By Amber Hayden
The Colfax Vikings boys’ basketball season got underway last week with road games against Amery and Chippewa Falls McDonell Central, which resulted in a win and a loss for the Viking men.
Colfax’s first game of the season, last Thursday, December 5, ended with a win over Amery by a score of 56-29, but with multiple turnovers the Vikings went into halftime with just a four-point lead and needed to settle down in the season opener.
Colfax’s inability to take care of the ball at Stout on Saturday, December 7, resulted in 21 turnovers which played a big part in a close 38-36 loss to McDonell Central at the Northwest Tipoff Classic. The Macks outscored the Vikings by a single point in each half.
The Vikings, 1-1, will host rival Elk Mound (0-3) this Thursday evening, December 12, for their conference opener and will then welcome Thorp to their home court on Tuesday, December 17 before wrapping up the 2019 portion of their schedule with an away game in Plum City on Friday, December 20.
Amery
First game jitters played a factor in the Vikings game against Amery on Tuesday, December 3, resulting in turnovers and just a four-point lead going into half time.
“We played a pretty sloppy first half,” said head coach Garrett Maas. “I think we had a lot of first game jitters.”
Thankfully, Colfax settle down in the second half and took better care of the basketball while tightening its defense against Amery. The Viking boys outscored the Warriors 33 to 10 in the second half to take a 56-29 win.
Leading the way for Colfax was senior Ed Hydukovich with a total of 17 points, who had eight baskets from inside the paint and was one-of-one at the line.
“We did a much better job in the second half of getting the ball to Ed,” Maas explained. “He was able to finish it at the rim.”
Leading the Amery Warriors was Jason Ott with 13 off of three triples and a pair of doubles.
Cole Seehaver had a strong first game against the Warriors as he put up six doubles for a total of 12 points.
Senior Zach Rindy and junior Hunter Rebak had twelve points between the pair. Rindy had four buckets, and Rebak had two after struggling to stay out of foul trouble, of which he had four.
“Our defense was much improved in the second half,” stated coach Maas. “We held them to four points much of the second half, and allowed ten total.”
Caden Erickson, Tyler Hallquist, and Drew Gibson were the only Vikings to put up a shot from outside the arc to earn three a piece.
Also scoring for Colfax was Noah Albricht, Brady Lawrence, and Noah Heidorn each with two.
Colfax (56)
FG-FT-F-TP: Z. Rindy 4-0-2-8, C. Seehaver 6-0-3-12, N. Albricht 1-0-1-2, C. Erickson 1-0-0-3, T. Hallquist 1-0-2-3, E. Hydukovich 8-1-1-17, B. Lawrence 1-0-0-2, N. Heidorn 1-0-2-2, H. Rebak 2-0-4-4, D. Gibson 1-0-0-3. Totals 26-1-18-56.
Amery (29)
FG-FT-F-TP: L. Julson 1-0-0-2, R. Sowell 1-0-2-2, C. Flanum 1-0-3-2, L. Frederick 1-0-1-2, K. Lepak 1-0-3-2, J. Ott 5-0-2-13, W. Luchtenburg 3-0-2-6. Totals 13-0-13-29.
Colfax……………………………….23 33 – 56
Amery.………………………………19 10 – 29
3-point goals: Colfax: C. Erickson, T. Hallquist, D. Gibson; Amery: J. Ott (3).
McDonell Central
Colfax traveled to Menomonie to participate in the Northwest Tip-Off Classic hosted by UW-Stout, and took a two-point loss to Chippewa Falls McDonell Central by a score of 38-36.
“We didn’t take care of the ball very well,” said coach Maas. “We had 21 turnovers and struggled to score.”
Ed Hydukovich led the Vikings on the court with a total of 15 points as he went four-of-four from the line, had four doubles, and one shot from outside the arc for three.
Earning seven points for Colfax was Cole Seehaver as the senior had two doubles and a triple.
McDonell Central managed to outscore the Vikings by one point in each half. Colfax was down by six in the last 90 seconds and had a good look from the end that resulted in a three that hit the back of the rim.
“I was proud of how hard our kids played, we just need to clean up the mistakes,” Maas stated.
Lead scorer for the Macks was junior Jake Siegenthaler with a total of 12 points with three doubles and a pair of threes.
Noah Heidorn was able to hit the basket from inside the paint, the outside, and a single free-throw to earn six points for the Vikings.
Also scoring for Colfax was Zach Rindy with a double and foul shot, Brady Lawrence with a trey, and Hunter Rebak hit a lone double.
Colfax (36)
FG-FT-F-TP: Z. Rindy 1-1-2-3, C. Seehaver 3-0-0-7, E. Hydukovich 5-4-2-15, B. Lawrence 1-0-0-3, N. Heidorn 2-1-3-6, H. Rebak 1-0-2-2. Totals 13-6-14-36.
McDonell Central (38)
FG-FT-F-TP: L. Hughes 2-0-0-5, J. Siegenthaler 5-0-0-12, J. Bohaty 0-4-2-4, T. Witkowski 0-3-2-3, E. Kressin 3-4-3-10, C. Thronton 1-1-0-4. Totals 11-12-13-38.
Colfax……………………………….19 17 – 36
McDonell Central.………………….20 18 – 38
3-point goals: Colfax: C. Seehaver, E. Hydukovich, N. Heidorn, B. Lawrence; McDonell Central: L. Hughes, J. Siegenthaler (2), C. Thronton.
