3/10/22: @St. Cloud Cathedral

Nailbiter game for boys basketball

By Heidi Burger editor@pinecitymn.com

On Thursday, March 10, the Dragons Boys Basketball team traveled to St. Cloud to play St. Cloud Cathedral for the first game of play-offs.  

Senior Cole Waxberg started off the game with a three pointer, assisted by Luke Wilson. Wilson then got a steal and passed it down to senior Dylan Peterson for two points. The Dragons fans were ecstatic and the cheers were loud! The score was 5-0 five minutes into the game. It was a battle on both ends, each team giving all their effort.  

At 11 minutes, the score was tied 11-11. The St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders made five points before the Dragons scored again. Luke Wilson shot and made two three pointers, which put the Dragons ahead by one point. The Dragons then kept the lead until four minutes left in the first half. The Crusaders pulled ahead by two points. But the Dragons fought back and took the lead again. At the half time, the Dragons were ahead by 36-29.

The second half both teams, again, came out ready to play. It was a back and forth game. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, watching as the score went back and forth. With 30 seconds left in the game, Peterson drove to the hoop for an and-one play. He made the lay-up, was fouled and put in his free throw. The score was 58-56, Dragons had the lead. The game was a nail-biter. 

The Crusaders answered back with a three-pointer to take the lead by one with 14 seconds left. Peterson once again drove to the basket, fighting for that basket. He was fouled on the shot.  He went to the line to shoot two free-throws but only put in one to tie the game and go into overtime.

Overtime was like the rest of the game, hard fought and score close. With 10 seconds left, the Dragons were down by three points. The Dragons were forced to foul, which sent the Crusaders to the line. The game would end with the Dragons falling short 71-66. A heartbreaker game to end their season.

When talking to Coach Kyle Allen, he said he still hasn’t recovered or had time to fully think about this loss. He compares it to a death, a funeral. 

“As a team, we’ve been together so long, we talk all the time. And this is the end,” he said. “When it’s over, it’s over, and it always comes so abruptly.”

Coach Allen commented on the game, “We felt really good with our game plan coming in. We felt we executed pretty well for the most part. We had a few little mistakes here and there … but, you know, play-off basketball and we’re supposed to be the underdog. We had to go to their place, and you have to play as close to perfect basketball as possible, but we were just a little off. A few rebounds we missed out on and a few other small opportunities that could’ve changed the tide of the game.”

And so the Dragons Boys season comes to an end. Coach Allen and his staff are really proud of the kids and what they did. These senior boys will be remembered in years to come. 

Coach Allen chuckled as he said, “Fun group, a group that challenged me a bit this year. But overall a great group. The finality of it is just hard. So much goes in as players and coaches that when it’s just done, it can eat you up.”

Scorers for the game were Dylan Peterson (21 points), Kameron Jusczak (17 points),  Luke Wilson (10 points), Cole Waxberg (9 points), Lamont Sydney (6 points), and Jason Thieman (3 points).

Coach Allen and his staff are learning from this season, taking to heart the memories made and looking toward the future of Dragon Boys basketball in the years to come.

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2H8Qt9

V: L (66-71) OT

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Section 6AA Boys Basketball Tickets

3/1/22: @Esko

Pine City Boys Basketball falls to Esko in overtime

By Heidi Burger editor@pinecitymn.com

On Tuesday, March 1, the Pine City Dragon Boys basketball team traveled up to Esko to verse the talented Eskimos. The Eskimos are the number one seed in their section, and favored to go to State. The Dragons knew going into this game they were really going to have to grind. The atmosphere in the gym was exhilarating – with both teams and fans ready for a game.

The game started off with the first two buckets by senior Cole Waxberg.  His first shot was an impressive put-back, showing off his great vertical.  His next basket was an up-and-under drive to the hoop. The Eskimos then put in two points of their own. Waxberg, with an assist from Senior Dylan Peterson, answered right back with a three. The score was 7-2 five minutes into the game. The game remained close, with neither team able to gain a big lead. At the buzzer for the first half, senior Colton Blaisdell put up a baseline three pointer to make the score 46-42, Dragons had the lead.

The second half was a nail biter. Each team took turns taking the lead, but not by much. The score was tied 66-66 with seven minutes left in the game. From here, the Dragons were able to maintain a 1 to 3 point lead, but with about fifteen seconds left, Esko hit a three to tie the game 80-80 and go into overtime.

Coach Kyle Allen recalled, “We really had our chance at the end. We were up by about eight points with two minutes left and we had the opportunity to finish the game. They hit some big shots and forced some big turnovers and forced overtime. In overtime, they were able to pull ahead.”

The Esko Eskimos put in the first two baskets in overtime. Both teams dug deep and the score again was close. However, the Eskimos pulled ahead at the end and the Dragons fell short with the score being 95-86.   Coach Allen said it felt like a play-off game and was a great experience for the boys.

Coach Allen also commented on the well-coached Eskimos. He said, “They’ve got some great athletes there in Esko. Just unbelievable, the turning out of athletes every year. They are top-notch across the board. Makes for a fun game for us.” He and the Esko coach, Derek Anderson, were teammates in college. What an awesome experience to meet once again on the court, but in a different setting. Coach Anderson has been coaching varsity for four years.  He agrees with Coach Allen that their coaching styles are similar; they both like to push the tempo and get up and down the court. When asked about how he remembers Coach Allen, Anderson commented, “I do remember playing with Kyle. He was someone that took me in and made me feel like I was part of the team early on. He was a great leader.” It also had to be asked if he has any memories of Coach Allen. He chuckled and said, “I remember him being someone that always invited me out and made the underclassmen feel included. He always wore the same socks for every game. He would shout ‘locker room’ when it was time to finish pregame warmups. I also remember him saying he could get a ‘great deal’ on pizzas and the deal ended up being not so great...”

As the Dragon Boys Basketball team head to play St. Cloud Cathedral on Thursday, their community wishes them all the best. 

Coach Allen added, “Here, as the playoffs arrive, we’ve been getting ready for this moment for a year or longer. Our guys are ready and itching to play and excited!”

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2H4qd7

V: L (86-95) OT

JV: L

C: L