Bulldogs clinch MCAA 2nd seed

Prologue
Another venture out to see the small schools as I take in Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity at Bethany in their final MCAA South game of the season.  We get a half court shot contest winner at halftime to add to the entertainment.  No Spencer Radtke for Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity.  I add 20 oz of Red Powerade to the beverage counter but cheat on food with an early dinner on the way.

Song of the Day
Hey Bulldog! - The Beatles

Total Beverage Consumption Counter: 1224 ounces  (105 games, 85 days)

• 12 oz 7 Up 
• 20 oz Barq's Root Beer
• 20 oz Mug Root Beer 
• 68 oz Sprite 
• 84 oz Dr Pepper
• 160 oz Red Powerade
• 192 oz Red Gatorade
• 184 oz Coke 
• 484 oz Pepsi

Game Time
Bethany comes out with a 3-2 zone on defense and a deliberate offense.  While that makes the real time part of the game go quickly, the pace on the scoreboard isn't there.   Lester Prairie's other big piece besides Spencer Radtke, Nick Machemehl, puts back a miss and its 6-4 LP/HT at the 11:40 mark.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.   Josh Volness then heating up to try and bust that Bethany zone.  He buries a pair of 3s.  Bethany's top player Sam Hagen buries his 2nd bomb.  12 all at the 5:23 mark.  Then a 12-3 Bulldogs run with a pair of Jordan Radtke buckets, Hagen counters for 3 off of some San Antonio Spurs Hammer action and then Volness with 2 more bombs on his way to 8 in a row to end that run.  All of it with Machemehl sitting the last 7 minutes of the half with 2 fouls.  Hagen keeping up with his 4th bomb but Volness beats the buzzer with his 5th triple of the half.  27-18 Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity up at the half.

Seth Cupersmith back to back jumpers to cut into the lead and Bethany forces a turnover.  33-26 Lester Prairie as Bethany takes the mini-MoKiller timeout with 11:04 left.  Brandon Duffy picks up his 4th foul for LP/HT with 8:54 left and that means somebody else has to guard Hagen.  But Bethany wouldn't get any closer.  Radtke on the offensive glass for 2 free throws.  Machemehl with a pullup and then a layup to push the lead back to 13.  Hagen fouled on a 3 and makes 2 of the 3 to end his scoring line for the night and a Cupersmith jumper get the lead back to 8 but never any danger.  Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity wins 49-35.

Post Game
Bethany falls to 10-13 with the loss.  They finish last in the MCAA South at 2-11.  They'll play PACT at 11 AM Saturday in the 1st game of the MCAA showcase at SW Christian.  Sam Hagen 16 points to lead the Eagles.  But he was off in the 2nd half shooting 1-10 after making 4 3s in the 1st half.  Seth Cupersmith chips in with 14.  2 other players add the other 5.  With Hagen graduating, next year looking pretty bleak.

Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity locks up the second seed in the MCAA South with the win.  They'll play Heritage at 5 PM Saturday at SW Christian in the MCAA Showcase.  Josh Volness with 5 big 3s in the 1st half.  He finishes with 21 points.  Jordan Radtke productive inside as the biggest player on the floor.  He finishes with 12 points.  Off night for Nick Machemehl with only 8 points on 4-16 shooting on my sheet.  The Bulldogs could follow-up that Heritage game with back to back games in a week against Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart.  BLHS is the 7 seed and with a 1st round win would visit LPHT on 2/25 in the 2 vs 7 game in section 2A north.