Workout Ideas with Coach Lahti

 What: Basketball Workout Ideas (Strength, Agility, Explosiveness) 

When: Thursday 3/25 (5PM)

With: Coach Jeff Lahti

Who: All current 7th-11th grade basketball players are invited

How: Google Meet on Basketball Google Classroom

2020-2021: Net Cutting Ceremony

 

3/12/21: @Isle

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2FCcL7

JV: W

V: W (85-52)

Boys win 4th straight conference title

Staff report

The Dragons boys varsity basketball squad lost to a strong Milaca squad on Thursday, but came back the next night to beat Isle and claim the conference championship for the fourth straight year in a row. 

Pine City 85, Isle 52

The Dragons didn’t have much time to think about their loss. The following night they were playing a road game in Isle for a chance to earn a piece of the conference title with a win. 

“We came out firing on all cylinders and really looked good on both ends of the court,” Allen said. “The boys were focusing on what is important in our system and looked rejuvenated on the court.” 

The team got back to their hot shooting, hitting 44% from the three-point line. 

 “In our estimation, shooting has been an Achilles heel for a lot of teams this year with the weird offseason,” Allen said. “It was nice to see all our hard work that has gone into our shooting pay off to a higher degree. Shooting is mostly mental; we know what we are capable of doing. We have to focus on the correct aspect of shooting and let our work show for itself when the games come.”

He said that the team played with a sense of purpose, playing for the championship and a possible home playoff game. “Those are two of our goals coming into every year, and I was proud that we were able to check those off the list.”

Allen noted that the Dragons rebounded well as a team. Kameron Jusczak led the Dragons with seven. Jason Thieman had five while Luke Wilson, Colton Blaisdell, Cole Waxberg, and Dylan Petersen each had four. Jusczak paced the squad on offense with six assists followed by Petersen with five and Wilson with four. Wilson and Jusczak each had three steals as well. Wilson and Waxberg each took a charge in the game.

“As I reflect on the last year, the last four, and the last 10, it has been quite a journey,” Allen said. “I am proud of what we have been able to build in terms of our program in both purpose and goals. Winning four straight conference titles is a great feat. We hope to be able to enter the playoffs on a good note and give ourselves a chance even though we find ourselves in maybe the toughest section in the state. 

“Every year brings its own set of obstacles to overcome and this year has been no different,” he said. “I am so proud of how our boys have continued to fight through adversity and stay strong on our yearly goals. They are a great group of kids.”

2020-2021 Conference Title T-Shirt

Buy your 2020-2021 on the following link:

https://forms.gle/LiiYdcQV7Zn8LxkL8

Orders due by: 3/16/21

3/11/21: @Milaca

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2FCDQ0

C: L
JV: L

Varsity: L (84-67)

Boys win 4th straight conference title

Staff report

The Dragons boys varsity basketball squad lost to a strong Milaca squad on Thursday, but came back the next night to beat Isle and claim the conference championship for the fourth straight year in a row. 

Milaca 84, Pine City 67

Coach Kyle Allen said his team shot the ball well to start the game, and throughout most of the first half. 

“While we only found ourselves down by one at half after a great heads up play by Luke Wilson and Dylan Petersen to end the half with a buzzer beating bucket, we had not played to our potential to that point,” Allen said. 

He said that some bad habits sneaked into the Dragons play in the second half. 

“We have shown that when we are focused on the correct parts of the game, we can play with anyone,” Allen said. “When we lose sight of those things, sometimes we don’t have enough to overcome some of our shortcomings. I thought Thursday was an example of that.”

He described Milaca as “a big and physical team” coming off three straight wins. 

“They play a tough Granite Ridge Conference schedule and are constantly challenged throughout the season,” he said. “They have a new staff on board and they seem to be finding their stride and identity. The good news is we showed some flashes of good throughout the game, and the parts we need to be better at can be fixed quickly.”

