Blossoms dominate the paint in win over Kenyon-Wanamingo
Published 11:32 pm Friday, January 13, 2017
- Blooming Prairie’s Gabe Hagen battles for a rebound against Kenyon-Wanamingo in BP Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Blooming Prairie rode its two big front court players as it picked up an 80-66 win over Kenyon-Wanamingo in BP Friday night.
BP junior Jake Ressler was a force on both ends of the court as he tallied 22 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots and BP freshman Gabe Hagen proved he could play in the paint as he racked up 20 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Ressler had two big driving dunks in the second half and he hit a dagger three-pointer from the baseline to put the Awesome Blossoms (5-4 overall) up 74-60.
Blooming Prairie’s Seth Bedenbaugh pulls up for a shoot over Kenyon-Wanamingo’s Calvin Steberg in BP Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“It’s always good to get a little bit of energy when it’s a tight game and you want to pull away,” Ressler said. “Lately we’ve been working the ball around the perimeter too much and for Gabe and I it was the focus to get inside.”
Hagen has had made big strides this season and he credited Ressler with being a mentor for him.
“I’ve learned a lot. I think I’ve been playing better with everybody and I’m used to playing with older guys now,” Hagen said. “I’ve learned a lot from Jake. We hang out a lot and we play together a lot outside of school.”
BP jumped out to a 13-3 lead to start the game and the Knights (0-11 overall) never got closer than three the rest of the way. When BP did have slight struggles, it was due to turnovers or shot selection. BP head coach Nathan Piller said that has been a point of emphasis for his squad, which is working some young players into the lineup.
“I’m really happy with their improvement. Physically and athletically, there’s a lot of talent there,” Piller said. “Mentally we’ve got to make better decisions. There’s a lot of mental stuff that’s keeping us from the next level and we’ve got to be great decision makers.”
Blooming Priarie’s Brad Staska goes up for a shot in the lane against Kenyon-Wanamingo in BP Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Seth Bedenbaugh had nine points, five rebounds and five assist for BP.
Friday’s game was the first of seven games in a stretch of nine days for BP.
KW 27 37 — 64
BP 40 40 — 80
BP scoring: Jake Ressler, 22; Gabe Hagen, 20; Max Romeo, 20; Seth Bedenbaugh, 9; Kaden Thomas, 4; Ben Smith, 3; Cameron Kubista, 2; free throws: 50 percent (10-for-20); rebounds: 46 (Ressler, 14); turnovers: 15
Blooming Prairie’s Cameron Kubista goes up for a lay up against Kenyon-Wanamingo’s Calvin Steberg in BP Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com