GATOR BOYS LOSE TOUGH OPENER



GATORS SEASON COMES TO AN END

The 2008-2009 BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Season came to a screeching halt with a 46-42 loss to the Stephen-Argyle Storm. The second rated Storm and third rated Gators treated the fans to an outstanding defensive battle. Unfortunately for the Gators the Strom came up with a couple more shots and advanced to the subsection championship game.

The Gators got off to a rough offensive start missing several shots. Because of this more pressure was put on the Gator defense and they rose to the challenge.

After a back and fourth first half the Storm went on a run and opened up a 22-14 halftime lead. Of particular concern going into halftime for the Gators was their more than ugly 18% shooting percentage in the first half.

A determined Gator group started the second half by scoring the first 4 points. The second half would see both teams trading baskets and making mini runs. The Storm however maintained their poise and would never relinquish the lead.

Much of the Ralph Engelsted Arena thought the Gators were doomed when Gator starting forward Zac Creviston fouled out with just under two minutes to play. The BGMR Boys had a different idea. Trailing by 4 the Gators missed a shot but senior Allan Dostal flew in for the rebound. Dostal did not get the rebound but kept the ball alive and it was picked up by Nathan Stanelle who converted a shot and was fouled. Stanelle made the free throw to cut the Storm lead to 1. The Gators committed a silly foul and the Storm made one of the two free throws. The Gators had the ball with just over 30 seconds to play. Without Creviston and point guard Adam Balstad who was hobbled with a bad ankle BGMR did not get a good look at the basket and were forced to foul with 7 seconds remaining. The Strom made both free throws to clinch the victory.

Much to the credit of the Storm defensive the Gators did not get into sync offensively all night. BGMR finished the night shooting a season low 29% from the field. This included a horrific 3 for 23 (13%) from beyond the three point line. Nathan Stanelle struggled with his shot in the first half but got into rhythm in the second half and finished with 14 points to lead the Gators. Zac Creviston and Adam Balstad netted 8 each.

The Strom were lead by Gator killer Matt Borowicz who poured in 16.

Although the season has come to an end for the Gators there were many accomplishments for this fine team. Playing an extremely tough schedule the Gators managed to finish 20-8 and break the 20 win mark for the third year in a row. The Gators also defended their North Border Conference Championship. To top it all off the team established its own identity after losing some key players off last years team.

The end of each year means losing some seniors. This year’s senior class was an exceptional group.

Matt Green, son of Doug and Corinne Green, was a valuable team player. Although Matt didn’t see much playing time he was always in practice and tried to make the other players better. Matt will be greatly missed for his commitment and dedication to the team.

Tyler Maurstad, son of Mardy and Ronnette Anderson, accepted his role with the team and stepped up his senior year. Tyler can be commended for the time he put in during the season and seemed to truly love being a Gator Basketball Player.

Jordan Holm a.k.a. Homer, son of Steve and Barb Holm, developed into a defensive stopper for the Gators. Although his shot didn’t fall as much as the coaches had hoped his senior year Jordan continued to play strong defense on the other team’s best player. He will be sorely missed just because a person could never know what to expect out of Homer.

Allan Dostal, son of Frank and Corinne Dostal, gave the Gators the edge player that every good team needs. Allan would frequently have to do the dirty work for the Gators and this year was no exception. Allan could always be relied upon to be there for off season workouts and was truly a team leader for the Gators.

Zac Creviston, son of Dave and Connie Creviston, leaves the Gators as the all-time leader in scoring with 1933 points. Zac was a vicious competitor who played hard all the time. The school hasn’t seen a boy’s player with the talent of Zac in a long time and hopefully Gator fans will get to continue to follow Zac as he may make the decision to play college ball.

The BGMR coaching staff would like to take this time to thank some special people. We realize many people contribute to the program and it is not our intention to forget anyone but there are some people who go WAY above the call of duty.

Cheerleading advisor Lynn Balstad is considered another assistant coach. She is always there for whatever the program needs and her cheerleaders did an outstanding job this year.

