Shooting Carr
Verndale senior has knack for getting open
It didn't take long for Wyatt Carr to find his shooting touch.
The Verndale Pirates boys' basketball player scored 28 points in Verndale's season-opening 78-68 victory over Wheaton-Herman-Norcross Dec. 5.
Carr was 8-of-16 from the field, 5-of-7 from within the 3-point arc and 3-of-9 beyond it.
"He's a good shooter," said Verndale coach Greg Johnson. "He knows how to score. We look to him to be one of our main scorers and 28 points is a real good night. We're hoping he can be one of our top scorers."
Carr added three rebounds and three assists. He said he started the game cold, but found his range in the third quarter.
"They played a zone against us so they let us shoot from the outside," said Carr, a four-year varsity veteran.
Carr's ability to shoot from 3-point range should help out a small Verndale roster. He said he inherited his shooting ability from his father, Jim Carr.
"My dad is always making sure I get into the gym and doing a lot of shooting," said the Pirates' guard. "He makes sure I go to open gym and he's taught me a lot about shooting."
Carr says his strength is his outside shot, but believes he can flash to the basket and create his own shot. Johnson thinks Carr's strength is his basketball knowledge.
"He has a knack for the game," Johnson said. "He understands the game of basketball and has a knack for getting open shots.
"He has an intense desire to win. He understands the game and some of those little things that basketball players need to know how to do."
Verndale will be a running, high-pressure, high-scoring team. Carr hopes the basketball team mimics the success the Verndale football team has enjoyed.
"I told (my teammates) on the first day of practice," said Carr, who helped the Pirates' football team to two state tournaments, "that no matter what sport we're playing, we play to win. I told them we can win in basketball just like we do in football.
"I know most of the kids like football more, but you're in a sport to win."
Other notable performances:
Basketball -- Roman Haberkorn, Aitkin, scored 22 points against Pine River-Backus.
Brandon Courts, Lake Region, scored 26 against Mankato Christian.
Hockey -- Steven Festler, Little Falls, recorded two goals and two assists against Morris-Benson.
Brandon Currie, Wadena-Deer Creek, recorded two goals and two assists against Little Falls.
Wrestling -- Craig Luberts and Hank Virnig, Pierz, recorded three pins at the Foley Invitational.
Jared Oyster, Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale, won an individual championship at the Wadena-Deer Creek Invitational.
Jason Brill, Josh Bue, Jake Goebel and Steve Newman, Little Falls, all won four matches and each recorded three pins at the Monticello Invitational.