Beavers pull away from MCS boys

Hanson's Blake Klinkhammer shoots a floater over the hands of Mitchell Christian's Christian Cooper during the first half of a boys basketball game Thursday in Alexandria. (Marcus Traxler / Republic)

ALEXANDRIA — Tied at 19 at the halftime break, Hanson scored 26 points in the third quarter Thursday and pulled away from Mitchell Christian for a 56-42 boys basketball victory Thursday. Hanson was led by Donnie Weber, who knocked down four 3-pointers and had a game-high 16 points. Nathan Stewart had 10 points and Payden Haiar, Blake Klinkhammer and Craig Lasley each scored eight points for the Beavers, who earned their third win in a row.

"Both teams were a little cold in that first half and we were feeling each other out a bit," Mitchell Christian coach Jesse Tolsma said. "Defensively, we had some mental breakdowns and I think we felt the impact of our third game this week. I think fatigue settled in and on the defensive side, we just didn't continue our level of play from the first half."

Mitchell Christian was 14-for-18 at the free-throw line and 6-for-13 on 3-pointers but couldn't make much happen inside the arc, shooting 5-for-18 on two-point shots.

"Stewart did a good job of defending inside," Tolsma said. "I thought we did a good job of getting some early ones and Ty Vander Pol had a great game for us but we had to work for everything we got inside."

Vander Pol had 15 points for the Golden Eagles, while Alec Nelson scored 12 points and Christian Cooper added nine in the loss.

Hanson (9-8) hosts Avon on Tuesday. Mitchell Christian (6-11) will host Wolsey-Wessington on Monday in the Golden Eagles' home regular-season finale.

Hanson 56, Mitchell Christian 42

Mitchell Christian (6-11): Colton Wolbrink 0-3 0-0 0 Alec Nelson 3-6 4-4 12 Riley O'Neill 1-10 3-4 6 Christian Cooper 3-5 1-1 9 Ty Vander Pol 4-4 6-9 15 Joey Feiner 0-0 0-0 0 Totals 11 14-18 42

Hanson (9-8): Nathan Stewart 5-9 0-2 10 Donnie Weber 6-11 0-0 16 Payden Haiar 4-10 0-0 8 Blake Klinkhammer 3-7 0-0 8 Craig Lasley 4-5 0-0 8 Reggie Slaba 0-2 0-0 0 Matt Kayser 0-1 2-2 2 Riley Ferry 2-2 0-0 4 Colter Bartscher 0-0 0-0 0 Totals 24-47 2-4 56

MCS 4 19 32 42

H 9 19 45 56

3-point goals: MCS 6-13 (Nelson 2, Cooper 2, O'Neill, Vander Pol), Hanson 6 (Weber 4, Klinkhammer 2). Rebounds: MCS 15 (Nelson 4, Vander Pol 4), Hanson 25 (Stewart 6). Total fouls: MCS 8, Hanson 14. Fouled out: none. Turnovers: MCS 18, Hanson 13.

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