Five Pelican Rapids players scored in double figures Monday night as the eighth-ranked Vikings trounced Wadena-Deer Creek 87-48 for their 10th victory in 13 games.
The high-scoring Vikings grabbed a quick 11-0 lead on their home court and never looked back. The Vikes shot 53 percent from the field in the first half as they built a 52-27 halftime bulge.
Luke Halbakken paced Monday's scoring barrage with 17 tallies. Ryan and Casey Bruggeman came up with 17 and 13 points respectively. Ryan Huseby and Devin Schell canned 13 and 10 points each.
Brad Strand's team is averaging 76.3 points a game this season and WDC Head Coach Tom VanErp felt the game was decided in the paint where the Vikes, with a front line going 6-6, 6-7, 6-6, out-pointed the Wolverines 52-22.
"They deserve their high state ranking," VanErp said in praising the Vikings. "They are a very solid basketball team."
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WDC's Ben Birch led all scorers with 22. The Vikes held Evan VanErp and Ryan Redfield to seven points apiece.
WADENA-DEER CREEK (48)
A. VanErp 2, R. Redfield 7, B. Birch 22, E. VanErp 7, M. Paulson 4, M. Laughlin 4, J. Salge 2. Totals: 13/3 13-23 48
PELICAN RAPIDS (87)
D. Schell 10, R. Bruggeman 17, T. Budke 8, C. Bruggeman 13, P. Sorum 2, L. Halbakken 18, N. Sillerud 2, T. Forsgren 5, R. Huseby 12. Totals: 31/4 13-23 87
Wadena-Deer Creek 27 21 -- 48
Pelican Rapids 52 35 -- 87
Fouls: WDC 21; PR 20
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Fouled Out: Redfield (WDC), VanErp (WDC)
WDC 70, New York Mills 42
The Wolverines shook off a poor free throw night at Park Rapids by hitting on 82 percent of their attempts in a victory over the Eagles.
The Wolverines hit on 23 of 28 free throw shots as they improved their home court record to 4-0.
The two clubs were knotted at 17-all in the first half when the Wolverines went on a 21-6 run for a 38-23 lead at the midway point.
Evan VanErp paced the Wolverines with 23 points while Ben Birch scored 17 and Matt Laughlin netted a season-high 10.
The Eagles shot a cool 25 percent from the field. Charlie Peeters paced the Eagles with 15 points while Adam Snelgrove, who entered the game averaging 20 points, was held to 13.
Birch grabbed 13 rebounds as the Wolverines out-boarded the Eagles 44-25.
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NEW YORK MILLS (42)
S. Slieter 2, C. Peeters 15, D. Tumberg 4, D. Gaudette 2, A. Snelgrove 13, C. Pettow 6. Totals: 14 16-21 42
WADENA-DEER CREEK (70)
A. VanErp 3, R. Redfield 5, B. Birch 17, E. VanErp 23, J. Sherman 2, M. Paulson 4, M. Laughlin 10, J. Salge 6. Totals: ??/? 23-28 70
New York Mills 23 19 -- 42
Wadena-Deer Creek 38 32 -- 70
