game, post player Jarad Bakker had this to say to coach Klumper, "Hey Mr. Klumper, did you get another picture of me touching the rim?" Klumper responded, "No."

BV 43, Yankton 33

(Brandon, SD)--Game two of the week for the A team was against ESD rival Yankton. The Lynx once again played team basketball and kept their focus on the game despite the huge Hot dog feast awaiting them after the game. A lesser-disiplined team would have let the sweet smell of hot dogs boiling in water distract them. Although assistant coach Klumper was eating hot dogs during the A game, the BV players still were able to keep focus on the action and on winning. Guard Luke Hyronimus almost gave in to the temptation, asking Klumper on several occasions if he could just have one bite. Said Hyronimus: "That hot dog looked really good. I just really wanted to eat one, or two." Klumper held his ground, "It was in the best interest of Mr. Hyronimus to not eat the hot dog. After all, he asked me for it while he was shooting free throws. I didn't want to take the risk of him getting ketchup on the basketball, especially since the basketball was brand new." Chase Marso pointed out, "The hot dog goes in the hot dog bun." As far as the game went, the A team did their customary routine of getting a big lead, then letting the other team come back. However, on this night, the Lynx were able to withstand the comeback efforts of the Bucks, holding on for a 43-33 win. Chase Marso and Trevor Tobin once again led the Lynx in scoring, tallying 10 points and 11 points, respectively. Nine of Tobin's eleven points came way of the three-ball.


BV 62, Edison Middle School 30

(Brandon, SD)--The finale of the week turned into a laugher as the Lynx pounded the Edison Whatever-they-are by thirty-two points. This game was unique for the Lynx players as Coach Bisbee had to be away, lowly assistant Klumper had to take the reigns. "I was pretty nervous. I know the guys don't like me very much, I wasn't sure if they would listen to me or not," said Klumper. "I wanted to impress the players so I looked up a bunch of plays on the internet and told the guys that I made them up. Don't tell them I didn't that." remarked Klumper. The new plays were not needed, though, as the Lynx used suffocating defense and precision offense to carve up the Edison Whatever-they-are all game long. "It was a lot of fun to watch. They played great," said a relieved coach Klumper. Chase Marso continued his pursuit of the season scoring record for an 8th grade with 21 points. Jarad Bakker also chipped in with his season-high 14 points. The game was getting slightly boring until Jacob Bruget almost got a technical foul and was nearly ejected from the game for aruging with the referee. Bruget was yelling at the ref that people are suppose to put two lines of ketchup on their hot dog, not one. Apparently Bruget was still thinking about the Hot dog Feed. The ref was not amused, screaming back during game-play, "I can put one line of ketchup on my hot dog if I want to!" Other notes: Nate Winter continued his steady season with 12 rebounds and 7 assists. "Winter has been very consistent all season in the post. His hard work and consistency is greatly appreciated," said Klumper after the game.



The A- Team (B team)

BV 52, Memorial Middle School 31

(Brandon, SD)-- The GOATS came into the week with an undefeated record, looking to add three more tallies in the win column. The Lynx knew all three games were definately winnable, but since the Lynx took over the #1 ranking in the state, they have had a bullseye on their back all year. "We get everybody's best effort," commented Trey Ethreim, "To our opponents, the chance to play us is like their Super Bowl." Marso was quick to point out, "The Super Bowl is football." Memorial came into this game with a lot of athletisicm and a lot of attitude. Memorial hung around until late in the second quarter when the GOATS started to open things up. Every member of the Lynx scored in the game, which shows the type of teammwork and balance that these Lynx have. The Lynx managed to hit the 50-point mark for the 8th straight game, a new single season record for any 8th grade BV team. "The record is pretty cool," said Hintz, "Almost as cool as I am." These Lynx are not focused on records, though. They have one-track minds: winning (and the hot dog feed after the Yankton game.) "All my guys care about is playing their best and playing together. That combination breeds wins, and they know it," said a pleased Klumper after the game. Leading the well balanced scoring attack for the Lynx was Philip Volk with 11, Garret Martinmaas with 9 and Thomas Gardner with 9.


BV 61, Yankton 24

(Brandon, SD)-- This game was a rematch from earlier in the season. When these two teams played early in the year, the GOATS were just kinda good. Now they are super good. With that being the case, there was a chacne things could get out of hand very quickly for the Yankton Bucks. The players could barely even hear Klumper's meaningless stories as both teams prepared for the showcase game of the night. As the ball was tossed in the air for the jump to start the game, the student section was as rowdy as ever. The A team players were especially enthusiastic, but their enthusiasm stemmed from the looming Hot Dog feed afterwards. At one point, as the crowd began to settle down, a very excited Trevor Tobin yelled at the top of his lungs: "I love hot dogs and I want to eat them." As the game got underway, the Yankton players looked like deer in head lights, as they knew at any moment the Lynx would spring from their "litter" and pummel the Bucks. It was quite the opposite, however, as the game was scoreless midway through the first quarter. The lynx got open shots whenever they wanted but the shots were just not falling. "I was not concerned with our lack of scoring in the first quarter, we were getting shots and I knew they would start to fall. Also, I had a new play to show the guys. We called it "new play" and I knew it would work great. I saw it in an NBA game. The T-Wolves ran it," said a winded Klumper as he tried to have the longest quote of the season. Klumper's confidence in his team proved to be justified as the GOATS unleashed the fury on the Bucks, taking a 15 point lead almost instantly. Philip Volk's weekend operation to add two more arms allowed him to get even more steals. "I was surprised to see Volk came back after the weekend with four arms, now he will get even more steals and will easily break the 8th grade steals record. Although there will be an asterick by the record since he has four arms now," said Klumper. The Bucks looked miserable as the GOATS attacked the ball handler in waves, completely overwhelming the guards. In fact, after the game two of the Yankton guards asked their coach if they could have a wrestling sign up sheet. The GOATS had broken the lead wide open, but did not play satisified. They played how they always play with a lead: looking for more. The one thing this team never does is start to relax with big leads. Even when the lead reaches 20 or 30 points, they continue to play as hard as they can. The action was stopped momentarily in the third quarter, however, as the ref saw blood on the jersey of Jacob Mulder. Actually, Mulder snuck over to the Hot Dog feed during halftime and polished off 3 hot dogs with extra ketchup. The red substance on his jersey was not blood. It was ketchup that had spilled all over. "Yeah, I can't say I'm surprised, Jacob really loves hot dogs. I could tell he was just itching to get over to the Feed," said a relaxed Klumper. The Lynx finished out the game in true GOATS fashion, hitting the 60 point mark for the first time all year. "It was a great game, they played very well. Everybody scored for the second game in a row. Up and down the roster, everybody played hard," said Klumper. Leading scorers for the Lynx was Philip Volk with 15, Jared Mulder with 9, and Adam Guthmiller with 8. Klumper tried to give a post-game speech, but as the buzzer sounded, his players had disappeared-the Hot Dog Feed had finally arrived. Chase Marso pointed out after the game that "Four plus three plus four equals eleven."

