The Becker Bulldog boys basketball team hosted a veteran St. Cloud Cathedral team last Friday, with the Bulldogs cruising to a 79-60 lead.

“Our goal coming into the game was to enjoy the moment and the experience of the privilege to play High School Basketball and set the tone defensively,” said Coach Cory Nuest. 

“We win on Defense” has been one of this year’s program standards, and the Bulldogs did precisely that, racing out to a 22–7 lead.

Isiah Boyer and Nathan Weiss set the tone early on offense, while the team played a connected brand of defense.

“They didn’t have an answer for Isiah,” Nuest added. “His decision-making was on point — attacking when he should attack, finishing strong, hitting outside shots when they were there, and finding the open teammate when the defense collapsed. He was phenomenal.”

The Crusaders didn’t quit, as they trimmed the lead to 12 late in the first half before Nolan Burau (loose ball save) and Troy Nuest (steal and acrobatic layup) teamed up for an important part of a sequence that sparked a decisive 17-0 Becker run.  

Boyer then drilled a buzzer-beater to send the Bulldogs into halftime up 49–22.

The second half was a complete team effort, as Weiss continued his strong play on both ends of the court, while Nuest and Boyer played scrappy defense against the Crusader back court.  Nuest also had praise for the Bulldogs’ ball-screen coverage.

Senior Bryce Paumen had an important contribution, hitting three consecutive post shots to help the Bulldogs push the lead back to 20 points.  Also noted for their contributions were Saul Kreft, Burau and Owen Reinking.

“They are doing so many of the things that win games — talking on defense, bringing intensity, rebounding, screening, spacing, and cutting,” Nuest said.  “They’re a huge part of our success.”

Stat line: Weiss 21 pts, eight rebounds, four assists; Paumen 18 pts, 11 rebounds, four assists; Nuest 16 pts, four assists, four rebounds, five steals; Boyer 22 pts, four assists, six rebounds; Kreft three rebounds; Burau five rebounds, two blocks.

Becker’s Tuesday evening game was postponed until Thursday due to inclement weather.  Complete details in next week’s Patriot.