Boys Basketball: Red Wing dominates second half against Waseca

A strong second half propelled the Red Wing boys basketball team to an 81-52 victory over Waseca Saturday in Red Wing.

The Wingers (8-12, 3-5 Missota) got contributions from eight different players but senior Joel Newman led Red Wing with 29 points and six assists. He also had five rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Nick Powers added 12 points on 4 of 4 shooting from beyond the 3-point line. Junior Jack Leurquin scored nine points and had five rebounds. Junior Ryan Boldt and sophomore Isaac Toivonen both tallied eight points. Toivonen also notched eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

“We had a lot of guys step up,” Wingers head coach Doug Toivonen said. “In the second half, the kids really responded well.”

Brock Kolander scored 16 points, 14 in the first half, to lead the Bluejays. Shane Streich scored nine points and Jacob Sass finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in the loss.

The teams traded baskets early in the game and Red Wing trailed 18-17 midway through the first half but Red Wing caught fire offensively with Newman leading the way and took a 45-37 lead into halftime.

“Joel carried us in the first half,” Toivonen said. “He does a good job of curling off screens … He scored a bunch of ways.”

The Wingers’ shooting touch continued into the second half as Red Wing’s defense fueled the offense, Toivonen said.

“It started defensively,” he said. “We shot great and they only scored 15 points in the second half. We played great defense.”

The Wingers held Waseca to 20 of 53 shooting, including 5 of 18 on 3-pointers, and outrebounded the Bluejays 31-24 despite giving up size at the post positions.

“We’re not bigger than most of the teams we play,” Toivonen said. “So our kids do a good job of getting in good position.”

Red Wing shot nearly 52 percent from the field and made 10-for-17 from the 3-point line. The Wingers also finished with 22 assists as a team to 14 turnovers.

Red Wing plays Chaska Tuesday in Chaska.

Tags: boys basketball, red wing, sports, prep