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The Mid-State Conference A title worth fighting for Sports Writer It's a busy week for the Staples-Motley Cardinals boys' basketball team.
The thing is the players don't know it. OK they probably do, but S-M is stressing the one-game-at-a-time approach this season. With the schedule the Cardinals have played this season, it hasn't been hard to do.
S-M has faced Class 3A's Columbia Heights (18-4), Class 1A's second-ranked Minnesota Transitions (19-3), defending Class 3A state champion Minneapolis Washburn along with a tough Mid-State Conference schedule and equally tough Section 6-2A opponents like Breckenridge and Minnewaska.
The road for Class 2A's 10th-ranked Cardinals doesn't get easier. They open the week with Class 3A's fifth-ranked Grand Rapids at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.
The Thunderhawks are 19-2, with the two losses coming to Class 3A's sixth-ranked DeLaSalle and Class 4A's third-ranked Orono.
"They're a balanced team and that's the first thing you need to worry about," said Cardinals head coach Lynn Peterson. "Their post kids are 6-foot-4, 6-5, 6-6 and they are very active and very physical. Michael Johnson, their point guard, is probably one of the quickest kids we'll face all year. We need to keep him from penetrating. If he does he's going to make plays, whether he's the one making them or he gets the ball to someone else.
"Their wings, this (Eric) Stark kid, is a three-year starter and one of the better wing players in the state. He's 6-2 and he's quick and physical and he can shoot the three."
On Friday, S-M will battle for a share of the conference crown when it hosts Class 2A's third-ranked Crosby-Ironton Rangers (21-1). It's a title Peterson believes is worth fighting for and one that has been owned by C-I and S-M the last two years.
"I think it's always important to get a share of the conference or win a conference title," said Peterson. "Then again, they always remember the team that went to state rather than the one that won the conference. But the strength of our conference, with C-I, Pequot, W-DC and DL, and the fact that any team could win any night, means we faced a lot of good competition. So to win this conference or in our case to grab a share of it is a good accomplishment."
The Rangers have won 12 straight and are 9-0 in the conference. They defeated the Cardinals in Crosby 58-48 Jan. 22.
C-I is led by Mark Hoge's 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.3 steals a game. Brock Tesdahl is averaging 12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals followed by Sam Baker's 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals. Senior guard Matthew Hudrlik is providing 9.9 points, 2.7 steals and 2.0 assists while point guard Tyler Dickie contributes 6.1 points, 4.6 assists, 3.7 steals and 3.2 rebounds a game.
The Rangers own a nine-game winning streak against S-M, a streak that spans the entire careers of five-year varsity players Jordan Riewer and Derek Wolhowe.
"We won't do anything they haven't seen us do before and I don't anticipate they will either," said Peterson. "It just boils down to the players making good decisions and making plays. There's no point in us coaches confusing things and muddling their minds. You just have to let them play."
And play well they have. S-M's 62-59 overtime loss at Breckenridge Saturday snapped its nine-game winning streak.
The Cardinals are led by Riewer's 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 3.3 steals a game. Wolhowe is tallying 13.6 points. 7.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Jon Bristow is adding 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Jason Johnson is contributing 9.3 points and 4.6 rebounds while Trevor Wentworth, Gunner Johnson and Jordan Peterson are combining to add 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
"We saw them play against Pierz and they looked very good that night," Ranger head coach Dave Galovich said of S-M. "They were clicking on all cylinders. They looked good offensively and their defensive intensity was good. It seemed like they are jelling as a team.
"In a game like this it comes down to execution and who can make the fewer mistakes has the best chance to win the game. It's execution on both ends of the floor and putting the ball in the basket. You need to shoot a decent percentage."
Following the Ranger game, S-M hosts Pelican Rapids at 7:15 p.m. Saturday and closes the regular season at Detroit Lakes March 2 and hosting Class 1A's third-ranked Sebeka
"We hope this stretch gets us tournament-ready," said Peterson. "Of the five remaining games we have we're going to have to be ready and play consistent and play hard to come out on top. That's what it takes during tournament time. You can't play your 'A' game one night and then not show up the next game. You'll be washing your uniform if you do that."
After Friday's game, C-I will face Duluth Marshall (4-18) Saturday and then closes the regular season by hosting Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (9-12) and at Aitkin (10-11).
"I think we're playing pretty well," said Galovich. "We're playing with a consistency that this group of seniors has shown the last two years. To put up the record that they have the last two years is pretty impressive. They bring it about every night."
jeremy millsop, sports writer, may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5856.
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