alexandriacardinals

Pretty good movie, too! Last night our Cards boys’ basketball team hosted the Willmar Cardinals. Their Cardinals came in with only one conference loss, against undefeated St. Cloud Apollo, and were in 2nd place in the conference. After a four game winning streak, our Cards were only a half game behind Willmar.

For the first time since I can recall, Willmar did not have a tall team – in fact, this time our Cards had the height advantage (by a tad). So, I was wondering why Willmar had such a good record? The game began – and that last question was answered. Willmar was very quick and applied a blanketing full-court press throughout the whole game. Since our Cards are of a similar nature, it made for a very . . . well, exciting game. When Super Fan Don Nelson made his appearance early in the 2nd half (Gretchen was there the whole time), I told him we were witnessing a possible record-setting game for turnovers – by both teams. Plus, our Cards were hurting themselves by missing their bunnies.

[Otto and Luella Vendell have been going to boys basketball games for at least 60 years!]

Willmar held a 7-point lead after a very low scoring half. After an early run by our Cards, Willmar stretched their lead to 38-28 about half way through the 2nd half. Then something clicked – our Cards starting making shots, had some nice breakouts, and went on a 14-0 run to take a 4-point lead. Despite their two main big guys, Dylan Galligan and Dan Gorghuber, being in foul trouble most of the game (Gorghuber did foul out), the Cards went to a 1-3-1 zone trap (like the girls’ team – I can offer no higher praise), made their free throws down the stretch and are now on a five-game winning streak.

The Card boys’ hockey team ended a 3-game losing by winning 5-2 at Sauk Rapids last night. Tom Schmidt, a sophomore forward, was player of the game with 2 goals and an assist. As we go to press, the mainstream media has yet to report on the girl’s basketball game at Moorhead last night?

In the absence of info on the girls’ game in Moorhead, more photos of the Apollo game from the Trumm files:

But first, an afternoon interlude to Carlos Creek Winery, where the Salty Dogs were performing. Inspired by a crowd that included every member of the Alexandria Golf Club who do not go South for the winter – Annie O’Flynn (keyboard), Bruce Kelly (bass), Erik Schultz (guitar), and Tom Mulder (vocals) performed the Leonard Cohen classic, Hallelujah:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ruthobert#p/a/u/0/YT5PGMkM9Bk

I left the winery at dusk – it was beautifully wintery:

Then it was on to the new Phoenix Event Center (the old Hillside Club) to see Michael Johnson and Dan Mahar perform once again. It was our first visit there, and for many others as well (Ruthie’s crowd estimate was 60-ish), and all expressed admiration for the facility as a venue for such an event (which is why it’s the Event Center?). Michael and Dan performed from 7:45 to 10:30 – to the total delight of the attendees. The guys are not only superb musicians – but comedic, as well!  And performers enjoying themselves really connect with their audience. Much to Ruthie’s delight, Michael sang What’ll I Do?, which, as I recall, he said Irving Berlin wrote in 1928.  Then we had the joy of repairing to our vehicles in the middle of the night in the middle of Minnesota in the middle of January – there’s nothing quite like delivering your heinie to a car seat in 10 below zero temperatures to remind you that you are truly alive.  Oh, and the roads going north of town, to the winery and to the Phoenix, are still an adventure.

http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/81031/publisher_ID/2/

The Tribune did not have a score on last night’s girls’ hockey game at Detroit Lakes as this addition goes to press? Hey, break up the Wild!

Sam Trumm was named player of the game against Apollo last night. Through the wonders of modern technology, I was able to listen to a re-broadcast of the game on the internet this morning (as noted in the previous article, we were otherwise engaged last night). Sam led the Cards in scoring with 20, sister Lauren had 19, and everyone else was nicely balanced between 4 and 9 points. Apollo played a 2-3 zone most of the game, packed way back to defend our inside game. And it worked pretty well because we just aren’t comfortable trying to score from the outside. But as time was winding down, Apollo had to switch to a man-to-man to try close the gap – bad idea, the Cards scored the game’s last 17 points.

The Cards are now 8-0 overall, 6-0 in the conference, with 4 of those conference games road wins. They have two more road games before they come home against Fergus next weekend. The future is looking pretty good as well. The 9th-grade team also won last night, going to 6-0 for season, and Bud Bruzek’s last progeny, “Baby Bruiser” had 12 points. The JV won also and are now 5-2 – Angela Christianson’s sister Amanda (a 9th-grader) had 18 points.

As previously reported, Teddy and Jerry Hockey missed the last hockey game because they were on a snowmobile trip – to Brainerd! I can’t imagine even attempting such a venture. As I recall, they said it’s about a 7-hour trip one-way, overnight up there, and then return back to Alex the next day. Ted said he could have taken 1,000 photos on the trip – driving through beautiful snow-covered evergreens all along the way.

In other news:  Chris Kragenbring reported at the gym this morning that daughter Kalley (No. 10, with mom and sister Quinn (No. 20)) is on crutches.  It took an astute observer, i.e., another hockey mom, to notice that Kalley missed shifts in the 3^rd period of the last game.  Her knee is swollen, and the diagnosis is a bad bruise.  She did not go with the team to Detroit Lakes today but hopes to be ready for the Fergus game next week.

Dan Mahar and Michael Johnson (Bluer Than Blue, That’s That, Give Me Wings) – and several thousands of their close personal friends at SAWA last night. But first, a reminder of upcoming events:

1. Saturday, January 8th, 2011. The Phoenix Event Center. 3904 County Road 42 N.E. (1 mile N. of Alex. Golf Club) Alexandria, MN.
AN ACOUSTIC EVENING WITH MICHAEL JOHNSON AND DAN MAHAR.
Showtime, 7:30 P.M.
Tickets are available at Sixth Ave. Wine and Ale for $20.00 (also at the door on the night of the show) Call 320-759-2277 for information

2. Friday, January 28th, An Evening at the Runestone Museum. From the Museum: “We hope to have most of our exhibits come to life and visit with guests about why they have a place in our Museum or something to that affect. Why they are important in Alexandria history??? Do you know NJ Tranham (sp?)? He was a photographer in 1876 who took many pictures of Main Street plus others at Centennial time. The museum has many new upgrades – new energy efficient lighting, new life to our exhibits (definitely new “life” in and out of the exhibits) and even new carpeting on the floor. Special this year – you can use your ticket to get 20% off all membership levels.”

[Michael and Dan]

[Coupla babes and Dan]

[Coupla babes and Al]

[Dangerous Dan and friend]

[Jo and the Johnsons]

[Shelly and Sara (and Jo and the Johnsons)]

Oh, and the Cardinal girls’ basketball won 63–34 at St. Cloud Apollo last night, raising their record to a gaudy 8-0!  [Details not available at press time.]  They’re on the road for two games next week – then they return home Saturday, the 15th for a big match-up with Fergus, who along with Sartell will battle the Cards for the conference championship.