The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

By Staff Reports

• Latest Stories

  • Monday’s scores: FF boys hockey wins (click for more)
  • Warm spell weakens ice; 2 cars fall into Big Pine
  • Local GOP hopes for high turnout
  • Sentencings close book on Cleanup
  • M State Lady Spartans fall 79-54

Boys basketball roundup: Perham pushes past Ulen

Published 12:43am Wednesday, December 9, 2009

PERHAM— The Perham boys basketball team didn’t come out in the first half of its season opener, looking nothing like the team thought to be a serious preseason contender for a Section 8-2A title, struggling against a team that finished last year on the bottom of the Heart O’Lakes Conference standings.

But that’s why they play two halves.

The Yellowjackets found their groove in the second half, preventing the Ulen-Hitterdal from generating virtually any offensive production, forcing a majority of their 25 team turnovers while allowing just nine points and winning 69-32.

“The intensity that the guys played with in the second half was the difference,” Perham head coach Dave Cresap said. “We took everything away from them while they had the ball and that’s what the key to the game was.”

Tuesday’s game displayed an aspect that every Perham fan should learn; As 6-foot-7 center Ben Bucholz goes, so do the Yellowjackets.

Bucholz got into foul trouble early, missing eight minutes of action in the Yellowjackets’ sluggish first half and scored just eight points.

But Bucholz turned it on in the second, netting 17 of Perham’s 37 points, finishing with team highs in points with 25 and rebounds with seven.

“He’s a real difference maker when he comes ready to play,” said Cresap. “He can attack a team from anywhere on the court with his size.”

The Yellowjackets turned the ball over only 11 times and narrowly outrebounded the Spartans 19-18.

Zach Gabbard added 12 points for Perham.

Ulen-Hitterdal’s leading scorer was Landon Schultz who had seven points.

Perham’s first big test of the season comes Friday on their home court against fellow HOL and Section favorite Breckenridge. The Yellowjackets dropped both games played with the Cowboys in 2008-2009.

West Central Area 80, Dilworth-Glyndon Felton 62

BARRETT— The Knights took down their second consecutive Heart O’Lakes Conference rival Tuesday night and have started their season 2-0 for the fourth time in five years.

It was a back and forth game throughout the first half and into the start of the second with three lead changes taking place in the final six minutes of the opening half.

Colton Blascyk connected on his fifth three pointer of the night to extend the Knights to their largest lead of the night at 66-60.

Chris Clark immediately answered the Blascyk three with a lay-up, the last points the Rebels would score.

The Knights hit 12 of 12 from the foul line down the stretch has the Rebels unsuccessfully intentionally fouled in order to climb back in the game.

Knights’ big man Sam Richards didn’t disappoint, leading all scorers with 22 points while Blascyk added 20.

Clark led the Rebels with 16 points.

The Knights shot 80 percent from the foul line.

WCA plays again next Tuesday in another HOL game at Frazee.