Wolverines hold off Lions

Published 10:09 pm Monday, January 5, 2015

Marshal Hall of Glenville-Emmons drives to the basket in transition Monday against Schaeffer Academy at Glenville. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Marshal Hall of Glenville-Emmons drives to the basket in transition Monday against Schaeffer Academy at Glenville. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

GLENVILLE — The Wolverines overcame a momentum-shifting 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer with a barrage of their own from beyond the arc.

Derek Van Ryswyk was 7-of-14 from 3-point-range on Monday to lead the Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball team to a 69-59 home win over Schaeffer Academy.

“It’s a good system we have,” Van Ryswyk said. “We can drive the lane and shoot or kick it out and get open looks.”

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Van Ryswyk posted a team-high 23 points along with nine rebounds, three blocks, a steal and an assist. Although he’s a sophomore, Wolverines coach Jared Matson said Van Ryswyk has grown into a leadership role.

“He’s really stepped up in that aspect, and we’ve also worked on his shot selection,” Matson said. “He’s learned when to take 3s and when to ease back and work it in a little more. That’s really helped us.”

Glenville-Emmons had four players score in double figures, and three were sophomores: Carter Dahlum, Seth Chapek and Van Ryswyk.

Dahlum, the starting point guard, had 13 points, six assists, two rebounds and a steal. He was aggressive on the offensive end and sunk a team-high seven free throws.

Chapek had an efficient night shooting by going 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe. He had 10 points, three steals, two rebounds and an assist.

Leading the Wolverines in the paint was senior forward Marshal Hall, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

“Marshal had a great game,” Matson said. “He had a double-double, and in the second half he rolled his ankle but gutted it out towards the end.”

Schaeffer Academy scored the first points of the game to lead 2-0, but Glenville-Emmons responded with a 16-2 run that was sandwiched by a pair of Van Rywsyk 3-pointers.

With five minutes left in the first half, the Wolverines led 25-15, but the Lions headed into the locker room on an 18-7 run that was capped with a 3-pointer by Zachary Sanger at the buzzer to give Schaeffer Academy a 33-32 advantage at halftime. It was the first time Glenville-Emmons trailed since the game’s first possession.

“They had a great play that got an open look,” Matson said. “I just told (my team) it was done and over with, and we were only down by one. Everything was up in the air at that point. We just needed to relax and play our game.”

The Lions made their first shot of the second half to take what would be their biggest lead of the game, 35-32.

Glenville-Emmons took its first lead of the second half, 38-37, with 14:25 left in regulation on a Van Ryswyk 3-pointer. The Wolverines built an eight-point lead at the nine-minute mark and maintained it until the final buzzer.

“We learned how to play with the lead, and I think some of our younger guys grew up a lot tonight,” Matson said.

Schaeffer Academy swept Glenville-Emmons the last two seasons. The Wolverines’ win snapped a four-game losing streak going back to the 2011-12 season when Glenville-Emmons was 17-10 overall.

Next, the Wolverines (3-5 overall, 3-4 Southeast Conference) will play at 7:15 p.m. today at Lyle/Pacelli (6-2 overall, 6-1 Southeast Conference).

The Athletics started 1-2 but have won five straight games. They are coming off an 81-56 win Dec. 22 at Mabel-Canton.