Sue Lieberg spent endless hours preparing the inserts for the Gator home games. She is a huge Gator Booster and will most certainly go through basketball withdrawl.

Photographer Tom Wollin provided numerous pictures to the coaches and local media. Mr. Wollin’s “hobby” was a bonus for the Gators and areas fans.

Gator Mom Squad was always there supporting the Gators. Your numerous costume nights added color and flavor to the events and were interesting each and every night out.

Gator Nation are the best fans in the world. Although there were times when things didn’t go our way and Gator Nation would get a little upset you were always their supporting our team. Gator Nation filled almost half a side of the Little Ralph for tournament time and your energy almost propelled us to a win. Please continue that positive support.

Last but most certainly not least are the families of the Gator Coaching Staff. The families sacrifice a great deal to let their husbands coach and without their support coaching would not be as fun as it is.

Next season will be a different challenge for the Gator Boy’s Basketball Program. Key individuals were lost but several have been waiting for their turn. The ball is now in their court and the off season will be critical. The start of another season is only 8 months away and before you know it the Gators will be running up and down the court again. Thanks again for the great memories and the outstanding season.

GATORS WIN OPENING ROUND

The BGMR Gator Boy’s Basketball Team opened up playoff action with an impressive 77-40 victory over the Goodridge Huskies. The third seeded Gators used a full court press that forced the sixth seeded Huskies into 24 turnovers and gave the Gators several easy baskets. With the pressure defense the Gators limited the Huskies to 15 first half points and took a commanding 44-15 lead at the half.

Goodridge would continue to fight and played much better in the second half but were unable to cut into the Gator lead. BGMR was also able to play their whole roster in route to the 37 point margin of victory.

Offensively the Gators had several key contributors but were led in scoring by Zac Creviston who poured in 29 points and ripped down 12 rebounds to notch another double double. Although the Gators did not have another individual with double digit scoring they did manage to have balance. Adam Balstad and Allan Dostal both scored 8. Peter Wollin, Jordan Holm and Max Thompson scored 6 each.

Goodridge was led in scoring by Brett Bakken who poured in 18 and Jordan Anderson who threw in 15.

The Gators now take their 20-7 record to the second round of the tournament where they will take on the Stephen-Argyle Storm. The Storm and Gators have met three times this year with the Storm taking two out of the three meetings. Each game however has been a thriller and this one should also be an outstanding match-up. Game time is set for 8:15 on Saturday night and will be held at the Little Ralph in Thief River Falls.

Rest up and get ready for this one. A positive Gator Nation will be needed as these two friendly rivals lock horns. We hope to see you there as all Gator Fans will be needed as the Storm will bring a big crowd.

GATORS LOSE AT HOME

The BGMR Gator Boys Basketball team suffered their first home loss of the year, a 51-49 loss to the Kittson Central Bearcats. A standing room only crowd saw two teams battle each other for 36 minutes. Unfortunately for the BGMR Gators they came out on the short end.

In a game that saw both teams leave everything they had out on the floor the Bearcats got some key free throw shooting down the stretch to preserve the victory. The Gators had the ball with 2.3 seconds to go but BGMR was unable to handle the wide open lob pass that would have potentially tied the game.

BGMR was led in scoring by Zac Creviston who poured in 23 hard earned points. No other Gator finished with double figures against the stingy Bearcat defense.

Eric Ogorek netted 18 for the Bearcats and James Hauert threw in 14.

The Gators now move into playoff mode. It looks like the Gators will open up with Fertile next Thursday, March 12. The location is yet to be determined so stay tuned to the school website for site and game time.

The subsection appears to be even from top to bottom. The Gators have been looking forward to playoff time but know that every game will be a battle. The boys hope that the fans continue their outstanding support as the “real” season now begins.

GATORS FLY BY EAGLES

Despite starting out sluggish the BGMR Gator Boy’s Basketball team ran past the Grygla-Gatzke Eagles in route to a 77-42 victory. The “Buddy Night” capacity crowd was almost put to sleep early in this one as neither team could establish a rhythm. BGMR however was able to open up an 8 point halftime lead.

