New Ulm High School’s Colton Benson’s 40-point performance in a 96-61 win over Mankato Loyola in the third-place game of the Quick Trip Holiday Tournament was a single-game boys’ basketball school record.
Millais Reinhart holds the NUHS girls’ and school all-time single-game scoring record with 44 points.
Now 6-1 after beating St. Clair and losing to Lake Crystal in the tournament, New Ulm coach Matt Dennis said it was a tournament that saw teams scrape rust in their first game.
“We survived against a struggling St Clair team,” He said. “We were brave and came from behind – dropped 5 points in the second half to win 64-56.”
New Ulm then lost their first game of the season, 63-61 on a last-second shot before putting up 96 points (40 from Benson) in a 96-61 win.
“Jamie Osborne had a great game against Lake Crystal,” Dennis said. Not only did he have 19 points in that game, but he had two big points – one coming at the end of the game to tie it up. the game. [Jimmy] I made a big step this weekend.”
In the win over Loyola, not only did Benson score 40 points, but Osborne had 20, with three other players – Nate Fairley, Colin Horning and Easton Clark adding 9 points each.
“We lost that balanced scoring against Lake Crystal – getting points from other players – we need to get people to put the ball in the basket,” he said. Dennis said. “It was an interesting game because of the way we worked together – we are a selfless team.”
At the moment, Benson, who is so young, has 840 career points.
“I will give our team an overall grade of ‘A’ for the championship,” Dennis said.
EAGLES GIRLS WINS TWICE WINONA TOURNAMENT: The New Ulm Eagles girls’ basketball team improved to 6-2 on the season after wins over Winona (75-61) and Chatfield (67-43) in the Winona Tournament.
“Devin Drakeman had a great weekend,” New Ulm coach Julie Rogers said of the juniors. “She has 31 points, 22 points with 13 and six rebounds. On Saturday, Maddie Packer had the best game of her season. She had four assists and five steals — her defense was really great.”
Rogers said Bryn Nusfold also had a great weekend. “She had eight assists against Wynonna — she found the really open girl going to the basket — and we saw more pressure than we’ve seen. Brynn gets the ball in the middle of that pressure and makes a good pass.”
Rogers said Morgan Hulk had a good weekend with 8 games and 12 points.
“Her coming off the bench and putting up those points makes a difference for us.
“I’m pleased with our overall performance – Ramsey Hope plays defense against players much bigger than her and she keeps her strength against them – she gets key rebounds for us and she blocks the other team’s rebounds. She’s one of those contributors that isn’t recognized enough but she hits Under the bodies with children older than her.
Rogers also praised the game of Kenzie Enter, who is always given the job of guarding other teams’ MVP.
“She and Maddie (Packer) make it difficult for other teams’ guards to run their offense. Kenzie’s contribution is absolutely vital to our success. I’m really happy with the way they played this weekend.
Rogers was also pleased with her team’s overall defense.
“I was really pleased with our defense – we played on Winona State Stadium, which is 10 feet longer than a high school field,” She said. “They played strong full-court defense every game in back-to-back games – it was impressive. We had great communication on the defensive switches.”
Eagles Boys Hockey in Fergus Falls: The New York Eagles hockey team went 1-1-1 in Fergus Falls, tied host Fergus Falls 3-3, lost to a good 6-1 Detroit Lakes 3-2 then beat Fort Frances, Canada 4-2.
Our boys played well there. New Ulm coach Ryan Newman said his team has gone 8-1-1 this season “We’ve seen some good hockey — the Detroit Lakes and Fergus Falls are both ranked in the top 15 in the state right now,” he said. Newman said. “We tied Fergus Falls on the first night and they went on to beat the Detroit Lakes in the championship game 5-1. It just goes to show how good we can be if we show up and play good hockey.”
In a 3-3 tie against the Otters, all of the scoring in the game by both teams came in the first period. All of Fergus Falls’ results came in the power play.
“The penalty shootout wasn’t good, but we also scored a simple goal and a powerful goal,” he said. Newman said. “So it was a game that went down to the special teams.”
Newman said the Eagles’ special teams scored two goals from Fort Francis and two on power play.
And in those three games New Zealand goalkeeper Briar Hoffman was outstanding, stopping 74 of 82 shots.
And before the Eagles played in Fergus Falls, they beat Hutchinson’s (5-3) team, 2-1.
Weather barring, the Eagles host Redwood Valley Tuesday before a road game in Marshall on Thursday. Then they host Minnesota River on Saturday at 4 p.m. Hockey Day New Ulm.