Intimidation Cardinal guard Gunner Johnson went airborne in an attempt to stop Benson Brave Brennan Kent from scoring in the Cardinal 80-58 first round sub section win. (Staples World photo by Ken Klose) The Cardinal boys are playing Friday night in the Section 6AA finals vs. New Londdon-Spicer.

The boys, who won their first two games in the sub section tournament, downing Benson in the first round and clipping the Breck- enridge Cowboys last Satu rday in the second round, defeated Morris 57- 43 Tuesday night.

Tickets for the Section 6AA boys basketball final will be on sale at the Staples Motley High school office until noon on Friday. Only lower level general admission ticketsare available. These tickets are $8 for adults and students. The Cardinals will play New London-Spicer at 6:30 at St Cloud State University.

The winner of the Friday night game will play at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 24 at Williams Arena in the first round at state.

Benson game

Trailing 10-9 after eight minutes of play, the Staples Motley Cardinals went on a 13-0 run and never looked back as they trounced the Benson Braves 80-58 Thursday, March 11, in the first round game of the West Sub Section 6AA tournament.

Jon Bristow had four points in that run to start him on a game high 25 point performance. Derek Wolhowe also added four points to the first half run and Jordan Riewer drained his first three of the night. For the game Riewer scored 19 points and Wolhowe added 13.

The Cards soon doubled the Benson point total, with halftime seeing the Cards with a 44-20 advantage.

The spread continued through much of the scond half.

Breckenridge game

Saturday night at Morris, Staples Motley faced the Breckenridge Cowboys, a team that had defeated the Cards in overtime just a month before.

Staples Motley was able to take an early but slight lead and hang on to that slim margin for most of the game. The Cards Jon Bristow and Jason Johnson hit from inside early as SM took a 8-2 lead in the first five minutes of the semi-final game.

Down and dirty Cardinals Derek Wolhowe and Trevor Wentworth scrapped for a loose ball with Benson player Sam Peterson in first half action of the Cardinal game March 11. (Staple World photo by Ken Klose) The Cards had to control Cowboy Joe Terfehr, who had 31 points in their Feb. 20 win over Staples Motley.

With Jason Johnson and Derek Wolhowe guarding him, the Cardinals held him to just 10 points this time. Terfehr had four points in the first half, which ended with the Cards ahead 24-19.

Staples Motley scored the first seven points of the second, capped by Gunner Johnson’s three, for a 31-19 lead. But Terfehr and Company closed the gap to just one point, 36-35, with just under four minutes left.

The Cards held the ball and took advantage of a technical on Cowboy Coach Dean Haugo. Riewer was 7 for 8 on free throws in the final three minutes, as the Cowboys were forced to foul to gain possession.

Wolhowe scored 19 points, including three three’s, to lead SM. Jordan Riewer had 14.

Protecting the ball Cardinal Jon Bristow protected the ball from the Benson defense on his way to the hoop. Teammate Jason Johnson stood by to help. (Staples World photo by Ken Klose) The win set the stage for a rematch of last year’s sub section finals, where the Morris Tigers eliminated Staples Motley from post-season play.
Boys Results
March 13
Sub section semi final
Breckenridge 19 18 - 37

Staples Motley 24 25 - 49

Breckenridge (37): Joe Johnson 3, Dylan Summerville 8, Ryan Voss 9, Nic Conzemius 5, Walker Busse 2, Joe Terfehr 10. FT 6-7 (86 percent), Three-point baskets: 3 (Voss 2, Conzemius).

Staples Motley (49): Trevor Wentworth 5, Jason Johnson 5, Jordan Peterson 2, Derek Wolhowe 19, Jordan Riewer 14, Jon Bristow 4. FT 10-13 (77 percent), Three-point baskets: 5 (Wolhowe 3, Riewer, Wentworth). Overall: 23-5.

Sub section first round Benson 20 38 - 58

Staples Motley 44 36 - 80

Staples Motley (80): Trevor Wentworth 5, Gunner Johnson 3, Jason Johnson 8, Jordan Peterson 7, Derek Wolhowe 13, Jordan Riewer 19, Jon Bristow 25. FT 10-15 (67 percent), Three-point baskets: (Riewer 2, Johnson, Peterson, Wolhowe, Bristow).
In your face Cardinal Derek Wolhowe (21) went high to challenge a shot by Benson