BV 51, Edison Middle School 30

(Brandon, SD)--Total Domination.

The C Team

BV 40, Memorial 35
BV 40, Memorial 24
BV 41, Yankton 17

(Brandon, SD)--The Lynx came out and dominated the Yankton Bucks right fromt he tip-off. The combination of fast break and in-your-face defense was too much for the unprepared Bucks. Dylan Tibke and Harlan Smouse led the game in scoring with 8 and 7 points, respectively.

BV 42, Edison 32

(Sioux Falls, SD)--
Leading Scorers: Cole Hensley 10, Forrest Hanisch 9, Dylan Tibke 6, and Spencer Smith 5
Shot 7 for 24 from the free-throw line (29%)
The C team never trailed during the game; the guys rebounded well and played great help defense.

BV 29, Edison 30

(Sioux Falls, SD)--
Leading Scorers: Andy Waterfall 6, Zach Flannigan 6, Jack McCann 4, and Dylan Kasma 4.
It was a tight game that went back and forth the entire time. Edison scored the go-ahead basket with 4 seconds to go. We got off a last second shot, but it clanged off of the back of the rim.

Hot Dog Feed Highlights BV Sweep of Yankton

(Brandon, SD)-- Due to overconsumption of probably the finest hotdogs ever made in boiling water, there will be a slight delay in game summaries for this week.

Thursday, Feb. 19th:
A Game: BV 43, Yankton 33
A- Game: BV 61, Yankton 24
C Game: BV 41, Yankton 17


Wednesday, Feb. 18th:
A Game: BV 53, Memorial Middle School 48
A- Game: BV 52, Memorial Middle School 31
C Game: BV 40, Memorial Middle School 35
D Game: BV 40, Memorial Middle School 24

BV B and D Teams Victorious, A and C Fall to O'Gorman

A Game: BV 42, O'Gorman 47

(Sioux Falls, SD)-- The opening game in the Sioux Falls league saw high intensity action between Brandon Valley and the Knights of O'Gorman. The action was back and forth throughout the entire first half. As has been the case all year for the Lynx, inconsistency plagued them early on. The Lynx would break out into the lead, only to see the Knights come marching back. For the Knights, #3 gave BV fits all first quarter long. An ingenious coaching move by Coach Bisbee assigned Tony Tripp the task of shutting down #3. Tripp's defense put an end to any success the Knights sharp-shooter experienced in the first quarter. Tripp used his superior athleticism and toughness to make things miserable for the "could-explode-at-any-moment" #3. Coach Bisbee was pleased: "Tony did a great job shutting down there best player." On this occasion, the fans would see this game come down to the wire as neither team refused to quit in the third quarter and into the fourth. The Lynx found themselves behind by 6 to 8 points most of the way through the fourth quarter. Trevor Tobin, who struggled in the first half shooting the ball, kept his confidence and hit a big three with under a minute to play to tie the game. "That shot was huge!" exclaimed a exhilarated Bisbee. The coaches never lost faith in Tobin's ability to hit the big three. Bisbee also added, "I just knew he was going to hit a big shot eventually, I never doubted it for a second." In fact, when Tobin hit the momentum-changing three-pointer, Bisbee was so excited he turned to his assistant, Coach Klumper, and punched him in the shoulder, exclaiming "I knew it! I knew it!" Klumper's shoulder went numb, as if it had been injected with 7 syringes of Novocaine. Holding back the tears, Klumper, displaying the toughness of a 6 year old girl, remained on the bench for the remainder of the A game. After Tobin's big shot, O'G came down the floor and turned the ball over, which led to Chase Marso putting in a bucket to give the Lynx a two point lead and all the momentum in the world. O'G, down by two with the ball, could not muster up any half-way decent shot resulting in the Lynx taking over, seemingly in control of the game. It would come down to free throws for these ferocious felines. The Lynx stepped to the line, up by two, with 10 seconds remaining in the game, with a chance to ice the game. Two misses later, the Knights charged down the court and tossed up and made a miracle shot at the buzzer to tie. Overtime was needed on this afternoon to decide a very tough fought battle. In the overtime period, the Lynx got off to a slow start, allowing the Knights to build a sizable lead. That proved to be costly, especially in an overtime that is only two minutes long to begin with. The Knights managed to control the game and come away with the victory. For the Lynx, the loss was bitter. Free throws proved to be the undoing of a sure-thing victory. In the fourth quarter alone, the Lynx shot 4 out of 11 from the charity stripe. Despite the loss, a few Lynx turned in impressive performances. Other than Tripp's stifling defense, Chase Marso tallied a game high and season high 20 points. Marso got his 20 by dead-eye shooting from the three-point arc and penetrating moves to the basket. The Lynx will have a week off as parent/teacher conferences begin for Brandon Valley. They better get their rest, however, as they try to get back on the winning track when they play three games in three days on Feb. 18, 19, 20. All homes games, by the way. The Lynx fall to 4-3 on the season.



A- Game: BV 39, O'Gorman 29

(Sioux Falls, SD)-- The finale of the night on the campus of O'Gorman saw undefeated Brandon Valley, 6-0, facing off against the undefeated O'Gorman Knights, 17-0. The student section, decked out in their khakis pants and blue polo shirts, were ready to see their Knights slay the Fire-Breathing Lynx. Through some cunning scouting by coach Klumper during warm-ups, the Lynx learned that O'G pummeled Yankton by 20 earlier in the season. "It was actually pretty easy," said Klumper about the scouting, "I just asked some kid what their record was and who they have played." As the game got underway, coach Klumper took his spot on the bench with his arm in a sling from the earlier mishap (a.k.a punch). Phillip Volk was inspired by the display of courage from his coach: "I have never been so inspired as I was when I saw Coach Klumper get back from the ER and take his spot on the bench with us, a truly memorable moment in the history of my life." After hearing the quote, Klumper responded, "Thanks Phillip. You can be a starter for this game for saying that." The pre-game speech was all business, as Klumper knew that the Lynx could not take O'G for granted. "I knew these Knights were not going to show us any 'chivalry' tonight. I knew their 'armor' would be tough, their swords would be sharpened and their thirst for victory overflowing." Trey Ethreim responded, "What is he talking about?" The first half was all the game was cracked up to be, as the half-time score was 21-18 in favor of the Lynx. For BV, turnovers proved costly as they began to pile up in their high-paced style. Always looking to fast break, the Lynx came up against a team that could almost stick with them, causing bad passes and mis-handles. Klumper decided to scale back the attack and actually run some offense. "I knew we could dominate them in the paint. They simply let us get it in the post and from there, Garrett Martinmaas, Adam Guthmiller, Thomas Gardner and Zach Van Ede just dominated King Arthur and Lancelot," explained Klumper, using another cheesy reference of real knights. Ethriem again chimed in, "He basically is the only one that laughs at his jokes." As always, the defense of the Lynx was outstanding all game long. The most consistent thing for the Lynx during their seven game winning streak is their effort and defense. They need to keep that ball rolling as they begin to face tough opponent after tough opponent. The Lynx began to pull away in the second half, using solid free-throw shooting to keep the Knights from catching up. Unlike the A team, the GOATS dominated the free throw line in the fourth quarter, hitting 11 out of 12 from the line. Tom Gardner had ice water running through his veins as he did not miss a free throw the entire game. Garrett Martinmaas also hit big free throws as the Lynx won their seventh game of the year, improving to 7-0. Leading the Lynx in scoring was Martinmaas with 13 and Jared Mulder with 8. "It was a good test for us tonight," quipped Klumper, "It was good to face a quality team and to see where we stack up. We definitely passed the test tonight and anxiously await our next opponent."

