MEN'S BASKETBALL: Bluejays go 2-0 during Classic

WORTHINGTON — The Minnesota West men’s basketball team improved to 2-0 this season after taking down the Mount Marty JV squad 91-71 Sunday in the Ninth Annual Sanford Health Basketball Classic.

“It is good for our confidence,” MW guard Luke Roddy said. “We didn’t finish last year how we wanted too. It is good to get a couple wins under our belt, but we have to keep going.”

Tyler Aquallo opened the scoring for the Bluejays on a layup, but the Lancers answered right back with a 3-pointer by Bryan Youngberg to take a 3-2 early in the first.

The Lancers kept it close in the early stages of the game, but 20 points in less than 9 minutes by the Blue Jays made it 37-27 with 3:40 left to play in the half.

A 3-point jumper by Roddy at 1:42 in the first game MW a 45-27 lead and the Bluejays never looked back.

Aquallo, a freshman, had 14 of his 21 points in the first half to power MW.

“We have a lot of great freshman who compete well in practice and they give everyone good looks,” Roddy said. “It is just good to have so many people come off the bench and play well.”

The Bluejays continued to roll offensively in the second half, adding 13 points in the first 5 minutes to make it

58-39.

“In the second half, we were trying to work for better shots than we did in the first half,” MW head coach Justin Heckenlaible said. “We made just enough defensive plays and got enough runs that we were able to build a lead for good.”

MW defense, which was strong in the first 20 minutes, began to give way and allow second-chance points.

“We need to improve defensively,” Heckenlaible said. “We have to work on closing out our rotations defensively. And rebounding will be an issue for us every night we are not a very big team. So we are going to have to have a group effort every night.”

Despite the offense scoring 91 points on the night, Heckenlaible still feels his team left much to be desired.

“We didn’t shoot very well tonight and we were a little impatient offensively,” Heckenlaible said. “In the possessions we shared the ball a little bit more we had some more success. We are learning how to be more patient and how to get better shots.”

Even without the offense clicking on all cylinders, the Bluejays were able to move the ball around and drive to the hoop almost when they needed to get points.

“We move a lot without the ball and get good ball screens when we are on offense,” Roddy said.

Although MW is 2-0 on the season Heckenlaible and his team realize there is still room for improvement.

“We have to keep rebounding, it is going to be tough for us day in and day out since we are so small,” Roddy said. “On offense, we need to be a little bit more patient; right now we shoot it too quick. We have so many guys who can score, so they want to shoot it when they touch it.”

The Bluejays head on the road to face Dakota Wesleyan Thursday in Mitchell, SD before hosting Morningside College on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.

MINNESOTA WEST 91, MOUNT MARTY JV 71

MOUNT MARTY JV: Stransky 3 2-2 10, Flicek 1 0-0 2, Payer 3 2-2 11, Youngberg 4 1-2 13, Rutledge 1 1-1 3, Druckenmiller 3 0-2 6, Irvine 3 6-9 13, Bunnel 5 1-3 11. TOTALS: 23 13-21 (62%) 71.

MINNESOTA WEST (2-0): Roddy 4 6-7 15, Langdeau 0 0-0 0, Williams 1 0-0 2, Nissen 0 0-0 0, Green 0 0-0 0, Seitzinger 0 2-2 2, Welch 0 0-0 0, Ourada 2 1-1 5, Olson 6 0-0 12, Brown 4 4-4 13, Aquallo 8 4-6 21, Hopkins 4 1-1 9, Lupton 2 0-0 4, Harris 3 0-0 8. TOTALS: 34 18-21 (86%) 91.

Mount Marty JV 28 43 --- 71

Minnesota West 45 46 --- 91

3-POINT GOALS: Mount Marty JV 10 (Youngberg 4, Payer 3, Stransky 2, Irvine), Minnesota West 5 (Harris 2, Aquallo, Roddy, Brown). REBOUNDS: Mount Marty JV 28 (Bunnel 12), Minnesota West 40 (Hopkins 13, Olson 7). TOTAL FOULS (FOULED OUT): Mount Marty JV 23 (none), Minnesota West 16 (none). TECHNICAL FOULS: Mount Marty JV 1 (Flicek), Minnesota West 0. STEALS: Mount Marty JV 3 (Flicek, Payer, Irvine), Minnesota West 9 (Brown 3, Harris 2, Aquallo 2). TURNOVERS: Mount Marty JV 15, Minnesota West 12.

OTHER SCORE: Riverland 64, Madison College 54.

FIRST ROUND

Minnesota West 112, Madison College 85

WORTHINGTON --- Minnesota West dominated Madison College in the first round of the Sanford Basketball Classic on Saturday at Worthington High School.

The Bluejays, who built a 34-17 lead after 9 minutes and 62-35 at halftime, knocked down eight of their first 11 shots from 3-point range and excelled at the foul line, where Minnesota West connected at a rate of 88 percent (21 of 24).

Mitch Hopkins led the Bluejays (1-0) with 20 points on seven field goals and six free throws. Orie Brown returned to the Minnesota West lineup after being sidelined for the last 11 months with a knee injury to add 19 points. Tyler Aquallo (16), Cody Harris (15) and Mitch Olson (12) also scored in double figures.

“Obviously, we played very well offensively and that’s something we knew we could do, but the big thing we have been working on in practice has been defense,” Heckenlaible said. “There are going to be nights when we’re not going to shoot that well. (Defense) is going to have to be our staple.”

Dominic Fumbanks led all scorers with 22 points for Madison College (0-1).

Saturday’s Result

At Worthington High School

MINNESOTA WEST 112, MADISON COLLEGE 85

MADISON COLLEGE (0-1): Plaice 0 0-0 0, Fumbanks 9 1-6 22, Cooks 4 1-2 9, Baier 7 1-1 18, Grafft 3 0-0 6, Miller 4 1-3 9, Durley 0 0-0 0, Wuensch 5 5-16 16, Nordeng 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 32 9-18 (50%) 85.

MINNESOTA WEST (1-0): Roddy 3 0-0 6, Langdeau 0 1-1 1, Williams 0 0-0 0, Nissen 1 0-0 2, Seitzinger 0 3-4 3, Welch 3 0-0 8, Ahlers 0 0-0 0, Ourada 2 2-2 6, Olson 6 0-0 12, Brown 6 6-6 19, Aquallo 6 1-1 16, Hopkins 7 6-7 20, Luptoni 0 2-2 2, Harris 6 0-0 15. TOTALS 40 21-24 (88%) 112.

Madison College 35 50 --- 85

Minnesota West 62 50 --- 112

3-POINT GOALS: Madison College 12 (Fumbanks 6, Baier 5, Wuensch), Minnesota West 11 (Aquallo 3, Harris 3, Roddy 2, Welch 2, Brown). REBOUNDS: Madison College 28 (Fumbanks 5), Minnesota West 38 (Hopkins 5). TOTAL FOULS (FOULED OUT): Madison College 20 (Plaice), Minnesota West 16 (none). TECHNICAL FOULS: None. STEALS: Madison College 5 (Fumbanks 2), Minnesota West 6 (Aquallo 2). TURNOVERS: Madison College 18, Minnesota West 13.

OTHER SCORE: Riverland 81, Dordt JV 64.

Daily Globe Reporter Jordan Willi may be reached at 376-7335.

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