The Gators came out on a mission in the second half. Utilizing their full court press the Gators were able to open up a commanding 22 point lead early in the second half. The Gators never looked back as they widened their margin of victory to 35 points.

Although point scorers usually get the ink this night belong to the defensive effort of the Gators. In particular Jordan Holm and Adam Balstad took turns guarding Eagle standout Brett Johnson and limited Johnson to 3 points on the night.

The Gators were led in scoring by Zac Creviston. Creviston returned to his old method of getting into early foul trouble but still managed to put up 24. Nathan Stanelle and Jordan Holm each contributed 11. The Gators just missed having two others with double digit scoring. Adam Balstad and Allan Dostal both dumped in 9.

The Gators will now look to Tuesday night when they take on the Kittson Central Bearcats. The Bearcats spanked the Gators just over a week ago and BGMR will be looking to get some revenge. A conference championship will be on the line and a potential #1 seed for the Gators in the upcoming playoffs.

This will also be the last game at the Swamp for our special seniors. It will be the last game at home for Allan Dostal, Tyler Maurstad, Matt Green, Zac Creviston, and Jordan Holm. Please come out and recognize these outstanding seniors for the contributions they have made to our basketball program. March Madness is now beginning. Join the madness as the Gator Boys begin their March to and hopefully through the playoffs.

GATORS BLOW OUT BEARS

The BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Team got back on the winning track with a 94-47 victory over the Lake of the Woods Bears. After missing their first six shots the Gators heated up and shot a blistering 56% from the field which also included an 8 for 12 performance from behind the 3 point line.

The Gators landed 3 players in the double digit scoring column. Zac Creviston had the hot stroke and poured in 38 along with dishing out 5 assists. Adam Balstad chipped in 11 and Jordan Holm dumped in 10. All Gator varsity players saw action in the game and several stepped up with a strong defensive effort.

LOW was led in scoring by Chris Novak who had 13. Tyler Rioux pulled down 13 rebounds for the Bears.

With the win the Gators improved their record to 18-6. With the win the Gators also clinched the North Border Conference Championship for the 2rd year in a row.

After going 4-1 on their five game road trip the Gators now return home for their final two regular season games of the 2008-09 campaign. The Gators will be home on Friday night to take on the Grygla-Gatzke Eagles. The Eagles are a solid team and feature high scoring guard Brett Johnson. Long time veteran head coach Vern Johnson always has his team clicking this time of year. The Eagles pose a major challenge for the Gators but BGMR will be looking to go unbeaten in North Border Conference play.

Friday night also marks Buddy Night. The basketball game will be dedicated to all those people who have been affected both directly and indirectly by Downs Syndrome.

Tuesday will mark the final home game for seniors Matt Green, Allan Dostal, Jordan Holm, Tyler Maurstad and Zac Creviston. This will be an emotional night at these 5 individuals play their last game at the Swamp. The Six Star Conference Championship will also be on the line as the Bearcats from Kittson Central come to town. The Bearcats crushed the Gators a week ago and both teams will be looking to establish playoff positioning. It will be an intense game and one in which the Gator coaches hope that Gator Nation comes out in force to honor the seniors who have meant so much to our program.

BEARCATS MANHANDLE GATORS

The Kittson Central Bearcats proved why they are one of the top teams in the section with a convincing 62-50 victory over the BGMR Gators. The Bearcats used a tenacious defense and physical play that took the Gators out of any type of offensive rhythm. Offensively the Bearcats were extremely patient and wore down the Gators with their precise movement.

The Gators first half stunk worse than a run over skunk and the Bearcats took advantage of BGMR’s sloppy play to race to a 9 point halftime lead. BGMR would eventually chop the lead down to 4 but the Bearcats continued to make shots that would end any hopes of a Gator comeback.