C Game: BV 48, O'Gorman 51
(Wire Reports from Coach Reese)

(Brandon, SD)--High scorers were: Kain Koepp with 13, Forrest Hanisch with 11, and Dylan Tibke with 9. We shot 6 for 20 from the free-throw line. The theme from the first half for us was inconsistent play and too many unforced errors on our part. The kids got things together and played much better in the 2nd half. We were down by 8 at half-time and the guys chipped away at the lead, and we actually took the lead late in the 4th quarter. We traded free throws at the end and they forced over time. Kain had some nice steals that he took coast to coast, Forrest Hanisch played good defense on their leading scorer, Spencer Smith had a nice 3 point play, the kids did a nice job of feeding the post, and overall the team played very hard. In the end we missed too many free throws and too many layups.

D Game: BV 41, O'Gorman 16
(Wire reports from Coach Reese)

(Brandon, SD)--High Scorers were: Nick Wilde with 10 points, Zach Flannigan with 6 points, and Dylan Kasma with 6 pts. 10 of 11 players scored. The theme for the game was run, run, run. We ran out to an early lead and kept running all game long. We were up 23 to 5 at half time. The kids played good defense, we had multiple steals, and the kids ran the floor fairly well. Nick Wilde displayed solid skills finishing from both sides of the basket with either hand. Flannigan and Kasma played well down low. Overall the team played well as a group.

BV Can't Dull the Arrows, drop 2 out of 3

A Game: BV 41, Watertown 46

(Brandon, SD)--In a match up to decide who would take over first place in the ESD conference, the sharp arrows of Watertown proved too much for the dull fangs of Brandon Valley. The fans got their money's worth, however, as excitement was the name of the game at Brandon Valley Middle School. The Lynx came out strong, opening a sizable lead midway through the first quarter. As they did all night, Watertown responded, shooting their way back into. Again, in the second quarter, BV went on another run, opening up a double digit lead. Lead by the volatile #10, Watertown again climbed its way back, tieing the game at half time. "It was a game of runs. We would go on a run, then they would answer," stated Coach Bisbee. Consistency was the name of the game for the Lynx in the second half, since that was totally lacking in the first half. Again, each team went on runs, as the back and forth action reached a feverish level. "We played hard, I will say that, we simply turned the ball over too many times," said Bisbee. In the second half, the normally lethal Trevor Tobin couldn't seem to find his shooting touch, as two of his shots went way right, missing everything. "Yeah, there was a stiff cross breeze in the gym tonight. It kept blowing my shot to the right," said Tobin. Chase Marso was quick to point out, "It was not windy. There is a roof on this gym." A rather heated exchange between Tobin and Marso ensued, each arguing their point of whether it was windy or not in the gym. Coach Klumper had to step in once the argument reached who could text message faster. "I had to step in, it was getting pretty ridiculous," said a relieved Klumper. The fourth quarter saw two teams desperately fighting for the victory. In the end, it was the Arrows who outlasted the pressure defense of the Lynx, holding on for a 6 point victory. Marso led BV in scoring with 10. Tony Tripp and Adam Bauer each had 9, respectively. The Lynx will travel to Sioux Falls to face undefeated O'Gorman in the opening game of the Sioux Falls League.




A- Game: BV 53, Watertown 26

(Brandon, SD)-- In the most anticipated game of the year for the GOATS, BV showed why they are in first place in the ESD conference. Before the game started, players, coaches, and fans were treated to a very special performance by Trevor Tobin singing the National Anthem. "I thought he did a great job singing," said Klumper, "however, he missed a few notes in the middle and sounded a little pitchy towards the end." Tobin was satisfied with his performance, however: "It felt good. I have a passion for singing that is unparalleled by anything else, though the wind carried my voice a little bit, I think."
The first half saw close action, both teams finding success offensively. The Lynx found themselves in unfamiliar territory--a close game. They had to dig in and rise to the occasion as the Watertown Arrows would not back down. The Lynx played their style of basketball as usual, but Watertown had some kids that could play as well. At the half, the score was 21- 18, Lynx holding a slight advantage. A half-time speech that was without jokes, emphasized the need to play even harder. The Lynx came out for the second half with a different strategy for the pesky Arrows. The Lynx employed a trapping style of defense that gave the Arrows fits all third quarter. Rarely did the Arrows even get the ball inside the three-point line before a BV steal would be going the other way for a fast break lay-up. The defensive pressure applied to Watertown was the most intense it has been all year. On one occasion, the Lynx were fast-breaking led by Jared Mulder, who spied a wide open Garrett Martinmaas under the basket. Mulder hit Martinmaas with a pass that went through the defender's legs. The crowd went wild with excitement. Girls were screaming as Mulder ran past the crowd, waving to his adoring fans. "Our guys just flew around the court. They trapped Watertown everyone. It was an impressive display of defense," commented Coach Klumper. The defense of the Lynx broke the game wide open in the third quarter and the Lynx did not look back, finishing the game with an exclamation point. They totally dominated the second half. "Everybody played awesome. Their effort was exactly what I was looking for. The game went as I expected it to go," complimented Coach Klumper. Watertown only scored 8 points in the entire second half. Leading the scoring for the Lynx was Jacob Mulder with 11 and Garret Martinmaas with 8. Coach Klumper tried to do something new for this game as he had the mangers try to keep track of steals, assists, and rebounds. "We were trying to get detailed statistics. However, we continued to get so many steals, assists, and rebounds that the pencils wore out and we could not keep up," stated Klumper. Final Statistic line for Team totals: Points: 53, Steals: A LOT, Assists: At least 30, Rebounds: All of Them. The Lynx continued their offensive explosion, reaching the fifty-point mark for the 6th straight game. For Klumper, it was a game of vindication as Watertown beat Klumper in his middle school coaching debut two years ago, 61-6. (despite the large margin of victory, Watertown continued to full court press into the fourth quarter, something that Klumper has not forgotten). "I absolutely love beating Watertown," stated Klumper. The Lynx will face a tough opponent, as they travel to O'Gorman on Friday for a clash of the two most prominent programs in the State.


