The Bemidji Lumberjacks boys basketball team scored its most impressive victory in several seasons Saturday, upsetting Cold Spring Rocori 63-52 at the Fieldhouse.
Rocori came to town with a 17-3 record ranked seventh in the state Class 3A poll.
But Bemidji went ahead to stay midway through the first period and never let up the pressure.
In fact, the result would have been more impressive had the home team not missed 13 of 20 free throws in the final four minutes when it had ample chances to put the game away,
But Rocori never came closer than seven points during that stretch.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We tried a new zone defense today," said Coach Jeff Brown, "and it worked wonders."
Both teams spent much of the day shooting from long range with both employing 2-3 zones.
The Spartans connected seven times from beyond the arc. Bemidji hit only four.
But the Jacks began finding holes in the defense in the second half to get the ball inside for closer range shots.
And their defense was superb from start to finish.
Czar Woods led the way, posting his finest game of the season with 21 points, three better than his previous high of 18 in the Jacks last win over Detroit Lakes.
Ryan Rude overcame a slow start to add 15, 11 coming after the break.
The visitors 6-5 center Scott Willenbring led the losers with 20. Brett Eisenschenk came off the bench to throw in five treys and end with 15.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bemidji rose to 14-7 and Rocori sank to 17-4.
The Jacks host Grand Forks Central Tuesday in their next start and Grand Rapids Saturday afternoon at BSU in another key test.
Bemidji was cool at the start, missing a number of long range shots and saw the Spartans take leads of 6-2 and 10-6.
But a seven point run built around Mitch Brown's trey, sent Bemidji in front 13-10.
Rocori tied it immediately and the two were tied at 20-30 when the Jacks outscored the visitors 9-5 down the stretch to take a 29-25 lead to the half.
Woods had 12 at this point. Willenbring had nine.
The Jacks maintained the four point lead early in the second half before a 10-3 run lifted them to a 43-32 lead. Carey Woods had his first two buckets of the game to launch this spell.
From that point on, the losers came no closer than seven, reaching that point four times, the last at 57-50.
ADVERTISEMENT
Two Rude baskets and two Czar Woods foul shots pushed the margin to 13 before Willenbring ended the game with a final second layup.
The taller Spartans held a 43-38 lead off the boards with Willenbring claiming 11. Rude and Carey Woods paced Bemidji with six.
The Jacks had only 12 turnovers, many coming in the final minutes against a Rocori press.
The Spartans had 17.
The B Team also reached 14-7 with a 57-39 triumph. Bemidji moved ahead 31-19 at the break and never let up.
J.C. Cervenka hit 24, his season's best, to pace the win. Ben Hengel had 10 and six other players scored.
Sam Moriarty led Rocori with 13.
BEMIDJI (63) Rude 7 1-3 2 15; Frost 2 0-0 4 4; Richardson 2 0-0 2 4; Czar Woods 6 7-15 2 21;Carey Woods 2 2-3 1 6; Kroening 1 1-2 9 4; Kane 1 0-0 1 2; Brown 2 0-0 1 5; Rutledge 0 2-2 2 2; Totals: 23 13-26 15 63
ADVERTISEMENT
ROCORI (52) Rausch 4 0-0 4 8; Meyer 0 0-0 1 0; Willenbring 6 6-8 2 20; Hinkemeyer 0 0-0 5 0; Burg 3 3-3 5 0; J. Eisenschenk 0 0-0 4 0; B. Eisenschenk 5 0-0 2 15; Worm 0 0-2 1 0; Totals18 9-13 24 52
Halftime score; Bemidji 29, Rocori 25
Three point field goals; Bemidji 4 (Czar Woods 2, Brown, Kroening);Rocori 7 (B. Eisenschenk 5, Willenbring 2)
Rebounds; Bemidji 38. Rocori 43
Turnovers:Bemidji 12, Rocori 17
Officials Terry Eiter, Darwin Bachman
- - - - -
BEMIDJI B (57) Cervenka 24, Hengel 10, Declusin 7, Fraley 5, Fodness 4, Berndt 3, Hendricks 2, Rutledge 2, Supalla, Baker, Mills, Bellew 0; Totals; 23 9-14 15 57
ADVERTISEMENT
ROCORI B (39) Moriarty 13, Luethmers 7, Hopfer 6. Hansen 4, Hoffke 3, Wensmann 2, Heinen 2, Phillips 2; Totals:16 3-10 13 39
Halftime score; Bemidji 31, Rocori 19
Three point field goals: Bemidji 2, (Berndt, Hengel); Rocori 4 (Moriarty 2, Hopfer, Luethmers)
