#1 Seed ML-WR Opens Playoffs With A Victory

Josh Cadwell – For NSO

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Mar 9

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

WILLOW RIVER- When the Rebels and the Gobblers met earlier this season, it was a track meet up and down the floor, with the Rebels coming out on top, but the Rebels letting the Gobblers Danny Dally explode for seven 3-pointers in the loss. This time it was Ryan Adamczak’s responsibility not to let Dally go off like he did the first time around. And boy did Adamczak show how defense should be played as he shadowed Dally’s every move on the floor. Adamczak’s persistence paid off as Dally didn’t score a single point as the Rebels defeated the Gobblers 67-48 to move on to the sectional quarterfinals at UMD on Saturday.

The Rebels came out strong in the first half as Moose Lake-Willow River pounded the ball inside to Taylor Mattison and Caleb Koecher, allowing the Rebels to open an early first half lead. Mattison and Koecher combined for 13 first half points while pulling down twelve rebounds in the first half. Polar League MVP Trevor Nummela spent much of the first half on the Rebels bench with foul trouble, but Jake Disterhaupt picked up the offense in the first half as he pounded in 10 first half points. The Rebels jumped out to a 14 point halftime lead at 35-21. The Gobblers stayed in the contest with hot outside shooting from freshman guard Nathan Ehnstrom has he scored 21 points all on 3-pointers.

The second half saw the Rebels and the Gobblers trade baskets and each team going on four or five point runs. The Rebels, leading by 11 points took control of the game when Adamczak’s rebounded a missed shot by the Gobblers, threw the ball in the front court for Nummela who took the pass and went in with a thunderous dunk that had the fans on their feet. That dunk gave the Rebels a shot in the arm as they went on an 8-0 to give them a 22 point lead late in the game. The Rebels went on to win by 19. The second half surge was led by Nummela, who scored 17 second half points that gave him a game high of 23.

Mattison finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocked shots on the night. Disterhaupt finished with

10 points, Koecher finished with 8 points, Adam Johnson and Adamczak both closed the night with 6, and Mike Bennett added 2. The victory moves the Rebels overall record to 25-2, as they have now set the record for most wins in a season at 25. Following Ehnstrom and his 21 points, the Gobblers only had one other player in double figures, Alex Anderson who finished with 11 in the loss. The Rebels will be in action on Saturday afternoon at UMD when they face Mora in a sectional quarterfinal match-up. The Mustangs defeated Rush City 51-42 on Wednesday night.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com