Russo becomes all-time boys’ scoring leader in Mounder win over Altoona
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ELK MOUND senior Kaden Russo jumped up and hit this two-point shot during a January 5 game in Colfax. Russo netted ten point in the contest . He scored 15 points in a non-conference home game versus Altoona January 2 to become the Elk Mound boys’ all-time leading scorer surpassing Craig Plaszcz, who held the record of 1,139 since 1987. Russo currently has 1,159 points. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
Senior Kaden Russo is the Elk Mound boys’ new all-time leading scorer!
Russo eclipsed the 37-year old record of 1,139 points established by Craig Plaszcz in 1987 after pumping in 15 points to help lead the Mounders to a 65-58 home win over Altoona Tuesday, January 2. With his tally from the Altoona contest coupled with the ten points he scored in last Friday’s 69-55 win in Colfax, Russo currently has 1,159 career points and counting.
He celebrated the milestone with teammates, coaches, fans and his parents, Ryan and Angie Russo, following the victory over Altoona.
In the game, Elk Mound and Altoona were deadlocked at 26 at the intermission but the Mounders outscored the Railroaders, 39-32, in the second half as Russo netted ten of his 15 points in the latter half including two of his three-point makes and fellow senior Sam Wenzel exploded for 14 points after scoring just four in the first 18 minutes of action to finish with a team-leading 18.
Juniors Cale Knutson and Logan Jerome combined for 27 points. Knutson hit four of the Mounders’ threes, two in each half, to finish with 14 points, while Jerome added 13 points. Senior guard Brady Amble finished with five points, a triple and deuce in the final half, to complete Elk Mound’s scoring.
“I thought we did a decent job of pressuring the ball throughout the game. Logan Jerome is becoming a real force on defense for us and he sets the tone each possession with how disruptive he is. He had a lot of deflections tonight and it helped keep them out of a rhythm on offense throughout the game,” said Elk Mound coach Chris Hahn.
“Cale played a great first half. He had a lot of energy and hit a number of shots. In the second half, Sam became much more aggressive and was able to score a number of points in the paint, followed by Kaden hitting a number of shots from the perimeter,” he added.
The Railroaders held a slight 29-24 rebounding edge on the Mounders but Elk Mound finished with just over double the number of steals collecting 11 to five for the visitors.
Logan Jerome led the Mounders in rebounds (eight), steals (four) and assists (four). Russo added five rebounds, three assists and a steal, Knutson had three boards and a pair of steals and Wenzel finished with four rebounds and a two steals and a pair of assists.
Keaton Camastral finished with a game-high 25 points to lead Altoona and had eight rebounds and a trio of assists. Teammate Owen Gunderson added 14 points and four assists for the Railroaders.