BP spreads the wealth: Blossoms advance in Section 1A with win over Rebels
Published 9:28 pm Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Blooming Prairie’s Drew Kittelson, left, and Southland’s Daniel Boe battle for a rebound during the first half in the Section 1A quarterfinals Wednesday night in Rochester’s Civic Center Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Blooming Prairie’s Gabe Hagen works inside against Southland in the first half in the Section 1A quarterfinals. Herald File Photo
Southland’s Reece Tapp pulls down a rebound against Blooming Prairie in the first half in the Section 1A quarterfinals Wednesday night in Rochester’s Civic Center Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Blooming Prairie’s Zach Weber bounces a pass inside in the first half against Southland in the Section 1A quarterfinals Wednesday night in Rochester’s Civic Center Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Nicholas Boe with a lay-up against Blooming Prairie in the Section 1A quarterfinals Wednesday night in Rochester’s Civic Center Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southland’s Eli Wolff is fouled going to the hoop against Blooming Prairie in the first half in the Section 1A quarterfinals Wednesday night in Rochester’s Civic Center Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — As they have all season, the top-seeded Awesome Blossoms proved there is a lot more to them than senior center Gabe Hagen and his inside scoring ability.
Hagen was happy to share the wealth as Blooming Prairie eased past No. 8 Southland 72-50 in a Section 1A quarterfinal in Mayo Civic Center Wednesday.
BP (23-3 overall) never trailed throughout the night and the Awesome Blossoms drained seven first half threes to take a 16-point lead into the break.
As Southland (10-15 overall) shifted its defense inside to stop Hagen early on, Kaden Thomas knocked down five of his first six three-pointers and Zach Archer connected on a pair of threes in the first half. Thomas’ fifth three was from three feet behind the line on the wing and it put BP up 29-11 with 5:29 left in the half.
“In warm ups I noticed the rims were a little different and I had to adjust to those. I found it right away,” Thomas said. “I missed seven in a row in warm ups, I missed my first one in the game and then I made five in a row.”
Thomas scored 19 of his 26 points in the first half. The Rebels had just 19 points as a team at halftime.
“Once our defense gets going, it’s hard to score on us,” Thomas said.
Hagen did finish with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
“Gabe does a lot that a lot of people don’t see,” Thomas said. “When he gets doubled, he finds the open guy and when he’s not doubled, he goes in for a lay-up.”
BP will take on Grand Meadow in a Section 1A semifinal in Mayo Civic Center at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Blooming Prairie 35 37 – 72
Southland 19 21 – 50
BP scoring: Kaden Thomas, 26; Gabe Hagen, 17; Zach Archer, 12; Harrison Hanna, 9; Reece Tapp, 8; Drew Kittelson, 6; Zach Weber, 3; Isaac Ille, 2; free throws: 56 percent (9-for-16)
Southland scoring: Harrison Hanna, 11; Dan Boe, 10; Nick Boe, 8; Reece Tapp, 8; Eli Wolff, 8; Noah Lamp, 3; Carter Schmitz, 2; free throws: 50 percent (5-for-10)
