Above: Breaking hard for the basket, Lars Scannell drove around the Floodwood defender to score his only two points of the game. Just a sophomore, Scannell has emerged as one of the Vikings’ key players as they get ready to head into the playoffs. Right: Senior guard Kale Boomer broke through the tight web of Floodwood’s defense to score an easy two points on this play. Boomer led all Viking scorers with 17 points and nearly brought his team all the way back in a hard fought, defensive battle against a very good Floodwood team.
Fans who like good defense saw plenty of it on Friday, February 8 when the 14-3 Floodwood Polar Bears came to town to face the 10-5 Vikings.
Floodwood’s 6’4” center Ross Schminski was held scoreless but had half a dozen blocked shots and altered several more in a game that was close from the opening tip-off.
The Vikings’ leading scorer, Colin Everson, had lots of company when the Vikings were on the offensive side of the floor. Colin was held to 12 points, down from his 22 point per game scoring average. Fellow senior guard Kale Boomer fared better, scoring 17 points, 4 more than his average.
But only two other Vikings scored, Lars Scannell chipped in a 2-point basket and Justin Goldstein hit one 3-point shot to end the Vikings’ offensive output.
With about 3 minutes to play Boomer made a big block on a Floodwood guard who had broken through the Vikings’ defense and looked like he was going to score an easy lay-up. The block gave the Vikings some momentum, but the Vikings couldn’t convert their 3-point shots and never caught the Polar Bears who held a 6-8 point lead for much of the game, finishing the game 40-34.
“We just didn’t make enough plays offensively to get over the hump. The guys played terrific defensively and with great intensity, but on offense we need a few more guys to contribute,” said Head Coach Mitch Dorr.
When asked about Floodwood’s big center, Dorr said, “We held him scoreless, but his defensive presence did change the game.”
Although it was a tough loss, Dorr said, “I was really proud of our effort and they [Vikings] followed our game plan to a ‘T’ on defense, we just didn’t score enough against their defense, which was also terrific.”
The Vikings have four games left in the regular season before playoffs. At press time they faced Wrenshall at Wrenshall on February 15, and then play Lake Christian Academy (LCA) Lions on Tuesday, February 19 in their last home game of the season.
Every time Peter Warren goes up for a shot he has to shoot over taller players. At 5’8” Peter Warren is the shortest interior player in the conference but he is also the fastest, has a good vertical leap, and plays tenacious defense.
Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer, Andre Broman, who averages more then 40 points per game, leads LCA. It will also be the last time many fans will get to see seniors Colin Everson, Kale Boomer, Peter Warren, and Justin Goldstein suit up for the Vikings, so make sure to get out to see them play.
The Vikings finish up their regular season by playing Two Harbors at Two Harbors on February 22 and face Silver Bay in Silver Bay on February 25.
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