MAYER – You can say what you want about the Mayer Lutheran boys basketball team. It doesn’t matter. Want to praise them? Go for it. Want to discredit them? Be ready to be proven wrong.
After falling to No. 5 in the Class A boys basketball rankings put out by MN Basketball News despite winning seven-straight games, the Crusaders came out and made a statement in their 78-45 victory over Sibley East Thursday night.
“We just kind of use that as motivation,” senior Kobey Woolhouse said. “We’ll prove to people that we deserve to be in top spots. We just use that as motivation to keep pushing us and prove to everyone that we’re the real deal.”
Kobey Woolhouse was locked in to start to the game as he became the sixth member of the 1,000 point club in Mayer Lutheran boys basketball history.
With no Gavin Bates for Sibley East who was out with a knee injury, the Crusaders took full advantage. After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Crusaders turned it on with their defensive pressure and used an 18-2 run to open things up.
“We’re in the third quarter of the season,” Mayer Lutheran coach Pat Buchanan said. “We have other goals and a different mindset. We’re looking forward to how we want to play basketball. The intensity is a key part of it.”
With a comfortable lead midway through the first half, it was to get Woolhouse his moment on his home floor. Coming into the game, Woolhouse needed 15 points to become the sixth member of the 1,000 point club for boys basketball in school history.
After knocking down three 3-pointers in the early going and getting to the hoop, Woolhouse was stuck on 999 career points for what seemed like forever for him.
With every gasp and groan from the crowd after every miss that was fully aware of what was about to happen, Woolhouse knew he was close, and decided to stop settling and attack.
“I knew I was in that area,” Woolhouse said. “Especially when coach kept setting up plays. I wasn’t hitting from the outside, so I just took it to the bucket. In that moment, it was kind of a surreal moment. It was a really good feeling.”
Woolhouse took an inbounds pass right the bucket, laying it up to reach the career milestone on his home floor in front of his friends and family.
“I’m really glad I got to it in front of the home crowd,” Woolhouse said. “If it wasn’t for everyone who came out and supported us, I wouldn’t be able to be in this position.”
Although it hasn’t been even a full season of the relationship between Woolhouse and Buchanan, there’s no doubt there’s great sense of respect and admiration between the two.
“We all knew,” Buchanan said. “Everyone else in the whole gym knew how many he was away from. It’s good for him. He’s a great kid. He deserves that. He plays real hard for us all year. He’s been stepping it up.”
Along with Woolhouse reaching the career milestone, the Crusaders also showcased how dangerous they can be. Four players scored 15 or more points, as the Crusaders shot 52 percent (33-for-63) from the field in the win. Woolhouse led the way with a game-high 19 points. Garrett Tjernagel added 16 points, while Branden Carlson and Baden Noennig each finished with 15 points.
Branden Carlson soars through the air for two of his 15 points. Carlson was one of four Crusaders in double figures.
“No you can’t,” Buchanan said about drawing it up any better than that. “We’re starting to hit our stride. It’s coming. Right now, we’re excited about the way we’re playing. We have huge goals and huge to accomplish this year with each other.”
With a win over the Wolverines in the rear view mirror, the Crusaders have their sights set on the Cleveland Clippers, a game that’s been circled on the schedule for some time.
“We had to focus on today,” Buchanan said. “Now, I can think about Cleveland. That’s a section opponent, but what’s bigger than that, they knocked out Mayer Lutheran last year. We got to understand, we don’t play to revenge. We like to respect our opponents, but yeah. We’re ready for that game.”
The Clippers and Crusaders are set to face off Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in Mayer for a big Section 2A matchup. With how last season ended, Woolhouse and his squad are looking for some redemption and to keep their momentum rolling.
“I can’t wait,” Woolhouse said. “It’s a big matchup. It’s been circled on my calendar for a while now.”