ALEXANDRIA – The Alexandria young boys basketball group entered Tuesday’s residence video game versus Rocori with a complete head of vapor after defeating St. Cloud Technology, the protecting Area 8AAA champ, 81-66 on Friday, Dec. 16.
The train didn’t quit on Tuesday as Alexandria combated Rocori early in its 68-39 win.
“Coming off the gain St. Cloud Technology, we understood they (Rocori) were mosting likely to offer us every little thing and also offer us their best effort,” Alexandria elderly Trevin Hoepner stated. “We simply did what we required to do. We brought out power and also obtained the energy.”
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Mirror Press
Rocori led 3-2 in the very first minutes of the video game, however Alexandria rapidly confiscated control many thanks to its power. Alexandria led 12-7 with 11:43 of the very first, and also then, junior Grayson Grove had 10 of Alexandria’s 12 factors.
The Cardinals expanded their result in 35-17 at halftime and also never ever allow their foot off the gas for the remainder of the video game.
“I was truly pleased and also urged with simply our power in which we had fun with,” Alexandria head instructor Forrest Witt stated.
Grove led all markers with 22 factors, while junior Brayln Steffensmeier had 10 factors.
Sam Stuve / Alexandria Mirror press
Junior Jack Boos led the Spartans in racking up with 11, while elderly Jack Spanler had 10 factors.
Alexandria held Rocori (3-2) to its lowest-scoring total amount of the period.
“They’re an actually excellent group,” Witt stated of Rocori. “Undoubtedly, this rating was a little bit unbalanced, however I assume our protection had a whole lot to do with that. That truly simply begins with power, playing hard, and also recognizing jobs.”
Alexandria and also Rocori played each various other 3 times in the 2021-22 period, with Alexandria winning a routine period video game in Cold Springtime, 65-62, a routine period video game in Alexandria, 63-51, and also an Area 8AAA semifinal video game, 69-54.
Tuesday’s win is Alexandria’s 4th straight, and also all 4 of its victories have actually been made a decision by definitive margins of success: 15, 29, 32, and also 41. All 4 of those victories have actually come versus Area 8AAA challengers.
“We started a little sluggish in our very first video game of the period, however we’ve really come together as a team,” Hoepner said. “We’ve worked hard, and we’ve got a great JV team that has gotten multiple wins. They have given us a great look at practice, day in and day out. I think that prepares us very well for these games.”
Alexandria’s first game of the season was an 82-78 loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s (currently 4-0) on Dec. 2, and since then, Alexandria has rattled off four straight wins against Section 8AAA/Central Lakes Conference opponents.
“I think it starts with our upperclassmen that have set the tone,” Witt said. “For example, when you hold a team with very good guards who score the ball to 39 points, you are going to give yourself the chance to win on any given night. While the shooting sometimes isn’t there for whatever reason, your defense is always a constant and will give you a chance to win on a given night.”
In addition to Grove’s 22 points and Steffensmeier’s 10, senior Jaxon Schoenrock had nine points, while Hoepner had six.
“Trevin and Jaxon, in different roles, have been very good for us,” Witt said. “Trevin has presented great defensive effort and energy. Jaxon has had great energy defensively as well and also has a little bit more of an offensive role for us, scoring-wise. They both play great roles for us.”
Schoenrock and Hoepner are two of the four seniors on the varsity roster, along with Bryce Paffrath and Jacob Ballcome.
“We knew having a group of different guys playing together, the gelling is going to take a little bit of time,” Witt said. “One of the key things for us is the upperclassmen, recognizing what those younger guys can bring to our team and also, that mutual respect of the younger guys, learning from the older guys and because they have actually been through it before. So I like how it’s shaping out. I think that there’s good chemistry that’s developing, and that’s going to continue to need to be there for us to evolve as we want to as a group.”
Moving forward for the Cardinals, they are aiming to keep up their intensity and energy in future games.
“One thing that I know we like to do is keep going no matter what,” Hoepner stated. “Even if we’re up by a lot, we just keep going. We play it like it’s a close game because we want everybody to give us their best shot. And we’re going to do that, and also we’re going to give them our best shot as well.”
The Cardinals are scheduled to be back on their home court on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. versus Hutchinson.
Rocori – 17 22 – 39
Alexandria – 35 33 – 68
ROCORI SCORING – Jack Boos – 11 factors; Thad Lieser- 6 factors; Jack Spanler- 10 factors; Andy Pedroza- 3 points; Give Tylutki- 2 points; Adam Langer – 2 points; Tyler Hibbison – 5 points
ALEXANDRIA RATING – Trevin Hoepner – 6 factors; Grayson Grove – 22 factors; Chase Thompson – 4 factors; Jaxon Schoenrock – 9 factors; Bralyn Steffensmeier – 10 factors; Jacob Ballcome – 6 factors; Walker Hennen – 2 factors; Talan Witt – 3 factors; Mason Witt – 5 factors; Dawson Roderick – 3 factors