C Game: BV 40, Watertown 46

Brandon, SD)--The Lynx put their undefeated record on the line against the equally talented Waterown Arrows Tuesday night at Brandon Valley Middle School. In an exciting game from start to finish, Watertown defeated the Lynx by 6 points. The first half was a display of two evenly matched teams fighting hard for the upper hand. Cole Hensley did a great job of pushing the ball up the court, forcing the action, and scoring lay-ups. Kain Koepp controlled the board for the Lynx in the first half. Dylan "The Kaz Man" Kasma displayed strength that is unmatched in 8th grade anywhere in the tri-state region as his defense overwhelmed and frustrated the Arrows. "Dylan did a great job playing defense and going after loose balls," said Klumper, "I was really impressed with his effort." Kasma is no stranger to playing defense, however, as he was unblockable last fall in football. The exciting first half ended with the Arrows holding a slight lead. During half-time, as the Lynx were preparing their second half strategy in the locker room, Trevor Tobin put on a shooting showcase that "wow-ed" the audience and left Bisbee and Klumper wondering where this was during the game. "Mr. Marso asked me if I would do the half-time show for the C game and I was like, 'sure, I'll go out and swish some turn around jumpers, no problem,'" said a giddy Tobin.
As the second half got underway, the Watertown Arrows began to build a sizable lead. However, the feisty Lynx would not go away quietly, storming back in the fourth quarter. The comeback was led by the guard tandem of Forrest Hanisch and Hensley scoring, Kain Koepp getting rebounds and Dylan Kasma getting steals. It was a very exciting turn around for the Lynx, as they came back to cut the deficit from 15 points to only 6 towards the end of the fourth quarter.
With a little under a minute to play, Watertown hit a big three-pointer. Hensley answered with a layup but the Arrows again came up with a bucket on their end. The Lynx turned the ball over with thirteen seconds to go in the game, sealing the victory for the Arrows. Despite the loss, the Lynx did a great job not giving up and continuing to play hard all the way to the end. Kain Koepp led all scorers with 11, while Hanisch chipped in 9. The Lynx will open the Sioux Falls League Friday night at Brandon Valley Middle School.

Important Notice: Due to the format of the Sioux Falls league, I will not be able to watch the C and D games because the A and B teams will be playing at the same time at a different location. As a result, the game write-ups will be shortened due to the fact I will not be able to witness the games.)

BV Claws Brookings in ESD Cat Fight

A Game: BV 48, Brookings 39

(Brandon, SD)--In a rematch of the opening game of the season, the Brandon Valley A team used its defensive prowess and offensive precision to handle the Brookings Bobcats, 48-39. The Lynx team that showed up tonight was a vast improvement from the first game between these two schools. The biggest struggle facing the Lynx thus far has been consistency. Tonight, they seemed to solve that problem, putting together two solid halves of basketball. In the first half, the BV defense was solid, containing Brookings' all-American #52 to only four points. The offense was executed well, resulting in open shots and drives to the lane. It was a game that was very satisfying to watch for the fans, coaches, and scouts. "We played a great game tonight," commented Coach Bisbee, "We finally played a whole game the way we are capable of playing." In the second half, it was more of the same for the Lynx, who would not be denied a solid victory. It was a complete shut-down of the Bobcats offense in the third quarter. The BV defense held the Bobcats to only three points, and as Chase Marso pointed out, "I can count all their third quarter points on one hand cause I have 5 fingers on one hand and five is more than three." The game would not end without moments of anxiety, however, as #52 started to get hot, leading the Bobcats on a mini-run midway through the fourth quarter. Showing the poise of a team used to exciting finishes, the Lynx kept their composure and finished the game with a victory. "I am just exuberant," exclaimed Bisbee after the game, "I had a grand time watching these kids play tonight." The paint was controlled by the post play of Jacob Bruget, Nathan Winter, Jarad Bakker and Colin Lloyd. They were able to keep #52, who averages 33 points and 17 rebounds a game, from dominating the action down low. On the perimeter, Adam Bauer, Luke Hyronimus, Chase Marso and Tony Tripp showed the defensive intensity that the fans of BV expect to see.
Trevor Tobin played a solid game, though he had to shake off early nervousness due to his sister being in the crowd. "I really wanted to play a great game for my sister, who came all the way from Robert Bennis to watch me play," stated Tobin. After the game, Tessa Tobin was asked what the key to victory for the A team was: "They all had really nice shoes on." Chase Marso and Colin Lloyd led the way in the scoring department with 16 and 9 points, respectively.
The Lynx will next face Watertown on Tuesday at Brandon Valley Middle School on "Bob McNamara" court. It will be a stiff test for the Lynx. Watertown boasts an undefeated record and a line-up of 4 players over 6'5" Will the Lynx be up to the task? Come watch on Tuesday to find out.




