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)