Chargers shock Cubs

By Joe Stangle, Head CoachThe Kimball Cubs boys’ basketball team opened its 2001-2 regular season on the road at Dassel-Cokato last Friday night. Brian Marquardt and Brandon Looman are the only returning starters from last season and we will be working to build around their experience and ability this season. The Chargers played Hutchinson the night before and gained some game experience, but Kimball was still hungry for its first win. Chris Hunt, Kyle Wurm and Craig Henneman notched their first varsity starts as juniors.

Dassel-Cokato won the tap and was unable to convert, as both teams showed some early season nerves at the beginning of the game. Brian Marquardt got Kimball on the board, tying the game at two. John Caird and Adrian Rossman both made their varsity debuts in the first, supplying quality bench minutes. Defensive intensity created six Charger turnovers in the first, as Kyle Wurm got a steal and converted a three-point play. Eric Schmitt banked in a jumper and added a charity shot to end the quarter scoring for Kimball, who trailed 8-10.

Fatigued shooting legs and an aggressive Charger defense forced a dismal shooting quarter for Kimball. Dassel-Cokato got some separation on the scoreboard as they converted on five three-point shots and three two-point baskets. Brandon Looman scored a three-point play to open the scoring for him on the season. Marquardt added a triple and Wurm scored five more. The Cubs seemed rattled by the Charger half-court defense and offense for about a three-minute stretch that proved to be difference in the game. Dassel-Cokato extended its lead to twelve, 31-19 at the halftime horn.

The third quarter opened with the Chargers and the Cubs in a defensive stalemate, not allowing the other any scoring opportunities. Wurm finally broke through on a steal on a Dassel-Cokato inbound pass that seemed to breathe some life back into the Kimball intensity, as Marquardt hit a jump shot and Looman added a basket. The Cubs were unable to close the deficit, as Dassel-Cokato took a commanding 41-25 lead into the fourth.

Kimball wouldn’t go away, though, as solid defense and lack of free-throw conversion by the Chargers allowed the Cubs to cut the lead to eleven. Marquardt hit for seven, on two three’s and a foul shot; Wurm drained one from straight on, and Adrian Rossman poured in an excellent hook from behind the arc. Cole Schindele made his first appearance in a varsity uniform in the fourth. Poor floor shooting and improper rebounding position created more scoring opportunities for Dassel-Cokato on this evening.

The Cubs forced seventeen Charger turnovers for the game. The final score read Dassel-Cokato Chargers by sixteen, 54-38. We shot 32 percent from the floor, and 50 percent on four of eight from the foul line.

Kimball starts 0-1 on the season, 0-0 in the CMC. Up next, the Cubs will host the Paynesville Bulldogs on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Please come out and support these boys as they work hard to represent the community and Kimball Area High School.