Area Boys Basketball: Downie's shot helps PRB down C-I.

BD-Basketball Graph.jpg — Photo Illustration with image by Metro Newspaper Service

By Dispatch staff report

January 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM

CROSBY — Isaiah Downie hit two of his 12 points with less than seven seconds to help the Pine Rive-Backus Tigers to a 76-75 non-conference victory over the Crosby-Ironton Rangers Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Tate Norman led the Tigers with 24 points. Isaiah Aulie scored 14 and Talin Villnow added 10.

It’s the third straight one-point loss for the Rangers and fourth this season. Kyle Spencer led C-I with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Jacob English finished with 18 points and seven rebounds and Ethan Millsop added 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Jack Kovatovich scored 12 points.

Pine River-Backus 37 39 -- 76

Crosby-Ironton 43 32 -- 75

PINE RIVER-BACKUS

Koal Oberfell 9, Tate Norman 24, Talin Villnow 10, Isaiah Aulie 14, Jonathan Shogren 3, Isaiah Downie 12, Dahlton Minion 4. FG 30-63 (48%), FT 6-9 (66%). 3-point 10-23 (38%). Overall: 8-4. Next: hosts Cass Lake-Bena 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

CROSBY-IRONTON

Jack Kovatovich 12, Keyon Wesner 3, Eldon McLean 3, Kyle Spencer 26, Ethan Millsop 13, Jacob English 18. FG 31-63 (49%), FT 6-13 (46%). 3-point 7-12 (58%). Overall: 3-10. Next: at Ogilvie 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Staples-Motley 64, Wadena-Deer Creek 45

WADENA — Avandre Brandt led the Staples-Motley Cardinals with 13 points as they defeated the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines 64-45 Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Noah Larson posted 12 points for the Cardinals and Eli Rutten added 11.

Kobe Snyder tallied 27 points for WDC.

Staples-Motley 25 39 – 64

Wadena-Deer Creek 19 26 – 45

STAPLES-MOTLEY

Ryan Neelan 6, Alex Schultz 9, Conner Kuhns 5, Josiah Burton 2, Peyton Jares 6, Eli Rutten 11, Noah Larson 12, Avandre Brandt 13. FT 4-12 (33%). Overall: 6-4. Next: at Royalton 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

WADENA-DEER CREEK

Connor Dutke 4, Benjamin Kreklau 1, Raleigh Parker 2, Leo Petrowski 8, Kobe Snyder 27, Samuel Church 3. FT 10-13 (76%). Overall: 4-5. Next: hosts Menahga 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Pequot Lakes 77, Milaca 32

PEQUOT LAKES — Mason Lundgren led the Pequot Lakes Patriots with 17 points as they cruised to a 77-32 Granite Ridge Conference victory over the Milaca Wolves Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Pequot’s Harrison Kennen posted 10 points and Tollef Birkeland added nine as 12 different Patriots scored.

Milaca 11 21 – 32

Pequot Lakes 37 40 – 77

MILACA

Anthony Stoothoff 13, Colin Marudas 6, Benjamin Berg 4, Jack Patnode 2, Samuel Haedt 2, Lincoln Burroughs 2, George Roehl 3.

PEQUOT LAKES

Blake Spiczka 4, Ethan Quale 4, Harrison Kennen 10, Brayden Dornseif 5, Mason Lundgren 17, Dylan Pederson 3, Wyatt Huser 6, Tollef Birkeland 9, Gus Bolz-Andolshek 3, Owen Krueger 2, Rock Holubar 2, Luke Laposky 2. FG (%), FT (%). 3-point ( %). Conference: 2-1. Overall: 7-2. Next: hosts Perham 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Pillager 59, Hinckley-Finlayson 33

HINCKLEY — Christian Hooge led the Pillager Huskies with 17 points as they defeated the Hinckley-Finlayson Jaguars 59-33 Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Alex Brandt posted 13 points for Pillager and Gabe Parrish chipped in 11.

Hinckley-Finlayson 16 17 – 33

Pillager 21 38 – 59

HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON

Kieran Tvedt 2, Landon Kirchmeier 3, Isaac Westrum 4, Grady Ausmus 9, Everett Mans 4, Blake Blowers 3, Ty Westrum 8. FT 5-10 (%).

PILLAGER

Justin Anderson 5, Alexander Brandt 13, Earl Brown 3, Grant Grimsley 1, De’Marje Hill, De’Vonte Hill 2, Christian Hooge 17, Elliott Imdieke 5, Gabriel Parrish 11, Aaron Peterson 2. FT 10-15 (67%). Overall: 6-4. Next: hosts Sebeka 7:30 p.m. Thursday Jan. 16.

Foley 65, Pierz 60

FOLEY — Aiden Jones recorded 14 points for the Pierz Pioneers as they fell 65-60 to the Foley Falcons Tuesday, Jan. 14.

PIerz’s Nathan Cekalla and William Stangl added 11 points in the Granite Ridge Conference loss.

Foley 27 38 – 65

Pierz 36 24 – 60

PIERZ

Aiden Jones 14, Kaden Kruschek 6, Nathan Cekalla 11, Nicholas Virnig 6, Jaxsen Hardy 2, Saehr 8, Brandon Solinger 2, William Stangl 11. FG 22-64 (34%), FT 13-22 (59%). 3-point 3-18 (16%). Conference: 1-2. Overall: 4-7. Next: hosts Albany 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17.

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 81, Verndale 63

VERNDALE — Braylin DeLeon and Carter White finished with 18 points for the Verndale Pirates as they lost 81-63 to the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Verndale’s Shawn Schmitz recorded 17 points and 14 rebounds.

WHA 42 39 – 81

Verndale 35 28 – 63

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY

Joseph Bieloh 11, Niko Morrow 15, Parker Brock 10, Isaiah Agard 14, Caleb Crow 4, Blake Watson 7, Gozi Neeland 2, Gavin Oelschlager 12, Joseph Tande 6. FT 5-7 (71%).

VERNDALE

Shawn Schmitz 17, Carter White 18, Joe Elfstrum 2, Bryce Schmitz 3, Kyler Vertina 2, Braylin DeLeon 18, Bryce Pickar 3. FT 11-15 (73%). Overall: 5-6. Next: hosts Henning 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Mora 80, Aitkin 45

AITKIN — Isaac Ausmus tallied 12 points for the Aitkin Gobblers as they lost 80-45 to the Mora Mustangs in a Great River Conference matchup Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Noah Moss added 10 points for the Gobblers.

Mora 37 43 – 80

Aitkin 28 17 – 45

MORA

Cole Schwarzbauer 11, Graham Balmer 5, Gage Braiedy 22, Joshua Heggernes 7, Dawson Smart 7, Caleb Evenson 12, Noah Oberfeld 13, Owen Lind 3.

AITKIN

Isaiah Baker 9, Caleb Smith 9, Tyler Boyd 2, Noah Moss 10, Cole Trotter 3, Isaac Asmus 12. Conference: 1-4. Overall: 2-9. Next: hosts East Central 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Click to go to the prep sports calendars and standings page

By Dispatch staff report

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "staff." Often, the "staff" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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Area Boys Basketball: Downie's shot helps PRB down C-I.