A- Game: BV 52, Brookings 24

(Brandon, SD)--Once again, the GOATS of Brandon did not disappoint, as they trounced the humbled Brookings Bobcats 52-24. The Lynx opened the game with their signature pressure defense, flying around the court double teaming at any and every moment. That defensive pressure attributed to countless steals and fast break points. Actually, I did count the steals-41 to be exact. The double-teaming that was being applied to the Bobcats was so effective because of the flawless strategy: the Lynx would have 2 guys doubling the ball, 3 guys taking the middle of the court away, and 3 guys protecting the basket in the paint. The Bobcats had literally no place to go with the ball. A typical Brookings possession went like this: 1. Brookings would inbound the ball after a Lynx bucket. 2. The Brookings point guard would bring the ball up the court and cross half court. 3. The Lynx players would start sprinting towards the point guard to double team. 4. The Brookings point guard would let out a shriek of horror as the Lynx approached. 5. The Brookings point guard would throw the ball up in the air and run back on defense. "I was really pleased with our defensive pressure tonight," stated Coach Klumper, "but, I must say, I still believe we can apply even more pressure. After all, they did score 24 points, which is 24 more points that I want to give up." The Lynx continued to run offense like they were getting paid to do it, relentlessly driving to the basket or feeding the post. Garret Martinmaas exhibited Zeus-like strength in the post offensively and defensively. "Once Garret gets the ball in his hands, nobody is going to steal it," said Klumper, "He is scary-strong." The Bobcats found absolutely no success inside the paint due to the presence of Zach Van Ede, Thomas Gardner, Adam Guthmiller, and Martinmaas. "Our posts completely shut down the paint, it was amazing," stated Klumper. The guard play was also exceptional for the Lynx thanks to Philip Volk, Trey Ethreim, Cole Vanderbeek, Brandon Hintz and the Mulder Twins. Despite the lopsided victory, there is still room for improvement, and that thought alone strikes fear in the hearts of every upcoming opponent. "I would like to see us do a better job of feeding the posts," said Klumper, "I do not allow our posts to have after-school snacks on game days because I want them to stay hungry for the ball down low." Trey Ethriem was not impressed by that joke: "What a dumb thing to say." Despite the hurtful words from Ethreim, Klumper was very proud of his team tonight, "We continue to play at a very high level, its great to watch." Trevor Tobin's cousin was also at the game tonight, and when asked about the B game, Cassidy Wethor stated, "They were really fast and they worked together, but the coach was overdressed." The Lynx will next face rival Watertown next Tuesday.


C Game: BV 57, Brookings 40

(Brandon, SD)--The finale for the night showcased two undefeated teams with a lot of team speed facing off in a blockbuster showdown in the ESD. First half action was close, both teams finding success in a high-scoring first half. For the Lynx, nicknamed R.A.G.S (Run And Gun Shooters), Andy Waterfall appeared to be a step faster than the Bobcats. Brookings could not stop Waterfall, they could only hope to contain him. The Lynx did a great job penetrating the lane and finishing the shot or kicking it out to a wide open teammate for a three-pointer. Levi Vanderweide, Harlan Smouse and Nick Wilde played stellar at the guard position, coming away with multiple steals and baskets. In the post, Spencer Smith and Dylan Tibke, among others, forced their will upon the opponents by grabbing every rebound in sight. The Lynx began to slowly pull away as their pressure defense and fast breaking was too much for the Bobcats. With every steal for the Lynx, came a full court pass to a wide open teammate under the basket for an easy two points. Towards the end of the fourth quarter, Dylan Tibke darted across the lane and blocked a shot so hard that the ball chipped some of the brick off the wall. Jared Mulder, sitting by Coach Klumper in the stands, was impressed as he yelled, "Oh yeah! He tasted leather on that block." Actually, it was Mulder who was tasting leather. He meant to grab a piece of beef jerky from his house, but instead grabbed his brother's leather bookmark from the counter and hadn't yet noticed that it was not actually beef jerky that he was chewing on. Tibke had a stellar game on offense as he was basically unstoppable, scoring 19 points. Nathan Welch chipped in with 8. The Lynx will take on Watertown next Tuesday, which promises to be the epitome of excitement.

BV Lynx are Rolling, Win 3 More

A Game: BV 49, Yankton 43 (OT)

(Yankton, SD)--Coming off Saturday's stellar performance in the second half in the win against Mitchell, the Lynx A team looked to carry that momentum into their showdown with the Bucks of Yankton. Needing overtime to decide the outcome, the "cardiac Lynx" came from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Lynx started the first half off with a bang, building a 12 point lead midway through the first half. With defensive pressure resulting in fast break points, the Bucks looked highly over matched by the feisty Lynx. Despite the substantial lead for the Lynx, it could have been even more. BV was hit with the "miss easy lay-ups" plague once again, which could be due to the IPod usage on the way to the game, causing their thumbs to get fatigued from scrolling through the songs. With two minutes left in the second quarter, Yankton went on a run of their own to cut the Lynx lead to a measly two points. "We started to play satisfied with our lead. We did not play hungry," said Coach Bisbee. As the third quarter started, the Bucks picked up where they left off before the half and built a six point lead. Now accustomed to playing from behind and trying to come back, the Lynx once again showed a "never quit" attitude. The action was back and forth throughout the third and into the fourth quarter. The Lynx were still struggling to catch up and perhaps take the lead. With under thirty seconds to play in the game, down by three points, the Lynx stole the ball and Trevor Tobin launched a three pointer that missed the mark. Though dejected, the Lynx would not give up. The Lynx committed a foul, sending the opponent to the free throw line for a one and one opportunity. The Bucks player missed the first shot and with nine seconds left in the game, Chase Marso pushed the ball up the court and found a wide open Trevor Tobin on the wing. Looking for redemption, Tobin fired up the three with so much arc that it skimmed the ceiling. On the way down, the ball found nothing but net, giving the Lynx the tie at the buzzer. Heading into overtime, the Lynx used relentless defense and timing shooting to put the game away. "I thought about calling a time out with nine seconds left to set up a play," commented Bisbee, "But Tobin was open so I decided to just let things play out." Bisbee's quick thinking paid off. The jubilant hero Tobin stated after the game, "This is the greatest moment of my life. I've never been so happy." Marso also pointed out, "We were down by three points, Trevor hit a three pointer, which means we tied." Jarad Bakker played a solid game, pulling down 11 rebounds and grabbing 7 steals. Adam Bauer continued his steady play at point guard, dishing out 9 assists and tallying 12 points. Other leading scorers for the game were Tobin with 12 and Marso with 11. Jacob Bruget did a nice job hustling down the court and getting into good post position and also playing defense against a man-child twice his size. "It was an exciting finish, no doubt," added Coach Bisbee, "I think I just lost 5 years of my life." The Lynx will be back in action again on Thursday as they face Brookings at the Brandon Valley Middle School "Bob McNamara" Gymnasium.