The Gators were led in scoring by Zac Creviston who had 16 points and Allan Dostal who chipped in 13. Creviston also pulled down 11 rebounds to record the double double.

BGMR will need other individuals to pick up their offensive game if they expect to compete at tournament time. Having those individuals gain some confidence the next two weeks will be a top priority for the Gator Coaching Staff.

The Bearcats landed 3 individuals in the double digit scoring column. Dylan Bouman poured in 18. Trevor Austin and Jordan Forfang notched 13 each.

The Gators will close out their 2008-09 road campaign with the long trip to Lake of the Woods on Tuesday night. The Gators pummeled the Bears earlier in the year and will be looking to take out some frustration on Tuesday night.

The Gators will return home on Friday night when the take on rival Grygla-Gatzke. This will be a special night as the Gators will be paying a special tribute to all those who have been affected by Down’s syndrome.

Come on out and support the Gators as the regular season is winding down. Gator fans have only two more games where they can see this team at the Swamp and these games will be barn burners as tournament time approaches.

GATORS WIN NAILBITTER

Trailing for much of the game the BGMR Gator Boy’s Basketball Team took the lead when it counted and pulled out a 73-72 victory over the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies.

The Ponies came out on a mission and took an 8 point lead into halftime. The Gators were firing on all cylinders to start the second half and pulled to within 2 but the Ponies answered and pushed their lead back up to 8.

The teams would continue to trade baskets for a majority of the second half however BGMR took the lead with just under two minutes to go. A frenzy of activity occurred in the last two minutes but the Gators got a lay-up and a couple of free throws by both Adam Balstad and Allan Dostal to close the deal against a Pony team that never gives up.

Dostal had a breakout game for the Gators. Dostal scored 25 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to complete the double double. Dostal also showed toughness by drawing 3 charges on the Ponies. Zac Creviston suffered through a tough shooting night but still managed to pour in 22. Several other Gators contributed to the victory by scoring key baskets here and there, playing good defense and pulling down key rebounds.

The Ponies were lead by sharp shooter Casey Larson who netted 27 and streaking guard Ryan Oas who chipped in 20. Freshman Zac Riopelle also managed to score 10 points.

The Gators will continue to rack up their frequent bus miles as they travel to Hallock to take on the Kittson County Bearcats. This is the first match-up of the year between these two rivals and it should be an entertaining contest. It has been several years since the Gator boys have played in Hallock as the Bearcats previously played their boys home games in Kennedy. The Bearcat Den should be filled with electricity as these two rivals face off in a key Six Star Conference Match-up.

GATORS TAME WILDCATS

The last regular season meeting ever between the Tri-County Wildcats and the BGMR Gators ended in an 83-62 victory for the Gators. The Wildcats, who will be combining with the MCC Nordics next season, saw the Gators firing on all cylinders in the first half. BGMR raced to 54-33 halftime lead. BGMR shot 58% in the first half and were 7 of 12 from behind the 3 point line.

The pesky Wildcats would not go away. After switching to a 1-3-1 half court trap the Wildcats created several turnovers and the Gators looked as confused as a first grader trying to do calculus. This in turn gave the Wildcats a little life. They were however unable to cut into the Gator lead and BGMR held on for the 21 point margin of victory. BGMR broke out of their free throw funk and went an vary efficient 22 for 26 from the line which helped preserve the victory.

Several Gators shot the ball extremely well. Zac Creviston continued his torrid pace and poured in a game high 26. Tyler Maurstad came out of his mini slump and had a workman like 14. Allan Dostal continued his nice play netting 14 and Adam Balstad dropped in 11.

The Wildcats netted 3 players in double figures. 6’9” center Tony Sang led the charge with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Garrett Anderson had 13 and Nick Olson contributed 12.

The road trip continues for the Gators as tomorrow night the travel to Warren to take on the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies. The Ponies will be looking to avenge an earlier season loss to the Gators. WAO also will have a chip on their shoulder as they loss to a tough Stephen-Argyle Storm team on Tuesday night.

