Staples Motley started off a tough week in a tough way, losing 63-53 to a strong team from Grand Rapids on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

The Thunderh awks took control in the first half with, erasing a 9-6 Cardinal lead with a 14 point run that Jordan Riewer finally ended with his first points at the nineminute mark. The teams played evenly the rest of the half, which ended with Grand Rapids ahead 39-26.

The ‘Hawks displayed tough defense and a strong bench, shuffling in ten or more players. They used a 12-3 run covering nearly eight minutes at the start of the second half that left the Thunderhawks ahead 52-29. The Cards never recovered, only closing the gap at the end of the game when Cardinal reserves cut a 20-point deficit with three pointers by Gunner Johnson, Jordan Peterson and Isaac Fuhrman.

The Grand Rapids team

had a 20-2 record after the

Cardinal game, with the ’Hawks rated third in Class AAA in the state.

Staples Motley faced Crosby-Ironton Friday night at home (See separate story) and downed Pelican Rapids 76-46 on Saturday night in Staples.

Saturday night Jon Bristow led all scorers with 17 points and the Staples Motley Cardinals defeated the Pelican Rapids Vikings 76- 46 Saturday in non-conference play.

Derek Wolhowe scored 16 points and Jordan Riewer 11 for the Cardinals.

The two wins and a loss last week gave the Cardinal boys a 19-5 record with two games left on their schedule. They play Sebeka at home in their final regular season game Friday night, then open Sub Section 6AA play March 11. The boys are likely to be seeded either second or third in the sub section and should host their first game.

Jordan Riewer now has a total of 335 points this season, for a 14.6 points a game average.

Derek Wolhowe is right behind at 311 total and 13.5 ppg. Just behind him is Jon Bristow, with 260 points and 11.3 ppg. Jason Johnson had 195 and a 9.3 ppg.

Wolhowe is the team’s leading rebounder with 167, but Riewer trails by just three boards. Bristow has 116 and Johnson 107.

Boys Results Staples Motley 47 29 - 76

Pelican Rapids 19 27 - 46

Pelican Rapids (46): Taylor Budke 11, Casey Bruggeman 7, Luke Halbakken 15, Tucker Forsgren 1, Ryan Huseby 4, Dan Wood 8. FT 4-10 (40 percent), Three-point baskets: 2 (Budke, Bruggeman).

Staples Motley (76): Tanner Roberts 1, Trevor Wentworth 5, Gunner Johnson 2, Jason Johnson 3, Jordan Peterson 8, Derek Wolhowe 16, Isaac Fuhrman 3, Alex Jansson 2, Jordan Riewer 11, Jon Bristow 17, Zack Borders 2. FT 6-10 (60 percent), Threepoint baskets: 6 (Peterson 2, Wolhowe 2, Fuhrman, Bristow).

Grand Rapids 63, Staples- Motley 53

Grand Rapids 39 24 - 63

Staples Motley 26 27 - 53

Grand Rapids (63): Michael Johnson 12, Dan Wilde 6, Austin Pohlen 11, Eric Stark 13, Kevin Rabbers 9, Matt O’Fallon 6, Brian Akre 2, Mike Spoden 4. FT 5-5 (100 percent), Three-point baskets: 8 (Johnson 4, Pohlen 3, Stark).

Staples Motley (53): Trevor Wentworth 5, Jason Johnson 10, Jordan Peterson 3, Derek Wolhowe 7, Isaac Fuhrman 3, Jordan Riewer 10, Jon Bristow 15. FT 12-19 (63 percent), Three-point baskets: 5 (Wentworth, Peterson, Wolhowe, Fuhrman, Riewer).