Kameron Jusczak led the Dragons in rebounds with eight followed by Caleb Fromm with seven. Luke Wilson continued to be an engine on the offensive end, leading the team with five assists followed by Fromm with four. Fromm and Dylan Petersen each took a charge in the game. 

JV/V: Live-Streaming (3/8 - 3/12)

Thursday @Milaca: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUH3nNYVXmHvdbZDLjSsp9g

Friday @Isle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3UlS2oAyH8

3/12: @Isle (Attendance)

Please check your email and/or google classroom stream for information regarding attendance for @Isle on Friday 3/12/21.

3/11: @Milaca (Attendance)

Please check your email and/or google classroom stream for information regarding attendance for @Milaca on Thursday 3/11/21.

3/6/21: Rush City

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2FAsAq

C: L

JV: L

Varsity: W (71-62)

Dragon boys meet the moment, get shot at conference title

Staff report 

Coach Kyle Allen said that going into this week, the Dragon boys basketball squad understood that it was now or never. 

“We knew we would have to have as close to a perfect week as possible to be able to put ourselves in a position to achieve one of our goals: earn a conference title,” Allen said.

And that is exactly what they did, earning three victories to go on and take a shot at that title this weekend.

Pine City 71, Rush City 62

The team had to come back and face Rush City the next day. 

“With the quick turnaround, we were a bit nervous as a coaching staff,” Allen said. “We play a very high paced and high intensity game where players need time to recover to be able to perform again.”

The team was  up 19 points early, but after a bit of foul trouble they found themselves with a three point lead at halftime. 

The second half was a back and forth battle until the end. Rush took a one-point lead off of a turnover, but Petersen came down and hit a three to put the Dragons up two again. The Pine City squad never relinquished the lead again.

Kameron Jusczak again led the team on the boards with 12, followed by Jason Thieman with eight, and Petersen and Lamont Sydney with six each. Luke Wilson paced the Dragon on offense with six assists while Cole Waxberg and Caleb Fromm led us in steals with five and four respectively. 

“We really had our backs against the wall coming into this week, but I couldn’t be prouder of how we ended the week,” Allen said. “The obstacles and adversities that this team has overcome, both in this week and this year, will be long remembered.”

With these three wins, Dragons have put themselves in the running to have a piece of the conference title. 

“We will need to finish the process on Friday at Isle,” Allen said. “But I am proud that we have this opportunity.

3/5/21: East Central

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2FAegt

C: W

JV: W

Varsity: W (73-55)

Dragon boys meet the moment, get shot at conference title

Staff report 

Coach Kyle Allen said that going into this week, the Dragon boys basketball squad understood that it was now or never. 

“We knew we would have to have as close to a perfect week as possible to be able to put ourselves in a position to achieve one of our goals: earn a conference title,” Allen said.

And that is exactly what they did, earning three victories to go on and take a shot at that title this weekend.

Pine City 73, East Central 55

Allen noted that the Dragons walked out of East Central earlier this year with a loss. 

“They are good, really good, ranked in the top 10 in the state for 1A,” he said.  “They had taken revenge on Rush City the night before, avenging a loss (their only loss coming into the game) earlier in the season. We knew that it would be a tough task for us to avenge our own loss from earlier in the year.”

The Dragons got out to a quick lead, 13-0, to start the game. Allen said he was proud of how the boys came through with great excitement and execution. 

However, East Central came roaring back before the end of the half and cut that lead to just three points. 

“Most of the second half was a back and forth battle,” Allen said. “We were never able to get more than a five point lead until we were able to pull away at the end and finish with free throws from both Kameron Jusczak and Caleb Fromm.”

Jusczak led the Dragons in both points (31) and rebounds (15). 

“He was unstoppable for most of the game,” Allen said. “His leadership on the boards continued to shine bright.” 

Jusczak was followed on the boards by Petersen with seven. Petersen took the lone charge on the night.