VanErps see action at Williams Arena
Evan and Andrew VanErp both saw action for Battle Lake Thursday afternoon in the Class A state boys' basketball tournament at Williams Arena in Minneapolis as the Battlers lost a 71-60 cage decision to undefeated Upsala.
The VanErp brothers, who started the season with Wadena-Deer Creek, transferred to Battle Lake in December. The Battlers won the Section 6A championship and qualified for their first state tournament since 2005 by defeating Ada-Borup 56-54 March 15 at the University of Minnesota-Morris.
Evan, a senior, came off the bench and scored seven of his nine game points Thursday as the Battlers rallied from a 36-30 halftime deficit to grab a 45-41 lead with 12:06 remaining in the game. The score was tied at 49-all when the Cardinals 13-2 scoring tear that sealed the win.
Andrew, a freshman, received a minute of playing time but did not score for the Battlers.
The Battlers finished their season with a 22-6 record.
UPSALA 71, BATTLE LAKE 60
BATTLE LAKE (22-6)
Marso, Dan 5-13 0-0 14; Ukkelberg, Tony 4-8 2-3 10; VanErp, Petric 4-11 2-2
10; VanErp, Evan 4-8 0-0 9; Ukkelberg, Tyler 4-9 0-0 8; Trosdahl, Nick 2-4
0-0 4; Beichner, Brock 1-2 0-0 3; Rogness, Micah 1-2 0-0 2; Klintworth, Kyle
0-0 0-0 0; VanErp, Andrew 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-57 4-5 60.
UPSALA (31-0)
Pekarek, Christian 9-22 5-9 25; Wolf, Garrett 6-9 3-3 15; Zimmerman, Dylan
5-5 2-4 13; Smieja, Avery 3-6 3-7 9; Abeler, Matt 2-5 0-0 5; Frieler, Eric
1-4 1-2 4; Soltis, Kyle 0-0 0-0 0; Frieler, Nick 0-2 0-0 0; Halverson,
Jeffery 0-0 0-0 0; Nelson, Andy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 14-25 71.
Battle Lake................... 30 30 - 60
Upsala........................ 36 35 - 71
3-point goals--Battle Lake 6-15 (Marso, Dan 4-7; Beichner, Brock 1-2;
VanErp, Evan 1-1; Ukkelberg, Tyler 0-1; VanErp, Petric 0-3; Ukkelberg, Tony
0-1), Upsala 5-12 (Pekarek, Christian 2-4; Zimmerman, Dylan 1-1; Frieler,
Eric 1-4; Abeler, Matt 1-2; Frieler, Nick 0-1). Fouled out--Battle
Lake-None, Upsala-None. Rebounds--Battle Lake 29 (Ukkelberg, Tyler 8),
Upsala 38 (Smieja, Avery 12). Assists--Battle Lake 18 (Ukkelberg, Tyler 7),
Upsala 9 (Frieler, Eric 3). Total fouls--Battle Lake 19, Upsala 10.
Technical fouls--Battle Lake-None, Upsala-None.