×

Bates leads Sibley East past New Ulm

Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm’s Connor Foley (31) takes a shot during the second half against Sibley East Monday at NUHS. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

NEW ULM — When the New Ulm Eagles boys’ basketball team watches film of their game Monday night against Sibley East, they are going to cringe at the first five minutes of the second half.

The Eagles held a 26-24 lead over the Wolverines but four turnovers allowed Sibley East to take a 37-30  lead and the momentum as it edged New Ulm 62-56 in nonconference basketball.

Gavin Bates led Sibley East (11-2) with 21 points while Austin Weckworth tossed in 14.

Connor Foley scored a game-high 23 points with freshman Reece Melby adding 14 for New Ulm, now  4-10.

“We did not play as well in the second half as we did in the first half,” New Ulm coach Adam Tyhurst said. “We talked about having a good first five minutes [to start the second half] and we did not have that. We got ourselves in a hole, kept ourselves there and pulled to within three points late.”

The Eagles saw the Wolverines take a second half lead of 37-30 on a 3-pointer from Bates and baskets from Connor   Kranz and Scott Holmquist. That lead increased to 41-32 at the 12:50 mark.

New Ulm managed just two free throws from Cooper Yackley and a bucket from Foley as turnovers hampered their offense.

“They did a good job of coming out of playing against our 2-3 zone,” Tyhurst said. “We did not adjust very well. From then on we played man defense for the rest of the half and I thought that our man was good defensively.”

That let New Ulm slowly come back as it outscored Sibley East 9-0 on a 3 from Yackley followed by a five foot jumper. Brett Bianchi’s bucket and two Yackley free throws knotted the game at 41-41.

Sibley East regained the lead at 58-47 but another Eagles run cut the lead to 59-56 on a Foley bucket with 13 seconds left.

“We had turnovers down the stretch and a couple of balls did not go our way,” Tyhurst said. “When you are trying to come back you need to get shots — you cannot turn the  ball over. We had that little funk there.”

New Ulm’s first half was opposite of the second half as it took a 10-9 lead on a rebound basket from Foley and increased that to 21-13 and then 23-18 on two free throws from Alex Lund with just over two minutes left in the first half.

“If you have a good loss to a good team it is a good loss,” Tyhurst said. “The score is a little deceptive. We talked about coming out with more energy Thursday night at home against St. James and hopefully we do that.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today