By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Frazee Hornets fell to 2-8 on the season with a tough 84-60 loss to Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal on Thursday night. Despite the double digit loss, the Hornets and Titans played neck-and-neck throughout much of the first half, before NCE-UH pulled away near the end of the opening 18 minutes of action to take a 48-32 lead at halftime. 

The two teams once again played basket-for-basket with one another in the second half before the Titans once again went on a late run to come away with the 84-60 non-conference win over Frazee. 

Despite the loss, head coach Ryan Vigen said he was proud of how the Hornets overcame illness and never gave up in the game.

“I was proud how some of the boys battled through illness tonight.  Hats off to NCE-UH, they shot the ball extremely well and we didn’t,” he said.

The Titans shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down 10-26 shots from behind the 3-point line. Both teams knocked down 12 free throws in the game, but Frazee went just 2-24 from behind the 3-point line and shot just 34 percent from the floor, which proved to be the difference in an otherwise close game on the stat sheet.

The Hornets were led offensively by Noah Mekalson who went an impressive 10-18 from the floor to finish with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Adam Vigen finished with a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Ayden Grossman chipped in with nine points, Conner Erickson scored eight, Ben Reierson and Dawson Lyman reached scored four and Paul Sharp rounded out the scoring with two points in the loss. 

This week the Hornets will have just one game on their schedule as they travel to Park Rapids Area on Friday night as part of a boys-girls doubleheader. 

POINTS: Benjamin Reierson 4, Adam Vigen 10, Paul Sharp 2, Noah Mekalson 23, Ayden Grossman 9, Dawson Lyman 4, Conner Erickson 8

ASSISTS: Benjamin Reierson 2, Adam Vigen 3, Ayden Grossman 4, Dawson Lyman 2

REBOUNDS: Benjamin Reierson 4, Adam Vigen 10, Noah Mekalson 8, Ayden Grossman 6, Dawson Lyman 1, Conner Erickson 3

STEALS: Benjamin Reierson 1, Adam Vigen 5, Paul Sharp 1, Conner Erickson 1