Frazee to host TRF on Saturday

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Frazee Hornets fell to 3-7 overall and 1-3 in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference with a pair of losses last week.

On Tuesday night the Hornets fell to Pelican Rapids in conference action by a score of 59-44, before dropping a heart breaker to Staples-Motley on Thursday night by a score of 76-72. 

Head coach Ryan Vigen said the past three games have shown how important it is to get to the free throw line and hit those shots. In their non-conference win against Warroad, the Hornets hit more shots from the free throw line than the Warriors, while they shot more free throws against Pelican Rapids but the shots just didn’t fall like they did the week before. Against Staples-Motley, the Cardinals shot and made more free throws than the Hornets in what was a 76-72 loss.

“I think the boys are starting to understand how much free throws can impact a game,” he said.

This week the Hornets will host Perham on Tuesday night, before traveling to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton on Friday night in a pair of HOL games. On Saturday the Hornets will host Thief River Falls in non-conference action. 

Tuesday

Alex Helmers hit a pair of 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 12 points and seven Hornets reached the scoring column, but it wasn’t enough as the Hornets fell to Pelican Rapids by a score of 59-44. 

Pelican Rapids took a 28-18 lead at halftime, and outscored the Hornets by a 31-26 margin in the second half thanks to a 34-28 advantage in points in the paint and 15 steals that led to 12 points in transition. 

Frazee was unable to mount a comeback in the second half due to 22 turnovers in the game and hitting just 35.6 percent of their shots from the field. 

Helmers led the team offensively with 12 points, while Carter Sonnenberg and Adam Vigen each scored 9 points. Nathan Longfors chipped in with 8 points, while Noah Mekalson, Logan Brekke and Cael Pausch each scored 2 points in the loss. 

Thursday

Frazee led for much of the first half and through the midway point of the final 18 minutes of action, before the Staples-Motley Cardinals found their shot from behind the 3-point line and went 11-15 from the free throw line down to hold off a late Frazee charge on Thursday night. The Cardinals, who trailed 41-38 at halftime, overtook the Hornets midway through the second half and held on for a 76-72 win.

Frazee shot 41.2 percent from the field, but the Cardinals also had a solid night of shooting as they went just under 51 percent from the free. The two teams combined to hit 20 3-pointers and Frazee went 7-11 from the free throw line. The Hornets also forced 21 turnovers and finished with 12 steals in the win. Frazee made the most of those turnovers as they held a 19-9 advantage in the paint and held a 13-6 advantage in transition points. 

Carter Sonnenberg went 10-17 from the field and finished with a double-double by scoring 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds. 

Adam Vigen had a solid night from the field as he scored 22 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Alex Helmers also reached double figures scoring as he finished with 15 points and 5 assists. 

Frazee vs. Staples-Motley

January 11, 2024

POINTS: Asher Blaine 6, Adam Vigen 22, Cael Pausch 1, Alex Helmers 15, Nathan Longfors 5, Carter Sonnenberg 23

ASSISTS: Adam Vigen 6, Cael Pausch 2, Drew Mekalson 1, Alex Helmers 5, Nathan Longfors 4, Carter Sonnenberg 3, Logan Brekke 3

REBOUNDS: Asher Blaine 4, Adam Vigen 4, Cael Pausch 4, Drew Mekalson 3, Alex Helmers 1, Nathan Longfors 1, Carter Sonnenberg 11, Logan Brekke 1

STEALS: Asher Blaine 1, Adam Vigen 4, Alex Helmers 1, Nathan Longfors 2, Carter Sonnenberg 2, Logan Brekke 2

BLOCKS: Carter Sonnenberg 2

Frazee vs. Pelican Rapids

January 9, 2024

POINTS: Adam Vigen 9, Cael Pausch 2, Alex Helmers 12, Nathan Longfors 8, Carter Sonnenberg 9, Noah Mekalson 2, Logan Brekke 2

ASSISTS: Cael Pausch 2, Drew Mekalson 1, Alex Helmers 1, Nathan Longfors 1, Carter Sonnenberg 1, Logan Brekke 1, Ayden Grossman 1

REBOUNDS: Adam Vigen 5, Cael Pausch 7, Drew Mekalson 3, Alex Helmers 3, Nathan Longfors 2, Carter Sonnenberg 6, Noah Mekalson 2, Logan Brekke 3

STEALS: Adam Vigen 3, Cael Pausch 1, Nathan Longfors 1, Carter Sonnenberg 4