Career Knights: Mathiowetz reaches 1,000 points, Gangelhoff scores 30 against BLH

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- Sleepy Eye St. Mary's senior Matt Mathiowetz has accomplished a lot in his prep career in three different sports.

On Tuesday, he added another achievement to his standout career, scoring his 1,000th career point as he led the Knights to an 81-56 Tomahawk Conference win over Buffalo Lake-Hector.

Mathiowetz becomes the first St. Mary's player since Judd Walter went over the mark in 1998 and fifth overall boys player to achieve the feat.

"It feels good," Mathiowetz said. "It's a lot of hard work, and my teammates -- I love playing with them -- they're the key to this. Without them, this wouldn't happen."

It was one of Mathiowetz's teammates who nearly stole the show before Mathiowetz put back a miss by Elisha Biesanz with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter for the 1,000th point. Matt Gangelhoff led the Knights with 30 points, including five 3-pointers.

"He just had a great night," St. Mary's coach Peter Roufs said. "He did a good job defensively on that side of the ball and he passed the ball well."

For a while, it looked like Mathiowetz would have to wait until Thursday's home contest with Minnesota Valley Lutheran before he would reach the 1,000-point plateau. He had eight points in the first half, but continued to look for his shot in the second half and scored St. Mary's first seven points in the third quarter to give him 15.

"I wasn't really concerned, I was just taking my open shots as I'd get them like always," Mathiowetz said. "I wasn't making very many in the first half though. I missed a few shots, but in the second half they started to drop a little bit.

"They were manned up and zoned up and switching up all night," Mathiowetz said. "It's tough to get in a rhythm."

BLH made a run in the third with consecutive baskets by Luke Frederickson and another basket from Mitch McCormick made it 55-42.

With St. Mary's leading 62-44 after three quarters, Mathiowetz needed 10 points in the fourth quarter. He hit a pair of free throws and then scored consecutive baskets to bring him within four points.

He then hit two more free throws to bring him to within two, but he missed a floater in the lane. Then, he batted a Mustang court pass away and drove hard to the basket, but missed the layup. He finally settled the nerves of the entire gym with a put-back on Biesanz's steal.

"Towards the end a little bit, coach told me 'you're four points away, let's get it over with," Mathiowetz said. "We got a big game coming up, we don't want to be worrying about it."

"I just told Matt that he's just gotta play his game, and if it's close and we have adequate time in the game, that we're going to go for it and get it out of the way," Roufs said. "Fortunately that happened and we're very happy for him and the great career he's had."

Gangelhoff had eight rebounds to go with his 30 points and Kyle Ludewig scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds. Joey Wahl scored eight for the Knights, and Mathiowetz also contributed seven steals and five assists.

The Knights outrebounded the Mustangs 30-19. Jon DeRock scored 17 for the Mustangs and McCormick scored 16.

St.Mary's (14-1) hosts MVL Thursday. BLH hosts Cedar Mountain/Comfrey Friday.