It all began on a small town basketball court 29 years ago . . .
Saturday night the Cardinals hosted Bemidji in a girl/boy basketball doubleheader. The girls’ game was particularly significant in that Coach Wendy Kohler was going for her 500th career victory. So, I began the evening by being late, because . . . our morning meeting ran long, which meant we were late getting the winery for Anthony Miltich, which meant we were late leaving the winery. Anyway, I always wanted to just video Kohler, particularly in tight games when she’s whistling and shouting instructions. This game unfortunately (in that regard) was “over” by the time I got there a little before halftime . . .
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A couple minutes at the start of the 2nd half:
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[We began, as all things must, with point guard Macy Hatlestad (11) bringing the ball up court.]
[Then we have the Cards defensive pressure. The night before the Cards had avenged their opening season loss by beating Detroit Lakes at their place, 54 – 41, with a superior defensive performance. Though we were physically and emotionally spent from the Laker game, the Lumberjacks are in down year and didn’t offer much resistance.]
[Macy careens out of bounds after a rebound. Emma Ziegler (1) and Carly Dropik (33) keep the Lumberjacks at bay.]
[Hoping to be the point guard for Kohler’s 800th win! 🙂 ]
[Kendall Kohler (3) looked a little pooped.]
[Kiyana Miller (21), sophomore guard, dribbles right . . .]
[Then changes directions and goes left. ‘U’ turns are legal in basketball, no signalling necessary.]
[Despite a big early lead, Kohler was still into it!]
[Is that a ref look? 😉 ]
[And here comes Macy again.]
[Carly is our defensive killer bee.]
[What am I going to say after the game?]
[Game over, but it’s just the halftime score.]
[Known to have a family connection in the following game . . . ]
[As you can see (well, maybe), a chance to play a lot of players. In my excitement (?), I must have loosened the camera lens just enough to un-focus it. I lost several of the following “500 victories photos” because of that – drat!]
[Fortunately, I got the focus back here as Kohler addressed the assembled masses.]
Her speech, on loan from the Voice of Alexandria:
[The celebration . . . well, you probably figured that out already.]
[The “official” Cub Reporter, Lake Darling Blog, photos.]
[Then the boys came out to play, Joe Gorghuber (5) on the tap.]
[Ben Corson (13) and Kris Setterstrom (3), senior guards. Kris had a particularly strong game offensively as he really pushed for his shot.]
[While all appear headed downcourt, Corson heads up court in defiance of the majority traffic.]
[Gorghuber]
[Alec Wensman (55), see family connection photo.]
[Setterstrom keeping on eye on the Lumberjack’s No. 3.]
[And Tyler Owen (35) completes our “big guy” triumvirate at the line.]
[This game was all but over at the half as well. I was particularly impressed with the way the Cards distributed (i.e., shared) the ball. Lots of terrific assists, particularly by Jaran Roste (31), sophomore “point forward”?]
[Coach Kohler with Kendra Holm, emeritus team manager.]
[Grant Toivonen (1) and Wensman on offense.]
[Travis Krueger (25) from the corner. Travis had a hot hand throughout the game.]
[I do believe I caught a Wensman swat! I think he must have had 5 or 6 blocks in the game, including two on one sequence.]
[Setterstrom on the point.]
[Choir Director Steve Dietz on the PA; Athletic Director Dave Hartmann on the social media device.]
[Yeah, we’re happy!]
[Toivonen]
[Keueger]
[Gorghuber]
[Wensman]
[“The Competition”]
[The win!]
The penalty for censoring what your children may be taught is children who are no brighter than you. ~ Frank A. Clark
Up next: An afternoon with Josie
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