The Vikings earn a season-opening split
WAUSA — The ability to bounce back was illustrated right out of the gate for the Wausa Viking basketball team.
Starting the new campaign with the growing threat of COVID-19 lurking around every corner, the Vikings split their first two decisions, dropping a narrow contest at Plainview, 64-62, before coming back home to record an impressive 48-27 win over Boyd County.
“The keys to the Plainview game was just that we gave up too many offensive rebounds and turned the ball over too much to get the win,” Wausa head coach Tim Schindler said. “Against Boyd County, foul trouble hampered us the whole game. We were able to hold them to one field goal the second half to get the win.”
Brandon Kristensen was overall feeling pretty good about the first two outings for this year’s edition of the Vikings.
“Against Plainview, it was a really good first game,” Kristensen said. “We had some issues to work through and we had a good opener. We then really showed what we could do in our second game and came out strong with a vengeance.”
Jaxon Claussen led Wausa with 23 points while Addison Smith added 15 points and Garrett Hegge popped in 10 points in the Plainview defeat.
Smith had a team-high 14 points, Cory Schumacher added 13 points and Claussen added 10 points in the win over Boyd County.
Kristensen was pleased with his team’s ability to bounce back from a narrow defeat only 24 hours earlier.
“Coming out of Friday night I was a little bit worried that we would turn into that team that got down after one of those games,” he said. “But the next day after our open gym, I felt a lot better about it. We didn’t seem as much concerned about that game and were looking forward to Boyd County.
“We tend to be really focused on this basketball season. We really got that first game jitters out of our system. We have a lot of younger players and after they were deer in headlights at first, but against Boyd they settled into their little niche and they said, ‘all right we are here to play basketball and here is how we do it.’ We have good chemistry, and we are able to move the ball around really well.”
The Vikings played host to Creighton on Tuesday and will wrap this week with Saturday’s contest at home against Elgin Public/Pope John
“We are looking to limit our turnovers and keep improving,” Schindler said. “We have a lot of young guys that just need to experience as the year goes on. If we continue to play as a team and do things the correct way on and off the court, we will be fine.”
The Vikings have a new approach to competition because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has a certain aspect to it and came from football where we lost a couple games because of COVID,” Kristensen said. “So, we realized this is a thing and it does happen to people. We have to play every game like it’s our last game because it may be. I think the pandemic lit a fire under our butts.”
Boyd County 10 13 1 3 —27
Wausa 11 10 6 21—48
SCORING
Wausa - Addison Smith, 14; Cory Schumacher, 13; Jaxon Claussen, 10; Jon Nissen, 5; Garrett Hegge, 2; Cashe Carlson, 2; Tug Dawson, 1; Josh Wattier, 1. Boyd County - Grant Kirwan, 9; T. Atkinson, 6; Ethan McBride, 4; Brayden Almgren, 3; Zac Rihanek, 3; Derris Hansen, 2.
REBOUNDS
Wausa - Garrett Hegge, 6; Jon Nissen, 5; Addison Smith, 4; Brandon Kristensen, 4; Cashe Carlson, 4; Jaxon Claussen, 4; Cory Schumacher, 2; Josh Wattier, 1.
ASSISTS
Wausa - Josh Wattier, 3; Jaxon Claussen, 2; Brandon Kristensen, 2; Garrett Hegge, 2; Cory Schumacher, 1; Cashe Carlson, 1; Jon Nissen, 1.
STEALS
Wausa - Jaxon Claussen, 4; Addison Smith, 4; Jon Nissen, 2; Garrett Hegge, 2; Cory Schumacher, 1.
BLOCKS
Wausa - Garrett Hegge, 1; Jon Nissen, 1.
Plainview — 27
Wausa —48
SCORING
Wausa - Jaxon Claussen, 23; Addison Smith, 15; Garrett Hegge, 9; Cory Schumacher, 9; Jon Nissen, 5; Cashe Carlson, 1.
REBOUNDS
Wausa - Cory Schumacher, 9; Garrett Hegge, 5; Jaxon Claussen, 3; Josh Wattier, 3; Jon Nissen, 2; Addison Smith, 1; Brandon Kristensen, 1; Tug Dawson, 1; Cashe Carlson, 1.
ASSISTS
Wausa - Josh Wattier, 4; Jaxon Claussen, 3; Addison Smith, 2; Brandon Kristensen, 1; Cory Schumacher, 1; Cashe Carlson, 1.
STEALS
Wausa - Cory Schumacher, 6; Jaxon Claussen, 5; Addison Smith, 4; Jon Nissen, 3; Garrett Hegge, 3; Josh Wattier, 1.
BLOCKS
Wausa - Jaxon Claussen, 1; Jon Nissen, 1.
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