The Pony dome should be rock-in as the Gators and Ponies are fighting for playoff positioning. Gator Nation will need to be out in full force and become that desperately needed sixth person.

The Gator boys would also like to take a moment to congratulate the wrestlers on their match last night. The wrestlers are now two wins away from a trip to the state tournament and we would like to wish them luck this Saturday as they continue their march to the Excel Center.

GATORS WIN

In a battle of two arch rivals the BGMR Gators defeated the Marshall County Central Nordics 76-65.

The Gators road the 3 point shooting of Nathan Stanelle in the first half to take a 40-31 lead. Stanelle was blistering hot going 5-6 from behind the arc.

The Gators build their lead to as many as 14 in the second half but could never extend it beyond that and the hard working Nordics began to make a run. The Nordics would close the gap to 4 and had some chances to get even closer but the Gator defense clamped down and pulled out the victory.

Free throw shooting was of particular concern for the Gators down the stretch. The charity stripe was more of benefit to the Nordics than the Gators as BGMR went 10 for 20 from the line in the second half. Foul shooting will obviously be a point of emphasis as tournament time approaches.

MCC was led in scoring by hot shooting guard Jesse Nelson. Nelson poured in 23. Post player Colby Owens had another solid outing finishing with 22.

BGMR was again led in scoring by Zac Creviston who dumped in 27. Creviston completed the double double with 11 rebounds. Stanelle poured in 20 and Allan Dostal was back into form and picked up 13.

This was the last regular season match-up ever between the Gators and Nordics. The Nordics next season will be cooping with Tri-County to form the Northern Freeze.

BGMR continues their road swing with a game tonight against the much improved Tri-County Wildcats. The Cat Palace is always a loud and tough place to play. Every game becomes more critical as teams are fighting for playoff positioning. The Gator Boys hope you can make the game and create some positive energy.

The basketball team would also like to take this time to wish the wrestlers good luck as they begin their tournament run tonight.

GATORS KNOCK OFF WARRIORS

Coming of a Saturday loss to Red Lake and unable to practice for two days because of weather the BGMR Gator Boy’s Basketball Team had every reason to come up with a lackluster performance against a big and tough Warroad Warrior team. The Gators however were up to the challenge and pulled off a 61-49 win.

The Gators showed no signs of rust early when they jumped out to a 7 point lead. The Warriors however started to pound the ball inside and used their strength on the offensive glass to tie game. The game would go back and fourth for much of the first half. BGMR took a 1 point lead into halftime on a long three point shot by Zac Creviston as time was winding down.

The second half saw the Gators defense clamp down with the Gators holding the Warriors to 19 points with 6 of those coming in the last minute. Meanwhile the Gator offense relied on the hot shooting of Creviston. Creviston finished the night with 34 points going 13 for 20 from the field which included 6 of 8 from the 3 point line. Creviston also pulled down 13 rebounds to complete the double double.

Jordan Holm had another solid effort as he contributed 14 points and again played suffocating defense. Although no other Gators finished in double figures several had a nice offensive night with their rebounding and passing. Nathan Stanelle did not score but dished out 6 assists and Adam Balstad also had 3 assists.

The Warriors were lead by big man Matt Adams who scored 21 points and also had a double double with 13 rebounds. A testament to the Gator defense was that no other Warrior was able to notch double figures.

The Gators now embark on a San Antonio Spurs like road trip. The Spurs who are members of the NBA are often forced to go on a long road trip because of the yearly rodeo that happens in San Antonio. Not to be outdone the Gators will now play their next 5 games away from the Swamp. All those games will be conference games and will be a huge challenge to the Gators.

The Gators road quest begins on Friday night when they travel to Newfolden to take on the Marshall County Central Nordics. This will be the last time ever that the Gators will face the Nordics during the regular season as next season the Nordics and Wildcats of Tri-County combine to form the Northern Freeze.