A- Game: BV 54, Yankton 12

(Yankton, SD)--Annihilation. Dominating-Two words to describe the performance of the GOATS in their showdown against the Yankton Bucks. In a game that was decided shortly after tip-off, the Lynx once again displayed the aggression, effort, and teamwork the hordes of fans have come accustomed to seeing. The Bucks were completely over matched and overwhelmed by the suffocating, poaching defense of BV. The GOATS left no doubt as to who was the superior team, as they forced the Bucks to drink the rancid Goat milk from the trough all night. The high intensity, heavy pressure defense of the Lynx worked the stands into a frenzy, causing a small riot to break out in the bleachers. With the riot squelched, the Lynx continued to play full throttle, despite the enormous lead that was building. "I wanted the guys to keep playing as hard as we could. We can't get into bad habits for the looming Sioux Falls league, where the level of play will be stiff," stated coach Klumper emphatically, "We need to stay hungry and angry. We need to continue to play one way--maximum effort all the time." As the first half came to a close, Yankton had only mustered up six points. After a dispute at the Concession stand about the price of popcorn resulted in Klumper being late for the third quarter, the Lynx continued to high level of play. Dressed in a Black Armani suit that made the girls go wild, Trey Ethreim played with that same sophistication and class on the court, dishing out the first 11 assists of the game. Phillip Volk picked up where Trey left off, handing out the next 12 dimes. In a game that had everybody on the roster score, the highlight again was the defense. The Mulder Twins did a great job double-teaming everything, appearing as if they had little rocket boosters in their shoes. The post play of Garrett Martinmaas, Adam Guthmiller, Thomas Gardner, and Zach VanEde dominated the lowly Bucks, basically grabbing every rebound and scoring at will on offense. Cole Vanderbeek came out firing, draining two 3-pointers and accumulating 14 steals. Brandon Hintz made his 2009 debut with a solid outing. Martinmaas and Vanderbeek lead the Lynx in scoring, with 8 and 7 points, respectfully. "The thing I love about this team is their unselfish play. They are always looking to help out their teammates. That and their maximum effort will win us games against the Sioux Falls schools," said Klumper. BV will try to continue their winning ways Thursday against the Brookings Bobcats, a team they already whipped once this year.


C Game: BV 28, Yankton 24

(Yankton, SD)--Despite the cold weather outside, things were on fire in the Yankton gym as BV and Yankton went head to head in a match up of two undefeateds. Two evenly matched teams played their hearts out, but in the world of sports, there can only be one winner. On this occasion, it would be the BV Lynx as they defeated the Bucks 28-24. The action was fast paced all game, which each team trying to find a defensive scheme to stop the other. The first half saw offenses being executed with precision and shots finding nothing but the bottom of the net. In the second half, BV started to apply more defensive pressure, thanks in large part to the hard work and effort of the players. "The guys played really hard," said Coach Klumper, "I really appreciate their effort." The game was still in doubt with under a minute to play in the game. With BV leading by two points, Derek Bose stepped to the line to try to put the game away. Despite the miss, Bose hustled back on defense and stole a pass for a key steal as the Bucks were looking to tie the game. Bose outleted the ball to Forrest Hansich who rifled the ball down to a hustling Kain Keopp for the lay-up and the foul, ultimately putting the game away for the Lynx. "They did a great job at the end keeping their composure and finishing the game off," said coach Klumper, "I was proud of how hard they worked in getting the victory." The Lynx look to stay unbeaten as they face Brookings on Thursday.

BV Wins 3, Gets to Eat at McDonalds

A Game: BV 41, Mitchell 34

(Mitchell, SD)—It was the tale of two halves for the Lynx A team in Mitchell Saturday morning as they faced the Kernels. The old adage “the difference was like night and day” has never been truer. For the Lynx, the first half consisted of sloppy play, missed shots, poor defense, and foulitis. “Ugly,” was the only quote Coach Bisbee was able to get out at halftime as steam came out of his ears, nose, and mouth. The Kernels came out swinging to start the game, building a comfortable 9-0 lead before the Lynx knew what had hit them. Missed shot after missed shot and poor defense lead to a quick deficit and a quick timeout from Coach Bisbee. The Lynx defense was about as effective as a strainer holding water. Offensively in the first half, the Lynx had a difficult time simply hanging on to the ball. That could have been the result of pressure defense from the Kernels or from the large amounts popcorn with extra butter they consumed before the game. Another aspect that plagued the Lynx in the first half was the foul situation. It appeared that the Lynx thought they were real Lynx and began clawing at the defenders, picking up foul after foul. Multiple players picked up their fourth foul in the first half, which was in part due to lack of awareness from the managerial staff keeping book. Coach Klumper stated at halftime, “yeah, I had a talk with the managers. We got things straightened out.” As the Lynx headed into halftime, it was clear what needed to change for the second half—confidence and aggression. “We had a good talk,” stated Coach Bisbee, “I told them that we need to be more aggressive offensively and defensively. I also explained to them that if we don’t win, we will not go to McDonald’s after the game.” That seemed to light a fire under the Men of Brandon as they came out of the locker room for the third quarter like a team on a mission-a mission to qualify for McDonald’s. The second half was a display of confidence, aggression, and effort. The Lynx were swarming on defense and confident taking the ball to the basket on offense. It was as if a switch was flipped-turning on a machine focused on not only coming back, but winning. “The boys did a great job playing aggressive and physical in the second half. When they play like that, it’s a lot of fun to watch.” The offense started to click, shots started to go down and the defense tightened. Adam “The Baller” Bauer hit a key shot down the stretch as the Lynx tried to get back into it. After Bauer shot the ball, he held his arm in the air like he was posing, but in reality, Bauer had a bad cramp in his shoulder that prevented him from putting his arm down. Everybody contributed in the comeback effort, which made the win even sweeter. Leading the scoring for the A team was Chase Marso with 13 points. Bauer finished with 8. Jacob Bruget showed strength and fortitude in the paint going against Mitchell’s version of Goliath. Despite the Lynx outstanding second half, the goal is to put two halves together with that effort. Marso points out “two halves equal a whole game.” The Lynx, 2-1 on the year, will travel to Yankton on Tuesday, January 27 to face the Bucks in an ESD showdown for first place in eighth grade.



A- Game: BV 50, Mitchell 31

(Mitchell, SD)--The undefeated B team, nicknamed the GOATS (Greatest Of All Time) by Coach Klumper, headed into their game on Saturday against Mitchell with confidence at an all-time high. Having faced these same Mitchell Kernels one week ago, the Lynx knew what to expect offensively and defensively. "We knew we had to shut down #12 for them and we also knew our offense would not be stopped if we executed," remarked Coach Klumper. The Lynx were totally in control in the first half, playing with a ten to twelve point lead consistently. Strong ball screens and slashes to the basket continued to prove effective as the Lynx scored at will. Defensively, BV was sparked by the Mulder Twins' suffocating pressure. Throughout the first half and into the second half, it appeared as if there were five Mulder's on the court, not just two. "Swarming, absolutely swarming. We had defenders everywhere. Mitchell could not do one thing easily against us today. It was great," said Klumper. BV saw the addition to a newcomer on this occasion, Jared Bakker made his GOATS debut with a bang. His precision passing and strong rebounding was too much for the Kernels to take. As the first half came to a close, the Lynx were comfortably in the lead, but as Klumper pointed out, "We can't be satisfied with one good half of basketball. We need to stay aggressive and hungry, even with a big lead. We need to keep the foot on the accelerator the whole game. If we are up by 10, I want us to be up by 20, if we are up by 20, I want us to be up by 100." After an enlightening halftime discssion about McDonald's which included the most efficient way to order, favorite items, and a diagram of the entrances, the Lynx started the second half right where they left off, with speed, aggression and teamwork. On numerous occasions, BV would get a steal and chuck it down the court to a sprinting Adam Guthmiller or Garret Martinmaas. Mitchell could not contain either of those two, whose speed was unmatched by anything the Kernels put on the floor. Throughout the entire second half, the Lynx continued to add to their lead while holding Mitchell to offensive hardship. "Our defensive pressure was phenomenal. For a while during the second half, it looked like all of our guys had 4 arms because of the way we were getting steals," stated Klumper. Thomas Gardner put up a very solid effort for the Lynx as he played both in the post and on the perimeter as a guard. Having Gardner be able to play a wing/guard, it will add to the already potent arsenal of the B team. Phillip Volk, Trey Ethreim, and Cole Vanderbeek had 13 steals apiece to lead the defensive charge. Zach Vaneide continued to showcase his superb basketball skills with textbook screens and box outs. "All of the guys played really well today," said Klumper, "They are such a great group of kids. They play so hard all the time, I just love coaching them." Leading BV in scoring was Garrett Martinmaas with 14 and Philip Volk with 9.


