3/3 @Ogilvie

Varsity: W (96-25)

JV: W (82-27)

Pine City Pioneer, Jesse Logan

Becoming just the second boys basketball team in school history to finish the regular season with 20 wins, Pine City finished on a high note in one game during their final week before the postseason. The Dragons took care of business against Ogilvie on Friday, March 3 and appear ready to make some noise in the Section 6AA playoffs. 

Pine City 96, Ogilvie 25

This game was never in doubt as the Dragons built a 17-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. Junior Clay Logan came out flying for Pine City, scoring the team’s first 10 points on his way to a team-high 18 for the night. During the minutes that the five starters were on the floor during the first half, Ogilvie managed just one basket. 

“Everyone got in the game, everyone got lots of minutes,” said Dragons head coach Kyle Allen. “We got some real valuable minutes to everyone on the team, which was great. Austin Hansmann led us with eight rebounds, and we focus on that. I was really happy with our defense and our rebounding, and we need to continue to focus on that as we move into the playoffs. We had a lot of guys play really well. Clay Logan had six rebounds and scored the ball really well. Konnor Jusczak ended with 12 points, four assists, five rebounds and only one turnover as the backup point guard. I thought the focus was good coming in.”

Nick Hansmann was the only other Dragon in double figures with 10, while senior Adam Seals was back after a one-game absence, and scored nine. 

Pine City will now host Mora in the opening round of the playoffs, a game that will be a rematch of last year’s opening round postseason contest that was won by the Mustangs in Mora. The Dragons just beat Mora 61-51 back on Tuesday, Feb. 21. 

“Looking forward, we have Mora,” said Allen. “We earned a home playoff game, so the QRF has us as the three seed. It’s a rematch of last year’s playoff game; we had a real gritty game there. We know it’s going to be a battle. Cal Wright (of Mora) is a heck of a player; he will be the best basketball player on the floor for either team. Hopefully we can execute at a high level. It’s become a rivalry game. Us and Mora throughout all of our athletics have a rivalry here, so we’re excited to host them on Thursday.”

The Dragons know they can’t come in overconfident just because they beat the Mustangs a few weeks back. Postseason games always bring added intensity, and Pine City will certainly get Mora’s best on Thursday night, March 9. 

“We have to go out there and focus,” said Allen. “They’re talented, they play aggressive and gritty, and we have to match that and exceed them in that game. We’re going to do everything we can to be focused so we can get the win.”

Should the Dragons earn a victory, a second round rematch with Milaca would appear likely. The Wolves beat the Dragons 83-61 in January. Pine City plays in a loaded Section 6AA. Not only is defending State Champion Braham in the top half of the bracket, but two of the top four teams in the state also play in this section between #2 Melrose (26-0) and #4 St. Cloud Cathedral (22-4). The Dragons would need a run of unprecedented proportions to make State this season. Nevertheless, they’re doing great things and appear to be playing their best basketball at the right time.