Above left: Trusen Gordon took aim and made a big 3-point basket for the Vikings on this shot. Above right: Rory Bakke grabbed one of his many rebounds in the game against Floodwood. Right: Against tight defense Marcus Logan dribbled in to “stop and pop” a 10-foot jump shot.
Freshman Trusen Gordon hit a big 3-point shot for the Vikings late in the game against the Floodwood Polar Bears to pull the Vikings within one point, and senior guard Jerod Spry cashed in two free throws to give the Vikings a 51-50 lead in a tight, suspenseful game played at home on Tuesday, December 8.
Senior guard Rory Bakke sealed the win with a two-point bucket following a Floodwood turnover as the game clock wound down and the Vikings evened their early season record to 1-1. Floodwood’s record is now 3-1 following a first game victory over Cherry.
Gordon was substituted in with about two minutes to play by Head Coach Mitch Dorr after another freshman Dyami Blackwell had to go to the bench with five fouls. Gordon started with a turnover, hit a big, big shot and grabbed a rebound and played great defense during his short time on the floor as Floodwood’s all senior line-up scrapped hard to the end.
Led by two 3-point shots by senior guard Rory Bakke and the all-around floor play of Marcus Logan and ball handling and passing by senior guard Jerod Spry, the Vikings took a 22-15 lead with about four minutes to play in the first half. At that point the Polar Bears, led by their brawny 6’2” center Noah Thompson, stormed back and went on a big run, sending the Vikings into the break down 28-24.
The Vikings trailed 30-24 when Sam O’Phelan hit a short shot for two points and the Vikings’ defense started to take over. Spry forced a turnover that led to a 3-point basket from Marcus Logan. Bakke stole a pass on the next play and fed it to Lucas Phillips who hit a 3-pointer from the right corner and the Vikings were tied at 36-36.
At that point a “ghost” foul was called on a Viking player and Coach Dorr calmly asked the referee to explain the call. He was rewarded by getting a technical and the Polar Bears were rewarded with two free throws and the ball that led to a 39-36 lead over the Vikings.
The teams traded baskets at this juncture: Logan made a 2-pointer followed by 3-point buckets by Phillips and Bakke and two free throws by Logan to make the score Polar Bears 50, Vikings 46. At that point Gordon entered the game and the Vikings played their way to a win over a good Floodwood team.
Overall the Vikings’ manto man defense caused a lot of turnovers and the smaller Vikings rebounded the ball well with Bakke and O’Phelan grabbing a lot of boards. Even Spry, the shortest man on the court, nabbed several rebounds as he battled the big boys underneath the hoop.
Marcus Logan led the team in scoring with 21 points. He was 7-14 from the field, a 50 percent shooting average.
“Marcus also got to the foul line a lot. He really played an outstanding game for us,” said Assistant Coach Rick Crawford.
“This was a big win for our team,” said Crawford. “The kids are coming off a 2-19 season last year and to win against a good, unbeaten Floodwood team means a lot. I know Coach Dorr was really proud of the way the kids played. (Coach Dorr was out of town for the next 3 days following the game and couldn’t be reached). “Marcus, Jerod, Rory, Lucas, Sam, Dyami, all played hard. And as for Trusen, when he got in, Coach said if he was open to take a 3, don’t be afraid to take it, and he did.”
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