Bombers Hot Shooting Gets Win Over Rebels

Wes Vork-NSO

Click here for the complete game box score

For additional photos click here to view our complete photo gallery

Feb 24, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

WILLOW RIVER- All season long teams have either lived or died by the 3-point shot; Friday night, the second half saw the Bombers hit some very timely 3-pointers and Freshman Brandon Newman t connected on six straight free throws down the stretch to help the Bombers defeat Moose Lake-Willow River by a score of 60-52.

The Rebels, coming off a 12-point win over Barnum earlier this season entered this game a little short handed with Jake Disterhaupt still out of action and senior Caleb Koecher nursing a sprained ankle. Being shorthanded meant it was going to be a harder challenge to match-up with the Bombers pressure defense and outside shooting.

Head Coach Neil Dickinson told Northland Sports Online “it was a tough loss here tonight, but we just have to regroup and get ready for next week.” Dickinson added, “With two of our boys gone and Barnum’s good defense and shooting, it was tough for us tonight and we made some poor decisions at times with the basketball.”

The Bombers and the Rebels traded jabs in the first half going back and forth toe-to-toe, much like a boxing match; and as the first half ended it was Barnum holding a one point 31-30 lead at halftime. There were five times that the game was tied and four lead changes in the first half alone.

The second half saw the Bombers jump out to small leads and the Rebels would fight back and tie or take the lead again. There were 10 total lead changes in the game and eight times the game was tied. The Bombers however, late in the game saw themselves starting to pull away as they built up a seven point lead, courtesy of two 3-pointers from Rodney Mullen and a 3-pointer from the eighth grader Jaxson Turner.

With less the two minutes to play in the game, it was the Rebels who were forced to foul and the Bombers nailed eight straight free throws including six by the freshman Newman, Jake Blumer also connected on two straight. For the game Barnum was 11-12 in the free throw department. The Rebels did have a few chances with under a minute to play but could never connect on the shots down the stretch.

The Bombers were led by Jacob Naslund who finished with 17 points, Brandon Newman added 11, and Bobby Minkkinen finished with 10. The Rebels were led by Taylor Mattison who finished with 16 points; he also pulled in 11 rebounds on the night. Tony Adamczak finished with 11 points including two 3-pointers.

Barnum improves 18-5 on the season and they will host the Jaguars of Hinckley-Finlayson on Saturday at Barnum High School. The Rebels fall to 14-9 overall and they are in action on Tuesday night when the will face the Proctor Rails in a sectional match up at Proctor High School.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com