C Game: BV 39, Mitchell 16

(Mitchell, SD)-- The Lynx came out and scored early and often against the overwhelmed Mitchell Kernels. With a high octane fast break scheme, the Lynx simply ran away with this game. BV put the game away basically midway through the first quarter, but that did not mean excitement was not to be had by the BV fans. At the end of the first quarter, with the clock winding down, Nick Wilde was about a half of a second late on his attempt at a buzzer beater dunk. Also, as the clock wound down in the second quarter, Alex Rogen launched a full court shot which banked in, but the refs waved it off, saying the clock had already expired. Defensively, steal after steal allowed the Lynx to open this game up and turn it into a track meet. The defense was not the lone shining aspect for the C team, as their offense ran as smooth as a brand new BMW. Coach Reese was pleased with the effort, "We had a total team effort today. Up and down the roster, we had kids giving maximum effort and it paid off." Levi Vanderweide had a very solid game for the Lynx, contributing 13 points in the blow-out. Kain Koepp used his size and athletic ability to control the paint, scoring eight points and pulling down 21 rebounds. The C Team will put their perfect record on the line as they travel to Yankton on Tuesday night face the also undefeated Bucks.

BV Takes 2 out of 3 from the Kernels

A Game: Mitchell 35, BV 29

(Brandon, SD)--It was a disappointing home opener for the Lynx, as they dropped their first game of the season, 35-29 to the Mitchell Kernels. The offense looked discombobulated as the Lynx continue to try to find a successful formula. Defensively, the effort was there overall, but a few lapses in effort and focus resulted in easy lay-ups for the Kernels. For the second straight game, the Lynx got off to a slow start, going down by eleven only minutes into the game. The Kernels managed to contain the vaunted Lynx fast break on defense. With the ball, the Kernals smooth and fluid offense from the Gary Munson school of Basketball gave the Lynx fits. Break downs on defense for the Lynx led to easy points and a sizable lead for Mitchell mid-way through the second quarter. The Lynx showed fight, however, by continuing to fight their way back into it. Coming out for the third quarter, the Lynx began to show glimpses of comprehension on offense, getting ball screens that were absent in the first half. As shots started to open up for BV, the lead for the Kernels began to evaporate. The energy level of the Lynx was considerably higher in the second half. The harassing defense by Chase Marso, Tony Tripp, and Adam Bauer made things miserable for the Mitchell guards. It seemed as if the Kernels were about to buckle and succumb to the Lynx pressure. However, as it usually does, it all came down to defense down the stretch and a break down for the Lynx in the fourth quarter allowed Mitchell to regain momentum and put the game away. The Kernels were lead by their really big guy whose name is unknown. What is known, however, is that he controlled the boards and made it difficult for the Lynx penetrating the lane. For the Lynx, Marso tallied 10 points. Tony Tripp showed great hustle and fortitude, collecting 7 steals. Trevor Tobin appeared to find his shooting touch, hitting two 3-pointers. Moving forward, the Lynx will continue to work on their offense and eventually it will come. "Offense will come around. We just have to stick with it and work on it during practice," stated Coach Bisbee. "My concern is defensively. We need to make it more difficult for opposing teams. We need to get tougher and more physical. We showed glimpses tonight, but we need intense defense from start to finish," concluded Coach Bisbee. Moving forward, the Lynx will face the Mitchell Kernels again on January 24th. The Lynx will look to be more physical and more aggressive offensively. The high level of athleticism on the A team needs to begin to show.


B Game: BV 49, Mitchell 38

(Brandon, SD)--The B team Show was unveiled in front of a packed house at BV Middle School Tuesday night. The multitude of fans that braved the blizzard would not be disappointed on this occasion, as the Lynx once again showed brilliance offensively and defensively. The Lynx uncharacteristically started off slow, but once the players settled down and became used to the electric atmosphere inside the gym, they began to play how we are accustomed to seeing them play. Defensive pressure from the Lynx made things extremely difficult for the Kernels. It became extremely apparent that the frustration level of the Kernels was rising because they began to act out towards the officials and their own coach. The display of immaturity did not rattle the Lynx, as they contained their composure and continued to play full-throttle. Offensively, the Lynx began to click on all cylinders, switching back and forth from basket cuts to ball screens. "The Kernels really did not know where we were coming from all night offensively," stated Coach Klumper. "I was actually getting a little dizzy watching us on offense tonight because we were playing at such a high level. I actually needed 3 Tylenol at half-time. We were attacking from all over the place. I just loved it," said Klumper. The hustle of the skilled Phillip Volk once again provided the spark for the Lynx. Added coach Klumper, "Volk tends to set the tone energy wise, but all the guys showed amazing effort. It is just a pleasure to watch." The Lynx took control midway through the second quarter and did not look back. Towards the end of the game, with the Lynx up by twelve, the Kernels showed signs of life and went on a mini-run, cutting the lead to 9. One might expect the Lynx to sit on the ball at this point, trying to run the clock down. That was not the case on this night, however, as the Lynx continued to play at their signature frenetic pace. When asked about the strategy towards the end of the game, Klumper commented, "It's hard for me to reign in this team and slow them down. All they want to do is go, go, go. They have one speed--fast, and that is exactly how I want them to play." Garret Martinmaas was a man among boys for the Lynx, tallying 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Mulder twins, continuing their assault on the 8th grade record for shot attempts, combined for 17 points. Along with Martinmaas, Adam Guthmiller, Zach Flanigan, and Thomas Gardner played splendidly in the post, controlling the boards and making it extremely difficult for the Kernels to drive. On the perimeter, Trey Etreim and Cole Vanderbeek ran by the Kernels on the fast break, making them look like they were standing still. Lastly, Klumper added, "Our team effort was outstanding. These guys are a lot of fun to coach." Klumper would also like to point out that, "We set a record tonight in the b game for number of steals. We finished with 33, which is a record for Brandon Valley 8th Grade B-Teams. We are basically an A- team."