Nine area boys basketball teams were in action Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Pine River-Backus 37 39 -- 76

Crosby-Ironton 43 32 -- 75

PINE RIVER-BACKUS

Koal Oberfell 9, Tate Norman 24, Talin Villnow 10, Isaiah Aulie 14, Jonathan Shogren 3, Isaiah Downie 12, Dahlton Minion 4. FG 30-63 (48%), FT 6-9 (66%). 3-point 10-23 (38%). Overall: 8-4. Next: hosts Cass Lake-Bena 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

CROSBY-IRONTON

Jack Kovatovich 12, Keyon Wesner 3, Eldon McLean 3, Kyle Spencer 26, Ethan Millsop 13, Jacob English 18. FG 31-63 (49%), FT 6-13 (46%). 3-point 7-12 (58%). Overall: 3-10. Next: at Ogilvie 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Staples-Motley 64, Wadena-Deer Creek 45

Staples-Motley 25 39 – 64

Wadena-Deer Creek 19 26 – 45

STAPLES-MOTLEY

Ryan Neelan 6, Alex Schultz 9, Conner Kuhns 5, Josiah Burton 2, Peyton Jares 6, Eli Rutten 11, Noah Larson 12, Avandre Brandt 13. FT 4-12 (33%). Overall: 6-4. Next: at Royalton 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

WADENA-DEER CREEK

Connor Dutke 4, Benjamin Kreklau 1, Raleigh Parker 2, Leo Petrowski 8, Kobe Snyder 27, Samuel Church 3. FT 10-13 (76%). Overall: 4-5. Next: hosts Menahga 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Pequot Lakes 77, Milaca 32

Milaca 11 21 – 32

Pequot Lakes 37 40 – 77

MILACA

Anthony Stoothoff 13, Colin Marudas 6, Benjamin Berg 4, Jack Patnode 2, Samuel Haedt 2, Lincoln Burroughs 2, George Roehl 3.

PEQUOT LAKES

Pillager 59, Hinckley-Finlayson 33

Hinckley-Finlayson 16 17 – 33

Pillager 21 38 – 59

HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON

Kieran Tvedt 2, Landon Kirchmeier 3, Isaac Westrum 4, Grady Ausmus 9, Everett Mans 4, Blake Blowers 3, Ty Westrum 8. FT 5-10 (%).

PILLAGER

Justin Anderson 5, Alexander Brandt 13, Earl Brown 3, Grant Grimsley 1, De’Marje Hill, De’Vonte Hill 2, Christian Hooge 17, Elliott Imdieke 5, Gabriel Parrish 11, Aaron Peterson 2. FT 10-15 (67%). Overall: 6-4. Next: hosts Sebeka 7:30 p.m. Thursday Jan. 16.

Foley 65, Pierz 60

Foley 27 38 – 65

Pierz 36 24 – 60

PIERZ

Aiden Jones 14, Kaden Kruschek 6, Nathan Cekalla 11, Nicholas Virnig 6, Jaxsen Hardy 2, Saehr 8, Brandon Solinger 2, William Stangl 11. FG 22-64 (34%), FT 13-22 (59%). 3-point 3-18 (16%). Conference: 1-2. Overall: 4-7. Next: hosts Albany 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17.

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 81, Verndale 63

WHA 42 39 – 81

Verndale 35 28 – 63

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY

Joseph Bieloh 11, Niko Morrow 15, Parker Brock 10, Isaiah Agard 14, Caleb Crow 4, Blake Watson 7, Gozi Neeland 2, Gavin Oelschlager 12, Joseph Tande 6. FT 5-7 (71%).

VERNDALE

Shawn Schmitz 17, Carter White 18, Joe Elfstrum 2, Bryce Schmitz 3, Kyler Vertina 2, Braylin DeLeon 18, Bryce Pickar 3. FT 11-15 (73%). Overall: 5-6. Next: hosts Henning 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.

Mora 80, Aitkin 45

Mora 37 43 – 80

Aitkin 28 17 – 45

MORA

Cole Schwarzbauer 11, Graham Balmer 5, Gage Braiedy 22, Joshua Heggernes 7, Dawson Smart 7, Caleb Evenson 12, Noah Oberfeld 13, Owen Lind 3.

AITKIN

Isaiah Baker 9, Caleb Smith 9, Tyler Boyd 2, Noah Moss 10, Cole Trotter 3, Isaac Asmus 12. Conference: 1-4. Overall: 2-9. Next: hosts East Central 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16.