Above: Will Ramberg dribbled by his defender for a lay up. Right: Dyami Blackwell, guarded by No. 33, was the Vikings’ big scorer against Wrenshall.
The Vikings boys’ basketball team played two games this past week and proved one thing, they might not know how to win yet, but they are going to be competitive with most teams they face. And if they keep playing tough defense and get a couple of shots to fall when they really need them, they will win some ball games this year.
Leading the charge, sophomore guard Trusen Gordon led the Vikings back into the game against the Two Harbors Agates on Friday, December 9.
Gordon’s 3-point attempt with two minutes to play rattled around inside the cylinder of the basket before dropping out. Had it fallen the Vikings would have trailed 45-43. Instead, Gordon would foul out one minute later, and Two Harbors would ice the game at the free throw line in a wild contest between two North Shore rivals.
During the match, Gordon, a cat-quick, smooth ball-handling sophomore, clearly showed he is capable of leading the offense from the point guard position.
The Agates brought a senior-laden team to Grand Marais, with 12 out of 15 players seniors. Meanwhile, the Vikings have two seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen on a very young squad.
When the game began, it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Vikings. Wearing number 3 on his jersey, Two Harbors guard Ollie Carpenter hit his first four 3-point attempts, and the Vikings were down 16-7. However, the Vikings clamped down on defense and ramped up its offense. Two baskets by O’Phelan, one by Will Ramberg and a 3-pointer by Dyami Blackwell tied the score at 16 all.
Game on.
The Agates responded by outscoring the Vikings 10-1 over the last few minutes of the half and the Vikings went into the locker room trailing 26-17. Still, despite the nice run by the Agates, a young Viking team was growing up on the court. No one in the bleachers went home during the break.
If Carpenter was hot to start the game, the Agates Jayden Ruberg was his equal to start the second half. Ruberg nailed four straight threes. Gordon, however, hit two threes and O’Phelan added a 3-point basket. Seven 3-point shots in a row is great for pro teams. For high school, it was a ridiculous display of marksmanship.
Leif Anderson (15) put up a one-hand shot against the Wren defender (21).
Trailing 43-36, O’Phelan scored two baskets on the inside, and Ramberg added a nice put back on a miss while the Agates netted a 2 pointer in the mix to make the score 45-40. The teams traded 2-point baskets and then Two Harbors added two free throws to make it 49-42 with less than two minutes to play. Gordon, still showing fresh legs even though he had been on the floor running hard all night, came down and, using a dribble fake, juked his defender and launched a 3-point shot that hit nothing but net. The Vikings were 4 points down, but the clock was ticking. Repeated fouls, two flagrant, gave Two Harbors the ball and shots from the free throw line. The Vikings lost 51-45 in a great contest.
O’Phelan led the Vikings with 18 points. Will Ramberg scored 11, Gordon 9, Blackwell 3, and Mike Burton 1. Carpenter led Two Harbors with 17 points.
Vikings lose to Wrenshall in another heartbreaker
Say this for the young Viking team, they never quit.
The Vikings never led against the visiting Wrenshall Wrens on Tuesday, Dec. 13. They were down 22-14 at the half and fell behind 40-25 and 49-34 before making a big run and almost closing the gap, pulling to within two, 50-48 with just a minute to play. As the seconds ticked off of the clock, the Vikings repeatedly fouled, putting Wren players on the charity stripe. The Wrens ended up pulling away because of their accuracy from the foul line, winning 57-50.
Wrenshall often went to a full-court man-to-man press to pressure the Vikings’ ball handlers. The press worked as the Vikings repeatedly turned the ball over which resulted in fast break lay-ups for the Wrens. Turnovers and missed short shots hurt the Vikings.
Sophomore Dyami Blackwell put on a beautiful display of shooting, scoring at least 20 points. Freshman guard Pete Sutton hit a long three-point shot and O’Phelan, Leif Anderson and Will Ramberg fought hard underneath for rebounds and shots that were always contested. The cat-quick Wren guards pestered both Viking guards Trusen Gordon and Mikey Burton and each had a tough time finding room to shoot.
The Vikings had a hard time containing sophomore Jared Kelley and his brother, a junior, Tyler Kelley. The brothers were the shortest players on the court, but both were quick, good ball handlers, good passers and could finish their lay-ups. Still, the Vikings are closing the gap on teams. They play good defense, and if they could get just a few more balls to drop, wins will come.
The Vikings play Southridge Friday at home, then a holiday tournament in the Twin Cities then come home and play against Silver Bay on January 3 at 6:30 p.m.
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