Rangers upset 7th-ranked Cardinals
AREA BOYS' BASKETBALL
STAPLES - Men at Work.
That's the sign the Crosby-Ironton Rangers boys' basketball team needs to place outside gymnasiums when it plays.
Friday, the 4-0 Rangers displayed their blue-collar mentality and upset Class 2A's seventh-ranked Staples-Motley Cardinals 83-76.
C-I's hustle forced 10 first-half turnovers, which were cashed into 16 points. Junior Mark Hoge was 8-of-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line to score 28 first-half points. The lone holdover from last year's state runner-up team finished with a game-high 32 points.
C-I shot 59 percent from the field in the first half and went on runs of 10-0 and 11-0 to build a 48-28 halftime lead.
Crosby-Ironton's Mark Hoge scored 32 points.
"I told the kids (Thursday) and today that (C-I) isn't coming here just to show up," said Cardinals coach Lynn Peterson. "They're coming here to compete. They're going to try and get after us and they're going to out-quick us. For 36 minutes they outplayed us."
In the second half S-M's Jordan Riewer finally got going after being held to five first-half points. The newest member of the Cardinals' 1,000-point club scored 15 of his 20 in the second frame. Derek Wolhowe scored 11 of his 19 in that span to help the Cardinals cut C-I's lead to 13 with 8:46 remaining.
The Cardinals outscored C-I 48-35 in the second half, but C-I held on despite 15 turnovers. An injury to point guard Tyler Dickie hampered the Rangers' offense as they attempted 18 fewer shots than the Cardinals, but Sam Baker scored 14 of his 17 points and Matthew Hudrlik scored nine of his 13 in the second half to preserve the win.
"We have to hang our hats on our work ethic," said Rangers coach Dave Galovich. "What we lack in size we have to make up in hustle and determination. Both teams worked hard and it was a hard-fought game.
Rangers 83, Cardinals 76
Key: Mark Hoge scored 28 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 32.
Conf: CI 3-0, SM 2-1
Overall: CI 4-0, SM 3-2
Next: C-I hosts Princeton 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; S-M hosts Osakis 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
"In those type of games there are going to be mistakes, but I give our kids a lot of credit. They showed some guts."
S-M's Trevor Wentworth hit a three at the buzzer to finish with 12 points. Jon Bristow, who scored 11 points in the first half, finished with 17.
"I've said all along C-I is going to be good this year. They're just unknown," said Peterson. "Because of their senior-laden squad last year they're just unknown. A lot of these kids, who were sophomores last year, didn't have to play roles for them last year, except Hoge.
"Tonight's game also shows we have a long way to go yet. We're not the caliber of team people think we are, or that some of our players think we are."
Crosby-Ironton 48 35 - 83
Staples-Motley 28 48 - 76
CROSBY-IRONTON
Matthew Hudrlik 13, Tyler Dickie 9, Mark Hoge 32, Sam Baker 17, Brock Tesdahl 10, Tyler Snook 2. Team totals: FG 31-50 (62 percent), FT 15-25 (60 percent), 3-point baskets: 6-15 (Hoge 3, Tesdahl 2, Dickie 1).
STAPLES-MOTLEY
Trevor Wentworth 12, Mike Lindaman 2, Gunner Johnson 4, Derek Wolhowe 19, Jordan Riewer 20, Brandon Larson 2, Jon Bristow 17. Team totals: FG 31-69 (44 percent), FT 8-12 (75 percent), 3-point baskets: 6-17 (Riewer 4, Wentworth 2).
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.