Warriors hang on to edge Clearbrook-Gonvick 70-69

   The Red Lake Warriors opened their 2003-04 high school basketball season hosting the Clearbrook-Gonvick Bears on Friday, December 5, 2003, and although they came away with the victory in the end, the 70-69 win wasn’t in any way an easy one.

      One more mistake by the Warriors and one less mistake for the Bears, could have easily turned the tables, as both teams played hard all night and neither let up for a second.

      Yes, there were a lot of turnovers, missed shots and free throws, bad passes, and fouls on both teams, but that was easily acceptable because it was the first game of the season. It was also obvious that the team members, many of whom hadn’t played together before that much, still were getting used to one another in working together as a team.

      The Warriors also had a new head coach, Bill Rutledge, as well as a new assistant head coach, Ron Hegstrom. Both Rutledge and Hegstrom were involved in the girls basketball program in the previous year.

      Last year the Warriors went all the way to the state tournament led by head coach Jack Desjarlait, but lost to Ellsworth in the state quarterfinals. Desjarlait, the winningest coach in Red Lake Warrior history, chose not to return this year as head coach.

      Red Lake also moved to 2A instead of 1A as in all their past years, which meant they would be playing larger school districts like Park Rapids, Crookston and East Grand Forks in the District Tournaments.

      Many have said the Warriors domination of the district and regions would end this year because of that. But many also said in past years that they weren’t expected to go very far and ended up capturing the districts, regions and going on to the state tournament.

      In front of a packed house at the Middle School, Red Lake controlled on the tip-off, where Challenge Johnson was first to put in 2 for the Warriors and give them the lead.

      The Bears had about a half-dozen opportunities to score on different possessions, before Clayton Roberts made it 4-0 on his feed and shot underneath.

      But Clearbrook-Gonvick finally got on the board when Duane Cobenais nailed a 3-pointer, and on the next possession took the lead, 5-4 with a couple of freethrows.

      Charles Goodwin hit 1 of 2 freethrows tieing the game, and after the shot by Cobenais was in and out of the rim, Joe Jackson put the Warriors back on top 7-5 with his shot.

      Red Lake missed two freethrows after that, but Robin Kelly connected with 2, then a steal and feed back to Goodwin gave the Warriors a 11-5 lead.

      Duane Cobenais finally scored for the Bears on a drive, but Jackson answered right back for Red Lake from near the top of the key to put the score at 13-7.

      Dustin Erickson hit both of his freethrows for the Bears, followed by Challenge Johnson putting up 2 for the Warriors, and as the first quarter ended, Red Lake led 15-9.

      Red Lake scored first in the second quarter with a shot by Preston Graves, then fouled Cobenais of the Bears who hit 1 of 2 freethrows and putting the score 17-10.

      A missed opportunity by the Warriors and a 3-pointer by Casey Bergman put the Bears down by four, 17-13, and Challenge Johnson put in 2 for Red Lake, followed by Chance Goudge hitting 2 freethrows, then Goodwin’s 2 put the score at 21-15.

      Erickson hit for the Bears, Jackson answered with 2 of his own, and after Kelly scored, Cobenais nailed another 3-pointer to bring the score to 25-20.

      On a steal by Graves, a missed shot allowed Johnson to rebound and score, then after the Bears missed an opportunity, Graves nailed a 3-pointer to give Red Lake a 10-point lead, 30-20 with 3:13 left in the half.

      The Warriors maintained their pace, as did the Bears, and at the half it was 38-27.

      Graves had another steal on the opening of the second half, netting a quick 2 points, and on a fast break Jackson was called for charging, but his 2 point basket counted, giving the Warriors a 42-29 lead.

      Red Lake led by as much as 16 in that third quarter, and at the end of three the score was 54-46, with three Warriors in foul trouble and the full court press causing some turnovers against them.

      Clearbrook-Gonvick’s Anthony Dahl made it a new game with his shot that made it 56-52 with 6 minutes remaining, and Cobenais added 2 more on his drive to pull the Bears to within two.

      Goodwin hit 1 of 2 freethrows, as did Kelly giving Red Lake a 58-54 lead, but when Bergman drilled a 3-pointer the Bears trailed 58-57.

      Then, Graves hit a 3 pointer, the Bears missed an opportunity to answer, and Johnson’s 2 gave the Warriors a 6 point lead at 63-57.

      Just that quick both teams put big points on the scoreboard.

      Goodwin hit 1 of 2 freethrows–the Warriors were shooting about 50% from the line–Cobenais hit 1 of 2 freethrows at the other end, and Dahl hit 2 to put the score at 65-58.

      Red Lake missed two more from the charity line, but when Goodwin intercepted a pass Johnson got in for the score.

      Bergman nailed another 3-pointer for the Bears putting the score at 67-61 with a minute left in the game, Roberts was fouled and hit 1 of 2 freethrows, Nate Bahr sank in 2 for the Bears bringing them to within four, 67-63.

      Goodwin hit 1 of 2 from the freethrow line, then Clearbrook-Gonvick’s Scott Stebe brought the bears to within 2-points, 68-66, with just 14 seconds remaining.

      Red Lake’s Kelly was immediately fouled, hitting 1 of 2 shots from the charity line, then Goodwin was fouled as well where he hit 1 of 2 freethrow attempts, giving the Warriors a 70-66 lead.

      With just 2 seconds remaining, Mike Eck nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but time expired before Red Lake could inbounds and the Warriors hung on to win, 70-69.

      It was a very exciting finish, with many variables that could have happened and changed the outcome. One mistake, one more missed freethrow, and the score could have been easily turned around. Both teams played equally hard from the first second, to the last.

      Challenge Johnson led all scorers with 16 points on the night–five players were in double figures–Charles Goodwin and Robin Kelly each put in 12, and Clayton Roberts and Preston Graves each added 10.

      Duane Cobenais and Nate Bahr paced Clearbrook-Gonvick with each 15, Anthony Dahl nailing 12, and Casey Bergman added 11.