Good hoops on the hilltop

NEW ULM -- If you are looking for some good college basketball to watch, you need not head east 28 miles to Mankato or head to the Twin Cities to watch the Gophers.

All that you really need to do is to head up Center Street here in New Ulm, hang a left, park the car, and watch the Martin Luther College Knights take the court.

If you were one of the many in attendance for Saturday's womens and mens game between the Knights and Mount Senario, you saw two exciting matchups.

First, the Knight women spotted the Fighting Saints a nine-point halftime lead before staging a comeback and falling just short 62-51.

"We did not shoot well in that first half," commented Knights womens head coach Denny Gorsline. "But we staged a comeback, and our goal was to beat them in the last seven minutes. They do not have a lot of depth."

That comeback almost happened.

The Knights recovered from second-half deficits of 29-18 and 33-21 early and a 41-32 Fighting Saint lead with 12 minutes to go in the game to eventually tie the game at 43-43 when they went on an 11-2 run.

Becky Pate, who scored 15 points coming off of the bench, led the Knight charge with five points in that span. Her steal and basket helped MLC keep momentum on their side. Rachel Kramer's block of a Saint shot turned into a basket by Julie Schramm, who later sank two free throws before Pate again hit a jump shot and Sarah Scharf buried two free throws to tie the game at 43.

"They have played 22 games so far (MLC is 6-7 on the season)," said Gorsline. "But this team that I am coaching is the best team that I have had. We have a lot of depth."

Gorsline said that unlike last week when the Knights played Friday and Saturday games, both away, that his team did not come out with intensity following a home loss 64-51 to Northland.

"We thought that we were lucky to be down by only nine points," said Gorsline. "A nine-point lead in college basketball is nothing with the shot clock and the 3-point shot. We shot better in the second half (42 percent)."

Meanwhile, the MLC men faced a tough Mount Senario team that won the UMAC last year and made the NAIA Final Four.

It was a fun game to watch, pitting a taller, quicker Fighting Saints team against a tough-nose MLC squad.

But the Knights jumped out to a 13-8 lead, spearheaded by two power baskets inside from 6-foot-4 freshman Kurt Nielsen of Apple Valley. When Senairo tried to get back into the game, senior Steve Vasold stepped to the front putting back a rebound for a basket, canning a 3-point shot and then hitting on a drive to the basket in a span of 60 seconds. Aaron Bauer, who fans remember from his days at MVL, followed with a basket that gave the Knights a 26-15 lead.

Bauer also had three steals in the game and played all 40 minutes.

If you thought that most college teams put up a lot of 3-point shots it was nothing compared to Senario, who tossed up 30 treys in the game

The Knights played the game without two starters -- 6-foot-2 Dave Meyer and 6-foot-4 Jeff Loberger.

"This game was one where we got rid of some frustration," said mens coach Jim Unke.

The MLC womens and mens teams will play their next home games on Saturday when they host St. Scholastica. Football is done, so it would be a good idea to head up to the college and watch some fine basketball. They do appreciate New Ulm's support.

KNIGHTS AT JOHNSON PARK: The MLC Knights' baseball team will play a doubleheader at Johnson Park on Friday, April 14 when they face Northland. The games will begin at 4 p.m. The New Ulm Baseball Association is picking up the tab for this game in appreciation to MLC head coach Drew Buck.

Special prices on hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and pop for MLC students along with drawings are on the agenda for that game.

EAGLES ON STREAK: New Ulm High School has won three of their last four basketball games following Saturday's 61-47 win over JWP.

"We have been playing very well," said head coach Pat Burmeister.. "The kids have improved a lot. We had a big (South Central Conference) win at Fairmont last week. We are playing more as a team. Tuesday, Mitch (Stueber) came back from his broken hand and that helps with our depth. We are also making better shot selections than we have been earlier in the season."

Burmeister said that it has been, "team basketball that has gotten us winning. Everybody is doing their role. Brent Farasyn had a nice game at USC (22 points, 13 rebounds). The kids got him the ball. Evan Jacobs did a nice job from the point guard spot."

Burmeister said that this team may be one that is still trying to find itself. "I think that we do not know how good we can be if we play together and work hard," he said. "We have not reached our potential yet."

The Eagles host St. James Friday night in a key conference contest. "We beat them (at St. James) on a last-second steal and basket. We are both 4-3 in the (South Central) conference. St. James has good perimeter players and are versatile. We need to keep playing like we have been."

Column by Jim Bastian, Journal sports writer

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