Sub-section, section titles move Wolves to state
Posted 3/21/03

Milaca advanced to the state basketball tournament for the first time after trimming Melrose 57-36 in the Section 6AA boys championship game Friday night in front of a boisterous crowd at St. Cloud State Universityís Halenbeck Hall.

The victory moved the Wolves into a first-round game in the Class AA State Boys Basketball Tournament Tuesday night against Section 5AA champion Litchfield at Halenbeck Hall.

Litchfield, which stopped Henry Sibley 63-39 in the Section 5AA title game Friday night at Halenbeck Hall, won the Class AA state title in 2000 and 2002. The Dragons, 27-2, are ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Class AA state basketball poll.

"We have our work cut out for us but we look forward to the challenge," said Milaca Coach Jeff Meyer prior to Tuesdayís game. "Litchfield is a great team with a lot of tournament experience. Itís well coached and fundamentally sound."

Milaca advanced to the 6AA title game by topping Foley 66-59 in overtime in the Sub-Section 18 championship game Tuesday, March 11, at Mora.

The Wolves carried a 20-6 record into the state tournament.

The winner of Tuesdayís Milaca-Litchfield game is scheduled to meet the winner of Tuesdayís quarter-final game between Section 1AA champion Zumbrota-Mazeppa (26-3) and Section 2AA winner St. James (25-2). That semifinal game is Friday at 7 p.m. at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

In other Class AA quarter-final games Tuesday, Pipestone Area (24-1) of Section 3AA met Section 4AA winner DeLaSalle (21-8) and Section 7AA champion Esko (28-2) faced Section 8AA winner Pelican Rapids (24-4).

The Class AA title game is Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Target Center, with the third-place game at noon Saturday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

"The tournament atmosphere has been just great for the team and the community," said Meyer.

Wolves took charge

early, never let up

against Melrose

Great defense. Great offense.

The Wolves had both in rolling past Sub-Section 19 winner Melrose in the Section 6AA finals.

After the Dutchmen took an early lead, Milaca posted an 11-2 scoring edge over the final four minutes of the first quarter to take a 17-9 lead into the second quarter.

Sophomore guard Adam Ruisí off-balance shot from 16 feet just ahead of the buzzer accounted for Milacaís last two points of the quarter and brought Milacaís huge fan following to its feet.

The Wolves dominated the second quarter 13-4 and carried a 30-13 lead into halftime.

Eric Bergstrom, Milacaís 6-foot-10 senior center, found himself on the receiving end of several sharp passes from his teammates in the first half and devastated the Dutchmen with short jump shots and close-in baskets.

Bergstrom scored 10 points in the first quarter and six in the second as he personally outscored Melrose 16-13.

"I think that Ericís early success showed the other players that the ball would go through the hoop at Halenbeck Hall just like anywhere else," said Meyer. "We looked for him and when he got the ball he took it to the hoop."

"When Bergstrom got the ball inside we just didnít have an answer for him," said veteran Melrose Coach Daryl Oja. "Milaca played very well and itís tough to come back when that happens."

"We played with a lot of determination and intensity in the first half and we didnít want to let up in the second half," said Meyer.

The Wolves didnít. They took a 42-27 lead into the fourth quarter, then outscored the Dutchmen 15-9 over the final eight minutes.

Bergstrom, who made 10 of 14 shots from the field, led Milaca with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Tim Veurink, who sank a trio of three-pointers, added 17 points and six assists. And, Ruis finished with eight points.

Milaca, which had a 31-23 edge in rebounds, shot 50 percent from the field (21-for-42) while Melrose shot 32.6 percent (14-43).

Milaca had just 10 turnovers against a strong defensive team while Melrose had 13 turnovers.

"It was our best overall game of the season," said Meyer.

Melrose finished with an 18-9 record.

Wolves held off

Falcons for title

Milaca defeated Foley in two hard-fought games during the regular season.

The Wolvesí third victory over the Falcons was even tougher.

Foley, which trimmed top-seeded Hinckley-Finlayson in the semifinals, took a 22-20 halftime lead. The game was tied six times over the first two quarters.

A three-point basket by senior forward Jon Matthews and Bergstromís jumper from close range pushed Milaca to a 40-36 edge heading into the fourth quarter.

A one-handed bank shot by sophomore guard Jon Moorlag gave Milaca a 49-40 lead with 4:33 left to play.

But, the Falcons werenít about to give up.

With less than one second left, Foley senior guard Bryan Moshier was fouled as he put up a desperation three-point shot.

Moshier, with a packed gymnasium watching, sank all three of the free throws he was awarded, knotting the score at 52-52 and sending it into a four-minute overtime.

Milaca, with Veurink scoring seven points, outscored Foley 14-7 in the extra session.

Bergstrom finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots while Veurink had 14 points and eight assists and Matthews had 11 points and three rebounds.

Milaca shot 48 percent (24-50) from the field but was cold at the free-throw line (13-28). Foley shot 39.2 percent from the field (20-51) while making 18 of 30 free throws.

Veurink, Bergstrom and Matthews were named to the all-sub-section team.