Editor's Note: (Due to poor battery management by the managers, the Camera died during the B-game, resulting in the use of a picture from a different day.)


C Game: BV 34, Mitchell 27

(Brandon, SD)--With a win for both schools, it was upon the shoulders of Coach Reese and the C team to break the tie for the night. The Lynx used a steady offense and rugged defense to control the game for most of the way. Making their 2008-2009 debut, this C team looked rested and hungry for victory. Kain Koepp displayed superb athleticism and agility in pulling down 12 rebound and collecting 8 points. Forrest Hanisch pushed the ball up the court time and time again, forcing the Kernel defense to stop him. Mitchell employed a rather odd strategy on this night, they did not guard Cole Hensley. Whenever Hensley was in the game, there was no Kernel defender around. It proved to be a big coaching blunder on Mitchell's part, as Hensley sliced to the basket over and over and over. Hensley ended up with a game-high 10 points, all of which coming off of drives to the basket. The BV faithful also got their first look at Dylan Kasma, who showed aggressiveness on defense that could not be matched by the Kernels. There was pretty much no way Kasma's guy was going to get the ball. In the paint, Kasma used his super-human strength to box his guy out and rip down the board. On one occasion, Kasma actually squeezed the ball so hard that it popped right during the game. Coach Reese, "The guys played very hard tonight. We can always work on our offense, that will come, what I look for most is effort and rebounding. The boys did well tonight in that respect."

BV Sweeps!

A Game: BV 45, Brookings 44
(Brookings, SD)--It was the season opener for both teams tonight and it looked every bit like it. Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm, instead relying on fast break points and second chance points. The boys of BV started the game with a jolt of energy that led one to think it might turn into a laugher. Nothing could be further from the truth, though, as the Bobcats clawed their way back into it and over took the Lynx toward the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw more of the same as both teams continued to battle. At times during the second quarter, it appeared as if some of the Lynx players were still on Winter Break, struggling to find an offensive flow. After a spirited half time speech by Coach Bisbee, the troops rallied coming out for the third quarter with an impressive run to take the lead by six. The Bobcats refused to lie down, however, answering with a run of their own to take back the lead. The fourth quarter was not for the faint of heart, in which action reached a feverish pace. The Lynx, down by seven with a little over a minute remaining in the game, used feisty defense and key three pointers by Tony Tripp and Chase Marso to get within one point. After Tripp committed a foul, Coach Bisbee called a timeout to ice the free throw shooter. It proved effective, as the shooter for the Bobcats missed both shots. With no timeouts left, down by one point, and only twenty seconds left in the game, Marvelous Marso pushed the ball down the court. He was quickly tripled team, but still managed to get a shot off. The Lynx caught a break, because even though there was no chance the shot was going in, Marso was fouled. Marso strolled to the line and with ice water running through his veins and managed to knock down both free throws to give the Lynx a one point lead. The Bobcats pushed the ball up the court quickly and their best player, who the Lynx could not stop during the football season, missed a two foot shot. The victorious Lynx erupted with jubilation as the win was theirs, 45-44.
Adam Bauer did a fine job at point guard, tallying thirteen points and six assists. “Bauer played well at point tonight. He does a nice job pushing the ball up the court,” said coach Bisbee. Marso was the second leading scorer with eleven, all of which came in the fourth quarter. “I thought Chase played a steady game coming off his back injury. He really stepped up in the fourth quarter, especially with his two free throws,” Klumper said.
A win is a win, especially in the tough ESD, but if the A team is looking to have a great year and meet expectations; they must improve their focus on offense and rebound on defense.



B Game: BV 51, Brookings 18
(Brookings, SD)--The B Teams boys came out fast and did not look back. They scored early and often as they continued to push the ball up court, get steals, and finish layups. The Lynx team speed and superior athleticism was no match for the lowly Bobcats. Despite the fact that BV missed fourteen layups in the first quarter, they came on strong in the second quarter, holding the Bobcats to only six points. After coach Klumper gave a below average halftime speech, comprising of jokes and some life lessons, the young men of BV came out of the locker room poised to blow the game open. At times in the second half, it appeared as though BV had eleven players on the court as the bobcats struggled to even keep the ball for one second without it getting stolen. “Our defense was amazing tonight, we completely mauled the opponent. My neck started to get a cramp because of the faced paced action going up and down the court,” said Klumper. Philip Volk made his 2009 debut with a splash, as he could not be contained. Playing with what appeared to be limitless energy, Volk continued to steal the ball and score or push the ball up to a teammate. “Volk was a machine tonight. He made this game into a track meet with his continual running up and down the court for lay ups and steals,” complimented coach Klumper. The Bobcats were only able to eek out five points in the entire second half, providing proof to the Lynx defensive dominance.
The boards were controlled by the four headed monster in the paint of Garret Martinmaas, Adam Guthmiller, Tom Gardner, and Zach Vanede. "We pretty much got every rebound," commented Klumper, "and our guard play was phenomenal. Trey Etrheim, Cole VanderBeek, and the highly touted Mulder twins had their way all game. It was a lot of fun to watch." Leading the scoring for the Lynx was Tom Gardner with eleven points, most coming from his silky-smooth post moves and Philip Volk with ten.


C Game: BV 32, Brookings 18
(Brookings, SD)-- After wins by both the A team and the B team, it was up to the C team to complete the sweep. They proved up to the task, as they dominated the Bobcats 32-15. With a ball-hawking defense and steadiness on offense, the Lynx would not be denied what was rightfully theirs-the victory. Coach Reese was particularly impressed with their offensive flow, stating "The kids did a great job with running the offense and getting some continuity, especially with only three days of practice to work on it." The guard play was outstanding, continually making steals and pushing the ball up the court. Not only did the Lynx play better than the Bobcats, they wanted it more. Numerous times Lynx players were on the floor scrapping for the loose ball. "I am pleased with their efforts tonight," said Reese, "but we can't be satisfied. We have to stay hungry." Leading the way for the Lynx was Dylan Tibke and Nick Wilde with 8 points, respectively. Harlan Smouse did a fine job at point guard, handling the ball with confidence. Spencer Smith pulled down what seemed to be a hundred rebounds. "The kids played really hard, up and down the roster. We had a good balanced effort from everyone on the team." concluded Coach Reese.


(Game summaries by Coach Klumper)