The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Ellendale's Anton Geller and Thunder senior Hunter Mitchell race to the sideline to contest a loose ball.
M-P-B junior Josh Moser releases a pass to a teammate on the perimeter. Moser would lead the Thunder with 14 points in their 75-52 loss to the Ellendale Cardinals, finishing their season with a 15-7 mark.
Some basketball players are merely content to take what the opposing defense gives them.
Scott Wagner took whatever he wanted.
The 6'7" Ellendale center, returning All-Stater and District 5 Senior Athlete of the Year was unstoppable down low, missing only two of his 21 shot attempts and rolling to a 41-point night to eliminate the M-P-B Thunder, 75-52, in the quarterfinal round of the Region 3 Boys' Basketball Tournament in Jamestown Monday, March 7.
In fact, Wagner's 19 field goals were three more than the entire M-P-B team's output, who shot 16-for-49 from the floor (32.7 percent) in the loss.
The defeat at the hands of the ninth-ranked and 19-2 Cardinals marred a successful resurgence for the Thunder this season, as they finished with a 15-7 record and District 6 regular season crown.
M-P-B made a 10-0 run at the end of the first half to trim the Ellendale advantage to eight at the half, 34-26, before the southern Cards re-established firm control with 24 points in the third quarter.
Wagner wasn't alone in his offensive display. Junior guard Riley Thorpe kept the Thunder defense from sagging inside too much by scoring a very-efficient 18 points, going 7-for-9 from the floor and hitting three-pointers on three different trips down the floor for Ellendale.
Other statistical leaders for the Cardinals were Anton Geller with seven rebounds, and Jack Bommersbach made five assists and Thorpe added four.
In defeat, junior point guard Josh Moser led the Thunder with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Sawyer Wanzek did all his damage from the arc in scoring 12 points on four treys.
Sophomore Rylen Wick struggled to a 3-for-8 shooting night, and finished with nine points for M-P-B.
Coach Bob Young's group is poised to be one of the Region 3 contenders next season, as they lose just one senior, Hunter Mitchell. All but four of the M-P-B roster players this past year were underclassmen, meaning the Thunder have experience as well as youth on their side.
Region 3 Boys' Basketball
Tournament, Jamestown
Quarterfinals
Ellendale 75, M-P-B 52
M-P-B 8 18 11 15 52
Ellen. 18 16 24 17 75
M-P-B: Josh Moser 14, Sawyer Wanzek 12, Rylen Wick 9, Gage Magstadt 8, Chase Ova 6, Hunter Mitchell 2, Adam McClellan 1. Totals: 16-49 FG, 11-17 FT, 13 fouls. Three-pointers: Wanzek 4, Magstadt 2, Ova 2, Wick.
Ellendale: Scott Wagner 41, Riley Thorpe 18, Levi Reis 7, Jack Bommersbach 5, Anton Geller 2, Cole Sayler 2. Totals: 31-49 FG, 8-15 FT, 18 fouls. Three-pointers: Thorpe 3, Reis, Bommersbach.
M-P-B Additional Stats
Rebounds: Jo. Moser 8, Magstadt 4, Mitchell and Wick 3, McClellan and Jared Moser 1.
Assists: Jo. Moser 4, Mark Thomas 2, Magstadt 1.
Steals: Thomas 2, Mitchell, Ova and Wanzek 1.
Blocks: Jo. Moser 2.
Ellendale Additional Stats
Rebounds: Geller 7, Thorpe 6, Sayler and Wagner 5, Bommersbach 4, Reis 2, Mason Molan and Theo Thurber 1.
Assists: Bommersbach 5, Thorpe 4, Molan 2, Geller and Sayler 1.
Steals: Geller, Reis, Thorpe and Wagner 1.
Blocks: Wagner 2.
