Huge Second Half Run Leads Wrenshall Boys Past Carlton

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

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Dec 3, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

WRENSHALL- It was a 22-4 run down the stretch that allowed the Wrenshall Wrens to run away from the Carlton Bulldogs and it was a 16 point 53-37 victory Monday night over the Carlton as both of these two teams opened their seasons at Wrenshall High School.

The Wrens and the Bulldogs would battle back and forth Monday night as the Bulldogs took an early 10-6 lead in the early going. Erik Adams led the Bulldogs with 14 first half points and kept the Bulldogs in the game as Wrenshall continued to fight back.

Wrenshall took its first lead of the game at 11-10 when Jarred Kittle put a shot in down low under the basket. The one point lead was short lived as Carlton came right back as Zach Veno and Adams hit shots to put the Bulldogs in front 15-11.

Both teams continued to battle as Wrenshall fought back and would eventually take a 21-19 lead at halftime. The second half saw the Wrens build a small lead as Carlton struggled to find their touch around the basket.

The Bulldogs took their last lead of the game when Veno it a shot with 5:54 remaining and it was a 33-32 lead for Carlton. The lead was short lived as Wrenshall as Wrenshall took advantage of several Carlton miscues and some timely shooting and Pat Gustafson connecting on free throws down the stretch it was a Wrenshall victory.

The win matches the Wrenshall season total from a year ago when Wrenshall won only one game on the season and they lost both matchups against Carlton last season. The Wrens and the Bulldogs will meet again, this time in Carlton near the end of February.

Pat Gustafson finished with 19 points for the Wrens to lead all scorers while his teammate Jarred Kittle added 18 for Wrenshall. Kittle also led everyone in rebounding as he finished with 11 of his team’s 53 rebounds. Wrenshall grabbed 19 more rebounds on the night.

Erik Adams led Carlton in scoring with 18 points overall, while Lane Empson added 14 points for the Bulldogs. Adams also finished with 9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in the Bulldogs loss Monday night.

Carlton will be in action on Friday night when they host the Two Harbors Agates in another Polar League contest, while the Wrens are off until next Monday night when they will host the Cromwell Cardinals in a Polar League battle as well.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com