It was a season opening week of all around impressive basketball for Head Coach Josh Ihrke and the Becker Bulldog boys basketball team, as an efficient offense and tenacious defense led to a perfect 4-0 start to the season.
Thunder
Last Tuesday, the team opened its season at home against a tough Zimmerman Thunder squad and came away with an offensive explosion en route to a 80-56 win.
“After a slow start, we were able to assert ourselves and the game that we wanted to play,” Ihrke said. “We dictated the defensive end of the floor and that helped spur the offensive efficiency.”
Becker outworked the Thunder for a 36-26 halftime lead, which was buoyed by some great defense and timely open floor decisions from the Bulldogs. For the game, Becker had a 28-6 advantage in points off turnovers, as the Thunder gave the ball up 19 times, compared to just seven turnovers for the Bulldogs.
“We had big games out of Julias Hendricks and Nick Berglund, as they pushed the pace in transition and knocked down big shots,” Ihrke added. “Hayden Harmoning had a good game as he facilitated on both ends of the floor and played a quality game for us.”
Becker scoring: Eric Seavert 27, Julias Hendricks 19, Nick Berglund 17, Alex Weiss 4, Kevin Vogl 2, Tristan Pickwall 1, Ryan Bengtson 3, Hayden Harmoning 2, Brady Paumen 2, Kyan Blomquist 3.
Wildcats
Thursday night, Becker again played host, this time to the Waconia Wildcats, a perennial power from the Metro West Conference. In a very hotly contested game, Becker came out on top with a 72-67 win.
“We played at a high level throughout the course of the game,” Ihrke said. “I was pleased with the intensity of defense and valuing possessions in critical moments. We were able to answer any run Waconia put together with a key basket and a little run of ours back at them.”
The Bulldogs were aurally out rebounded in the game, 31-26, but still managed a 32-26 scoring advantage in the paint to secure the win.
Ihrke credited a great home crowd and a big night from Eric Seavert as being a couple of the keys in the win.
“The atmosphere in the gym was at a high level,” Ihrke said. “Eric Seavert shot the ball at a high level... he has been a leader for the team and has had a strong start to the season.”
The Bulldogs had three payers in double figures in the scoring column, as Seavert poured in 25, while Brady Paumen added 15 and Alex Weiss contributed 12.
“Alex Weiss had a strong defensive performance and contributed with some quality offense,” Ihrke added. “Brady Paumen was a matchup that Waconia could not handle. Overall it was a great win for us early in the season. “
Becker scoring: Weiss 12, Berglund 8, Hendricks 6, Harmoning 6, Seavert 25, Paumen 15.
Spartans
Last Saturday, Becker went on the road for the first time and was able to pick up its third straight win, 66-53, over the Rocori Spartans.
It was a contrast in styles, as Rocori scored 36 points in the paint, while Becker ran the floor and picked up 26 points off 21 Spartan turnovers.
Becker led by 14 at half before the two teams played an even second period.
Seavert again paced the scoring with 25 points, while Paumen chipped in 12. Weiss joined them in double figures with 10 points (and led the team in rebounds with 6), while Harmoning added 9. Bengtson (7) and Kyle Vogl (3) rounded out the scoring for Becker.
Tigers
Tuesday night, Becker faced an impressive Delano Tigers team and fell behind by a point, 37-36 at halftime. Halftime was a brief pause for Ihrke to implement some changes to the Bulldogs’ defensive and offensive schemes, and the tweaks paid dividends as his team outscored its opponent 45-31 in the second half for a 81-68 win.
Becker’s depth proved to be the difference maker, as both teams had four scorers in double figures, but the Bulldogs’ supporting cast was better.
Becker scoring: Weiss 6, Berglund 14, Hendricks 7, Harmoning 10, Seavert 17, Paumen 24, Landen Goebel 3.
Becker will put its four game winning streak on the line Tuesday night when the team heads to Willmar for their final game before winter break.