The Nordics are a much improved team and feature strong post player Colby Owens. Several young Nordics have stepped up and it will be a tough match-up for the Gators. The Gator boys hope that “Gator Nation” is out in full force as they embark on this road swing. Those extra people in the stands will give the Gators much needed positive energy.

Many questions have been asked about conference standings, tournament seeding etc. Conference standings have nothing to do in regards of match-ups come tournament time. The Gator Boys are part of two conferences. The North Border Conference is comprised of Roseau, BGMR, Warroad, Grygla-Gatzke, Lake of the Woods, and Marshall County Central. The Six Star Conference teams are BGMR, Tri-County, Marshall County Central, Stephen Argyle, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo and Kittson Central. The Gators are proud members of both conferences and as you can see tough competition is the norm.

When figuring tournament standings every game that a team plays up until the tournament cutoff date (usually the end of the first week in March counts). Wins versus a 4A school count for 6 points, 3A 5 points, 2A counts as 4 points and 1A counts as 3 points. If a team losses a game they get 0 points. The total number of points a team earns during the year is divided by the total number of games played. This point total determines how a team is seeded. The Gators are part of the West Subsection. Teams that make up the west are BGMR, MCC, Tri-County, WAO, Kittson Central, Fisher-Climax, Sacred Heart, Grygla-Gatzek, Fertile, Goodridge and Stephen-Argyle. When tournament time rolls around the #6 Seed will play #11, #7 will play #10 and seeds 8 and 9 will square. Seeds 1-4 will have a bye. The second round will consist of #1 play the 8/9 winner, #2 playing the 7/10 winner and #3 playing the 6/11 winner. Meanwhile seeds 4 and five will square off. This continues until one team is crowned subsection champion. The west subsection champion will meet the east subsection champion to determine the team that goes to state.

Although the point system can be more confusing than determining and NCAA Football Champion and can be unfair to those teams that play a “tough” schedule it seems to be one of the best systems out there.

The BGMR coaching staff hopes this clarifies a bit about tournament seeding. Remember, every game counts.

RED LAKE DOWNS GATORS

A quick and feisty Red Lake teamed took it to the Gators in the first half, built a 12 point halftime lead and held on to defeat the Gator Boys 68-60. The game was played at Northland Community and Techincal College as part of their Super Saturday in which teams from the west subsection met teams from the east.

Red Lake’s quickness and hot shooting keyed a first half in which they built a 12 point. Offensively the Gators were as selfish as the Grinch at Christmas time and failed several times to pass to open teammates for easy baskets. The Gator defense was also non existent allowing several open shots and cutters going through the lane undisturbed.

The Gators came out much more inspired after halftime, fought back and managed to take a 4 point lead. The success however would be short lived as the Gatos went the next 5 minutes without scoring and Red Lake managed to built a sizeable 11 point lead. The Gators were down by 11 with a minute and a half to play when BGMR decided to make things interesting. After a 3 point basket by Adam Balstad and free throws by Jordan Holm after a Red Lake turnover BGMR got another steal and missed three wide open 3 point shots that would have cut the lead to 3 with 20 seconds to go. Red Lake however managed to secure the rebound and the Gators were forced to foul thus putting the game away.

Zac Creviston led the way in scoring for the Gators netting 26. Adam Balstad scored 10 and Jordan Holm again played excellent defense and poured in 9. Costly to the Gators was their dismal 7-21 shooting from the foul line.

Because of weather the Gators have been unable to see the floor for two days. This will present an interesting situation as the Warriors from Warroad come to down. The Warriors are looking to avenge an earlier season loss to the Gators and this will be a tough match-up as both teams are vying for the North Border Conference Championship.

DEFENSE KEYS GATOR WIN

The Eagles from Grgyla-Gatzke were coming off an impressive win versus Cass Lake on Tuesday night but the BGMR Gators Boys Basketball Team had an answer for the streaking Eagles and scored an 73-37 victory over the Eagles. The Gators rode their defense to a 39-13 halftime lead and continued to build on the lead in the second half.

The Gators had 4 individuals with double digit scoring. