Two losses this week sent the Becker boys basketball team to a 10-15 record on the season, 6-6 in the Granite Ridge Conference.

 

 

In a rescheduled game from Feb. 2, the Bulldogs hosted the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders Thursday night for Seniors Night and came away with a two-point loss.

 

Jacob Stolzenberg led the Crusaders with 21 points including six three pointers.  He now holds Cathedral's school record for most three pointers made in a season with 92.

 

No other information was made available to the Citizen-Tribune by press time.

 

 

Tuesday, Becker hosted the Zimmerman Thunder and played well — they just couldn’t find a way to stop Zimmerman’s Carter Mceachern.

 

Mceachern hit his first five shots, including one three-pointer to kick start his team in the first half. By halftime, he had 18 points while teammate Ian Carlin had 13. Despite those two sinking just about everything they threw at the net, Becker found themselves down by just one point )36-35) heading into the final frame.

 

Becker’s Sam Ricker was hot from beyond the arch, converting 3-of-3 three-pointers and leading the Bulldogs with 11 points. Cade Callahan was alo shooting well, converting two two-pointers and one three while draining 2-of-3 free throws.

 

The second half was a different story as Mceachern and Carlin guided the Thunder to a 44-26 advantage to cruise to victory. Mceachern ended up with 37 points and Carlin 21.

 

Becker’s student section had a jolly good time getting all over Mceachern just about every time he touched the ball, but Mceachern had the last laugh as he stayed composed and made clutch baskets. He riled the fans up even more where, late in the game, he was fouled and approached the free throw line. Becker students rose from their seats, clapping their hands and shouting “miss, miss miss”.

 

Mceachern stared at the basket, calmly swished his shot and with his arms still in the air, he gave a glance to the students and smiled. He sank his second shot and returned to his end of the floor.

 

That kind of drama led to some physical play as the  Thunder took control and the clock wound down. The referees were well aware of the battles and after a late Becker basket, called a technical foul on a Bulldog player who scored, then stood over a fallen Thunder player and roared. The call was probably for the best to mitigate the emotions.

 

Becker fell to 10-15 and are in the middle of the pack in the GRC at 6-6. Albany leads the conference with a 12-1 record.

 

Becker scoring: Sam Ricker  16, Gabe Lindbom 11, Callahan 11, Nick Mittelsteadt 10, Nick Knute 7, Brandon Gustafson 5 and Carter Hietala 2.

 

Zimmerman scoring: Mceachern 37, Carlin 21, Jeg Schottenbauer 8, Nolan Spence 5, Jake Deal 4 and Jake Hagstrom 4.

 

 

Friday (Mar. 1) the Bulldogs traveled to Little Falls to play their final regular season game of the year against the Flyers.

 

Seeding for the Section 5AAA playoffs commences Saturday with first round play starting Tuesday at the higher seeds home court.