Vikings earn second win of the season

The AHSTW Viking offense came storming out of the gate Tuesday night at home opening the game on a 9-2 run en route to a 66-55 victory over the IKM-Manning Wolves for their second win of the season.

“To be able to put one in the win column was big for us,” said Viking Head Coach G.G. Harris. “We’ve got guys that work really, really hard and are doing a lot of the right things. Tonight we were able to do it enough.”

Viking Junior Drew Lee got his team on the board five seconds after tipoff with a layup, followed by shots from Junior Kaden Jorgensen and Senior Camden Soukup, making it a 6-0 Viking start. Wolves Sophomore Wyatt Danner got his team on the board with a mid-range jump shot, but the Vikings answered back with a 3-pointer from Senior Luke Sternberg.

Wolves Junior Jace Starman managed to help get his team back within three points at the end of the quarter with back-to-back shots at the basket.

“Jace has been playing well,” said Wolves Head Coach Keith Wagner. “He’s got the right attitude. He comes to work every day and doesn’t complain. I really like where his head is at and how he’s playing. We’ve just got to keep putting him out there and keep working.”

Wolves Sophomore Brock Kusel opened the second quarter with a shot, but the Vikings answered back in a big way with a 3-point shot from Freshman Evan Harder. Later on in the quarter, Sternberg came away with another 3-pointer and a layup forcing a timeout from Wagner.

When play resumed, Wolves Juniors Isaac Blankman and Ben Ramsey helped chip away at the Vikings lead, along with Sophomore Luke Janssen helping cut the lead to five at halftime.

“We’re getting anything we wanted offensively,” Harris said. “They’re not always going to fall, so find a way to get extra possessions, but also maintaining our intensity on defense.”

Janssen opened the third quarter with the first basket, cutting the Vikings lead down to three, but the Vikings offense got going once again, going on an 8-0 run with baskets from Collin Harder, Sternberg, and Soukup. The Wolves managed get five of those points back all from Junior Ben Ramsey who knocked down a shot at the basket and a 3-pointer.

Following Ramsey’s 3-point shot, the Viking offense took command closing out the quarter on a 9-3 run leading 58-41.

The Viking offense continued into the fourth quarter with buckets from Soukup and Sternberg before Kusel put a stop to their run with a shot at the basket. Ramsey managed to knock down a few more shots for the Wolves, but the Vikings hung on for the win.

The Vikings next game will be Friday on the road against the 4-4 Audubon Wheelers. The Wheelers are led by Junior Brody Schultes averaging 13.3 points, Junior Carson Wessel averaging seven rebounds, and Senior Oliver Deist averaging 2.7 assists.

“They’re really deep,” Harris said of Audubon. “They have some offensive threats, they’re scrappy, and they’ll press. Coach [Darran] Miller does a fantastic job over there and it’s a tough place to play.”

The Wolves return home to take on the 2-5 Exira-EHK Spartans. The Spartans are led by Senior Josh Nelson averaging 11.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, along with Junior Austin Rasmussen averaging 3.8 assists per game.

“It’s all on your attitude and mindset, getting back to work, and having a good practice tomorrow,” Wagner said. “Going into that game ready to go. Playing tough minded and hopefully defensively we can play a little bit better and do a good job on the glass.”