If the score was 0-0 at halftime, Staples-Motley would have won.
Alas, the Pelican Rapids Vikings so thoroughly dominated the first half — 47-19 — that the Cardinals could have scored 60 in the final frame and it wouldn’t have mattered.
The Vikings (16-3) showed fans in attendance why Minnesota Basketball News pre-ranked them No. 1 in Class 2A to start the season, winning 90-63 Saturday night.
Now ranked No. 4, Pelican Rapids lost leading scorer Luke Halbakken for the game early to an ankle injury.
The team didn’t miss a beat.
Ryan Bruggeman led a potent Vikings attack with 24 points. Taylor Budke added a season-high 20. In all, five players scored at least nine points.
The victory ends S-M’s three game home winning streak and gives the Vikings’ nine straight wins.
The issue at hand again for Staples-Motley (4-14) was soft defense beyond the arc and inconsistent offensive play.
Against tougher teams, Staples-Motley struggles to find a rhythm.
After scoring just 19 points in the first half, the team came to life with 44 in the second (PR scored 43).
Dennis Vasquez showed flashes of brilliance, contributing a season-best 15 points. Jordan Wick was his stable self in providing a lift off the bench with eight. Since seeing more minutes beginning two weeks ago, Wick is averaging 7.6 points per game.
While the injury to Halbakken didn’t deter Pelican Rapids from winning for the first time in Staples since Jan. 7, 2006, it could hurt the team’s quest to win the Heart O’Lakes Conference and gain the top seed in Section 8AA should he miss a significant amount of time.
The Vikings are neck-and-neck with defending Class 2A champ Perham.
Up next: Pequot Lakes (9-9) Monday, Feb. 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15.
Ryan Bruggeman 24, Taylor Budke 20, Case Bruggeman 13, Tucker Forsgren 11, Ryan Huseby 9, Luke Halbakken 4, Devin Schell 3, Cody Bekkerus 2, Travis Haugen 2, Patrick Coleman 2
STAPLES-MOTLEY — 63
Dennis Vasquez 15, Grant Longbella 13, Shane Suess 9, Jordan Wick 8, Seth Auger 6, Brian Huber 4, Zach Borders 3, Jalen Busker 3, Tyler Holub 2
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