MAYER – For the Mayer Lutheran boys basketball team, it was a good test to see where they are at as they hosted the No. 1 ranked team in Class A. In the end, it was the BOLD Warriors who proved worthy of the top ranking as they showcased what they could do in an 82-47 victory over the Crusaders Tuesday night.
“We have to learn from this,” Mayer Lutheran coach Pat Buchanan said. “That’s what winning basketball looks like. That’s what basketball with will and determination looks like. Those guys have everything that you look for in a basketball team. They are veterans, but they know what it’s like to lose and be on the other end. They don’t like that feeling. It’s an all-or-nothing type of mentality for that whole team and their coaching staff.”
Led by one of the top backcourts in the state in Jordan Sagedahl, Gavin Vosika, and Drew Sagedahl, the Warriors came out swinging early. BOLD’s lead was cut to 20-13 after a 3-pointer from Ty Hoese, but then it was all Warriors down the stretch. A 13-2 run pushed BOLD’s lead back to 17, and the Crusaders found themselves down 16 at the half.
After finishing the first half in dominant fashion, it was more of the same for the Warriors in the second half. BOLD opened the half on a 14-0 run, ultimately putting the game away in the opening minutes by taking a 30-point lead over Mayer Lutheran.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s about being prepared,” Buchanan said about how BOLD can score in a hurry. “I don’t think we were prepared for this game mentally. I don’t think we were mentally prepared at all before this game. It’s no excuse, but we had some youth that played young. They don’t know what that type of game is like. You got to learn.”
BOLD’s trio of guards combined to outscore the Crusaders alone with 57 points. Vosika led the way with 23 points, while Drew Sagedahl finished with 18, and Jordan Sagedahl added 16 points.
Hoese was the lone player in double figures for Mayer Lutheran. He finished with 11 points, while Dylan Nelson, Brady Harnung, and Tyler Neitzel each added five points.
The Crusaders don’t have long before another big game appears on the schedule. Mayer Lutheran hosts Jordan Thursday night in a crucial MN River Conference matchup.
“Not letting today happen ever again,” Buchanan said about what’s most important. “That’s the biggest thing to learn. Whatever happened today, don’t let it happen again.”
BOLD 82, Mayer Lutheran 47
Scoring
BOLD: Drew Sagedahl 18, Gavin Vosika 23, Blake Plass 6, Jordan Sagedahl 16, Trenton Ziesmer 4, Joey McMath 3, Andrew Sheehan 2, Matt Moorse 4, Bradaen Tersteeg 3, Cole Visser 3.
MAYER LUTHERAN: Austin Crown 4, Eli Johnson 3, Ty Hoese 11, Dylan Nelson 5, Zander Flucas 4, Brady Harnung 5, Tyler Neitzel 5, Riley Krueger 4, Isaac Hahn 2, Teigan Martin 4.