Youngsters and veterans step up for Superlarks in win over Knights
Published 11:19 pm Wednesday, December 28, 2016
- Grand Meadow’s Wes Ojulu moves the ball around during the first half against Alden-Conger Wednesday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
GRAND MEADOW — The Grand Meadow boys basketball team rode a couple of its younger players in the first half and its veterans came through in the second half as it beat Alden-Conger 62-55 in the Grand Meadow Invite Wednesday.
GM eighth grader Colt Landers had eight of his 10 points and GM freshman Ethan Lane scored all eight of his points in the first half and GM seniors Connor King and Wes Ojulu took the game over in the second half.
Grand Meadow’s Ethan Lane bounces a pass into Wes Ojulu during the first half against Alden-Conger Wednesday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
King had 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals, and Ojulu had nine points, five rebounds and three assists to lead GM to a big push in the second half.
“It was a good team win. We shared the basketball and we took great shots,” GM head coach Bob Burmester said. “In the first half our younger guys stepped up and made some shots to keep us in the game and our older guys stepped up in the second half.”
GM (2-4 overall) jumped out to a 27-15 lead after Max Jech, who had 12 points, hit a three-pointer with 6:04 left in the first half, but the Knights (1-5 overall) closed the first half on a 12-0 run. GM took control early in the second half and King boosted the lead when he converted back-to-back lay-ups to put the Larks up 38-31.
“I was just kind of taking what the defense was giving me,” King said. “It was there in the second half and it wasn’t really there in the first half.”
The Larks have a new lineup this season and they didn’t have a lot of time to adjust after a long football season. Ojulu said GM is looking to gain some steam as it adjusts to basketball season.
Grand Meadow’s Connor King reaches out for a rebound against Alden-Conger in the first half Wednesday night in Grand Meadow. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s always hard coming from football to basketball, but we make it work,” he said.
Burmester said the Larks are hoping to hit their peak at the end of the season.
“It’s a huge process,” he said. “I tell the boys that it’s a long season and we have 26 scrimmages and then its the playoffs. We’re getting better.”
AC 27 28 — 55
GM 27 35 — 62
GM scoring: Connor King, 19; Max Jech, 12; Colt Landers, 10; Wes Ojulu, 9; Ethan Lane, 8; Mark Cotten, 4; free throws: 30 percent (3-for-10); rebounds: 23 (King, 7); turnovers: 10
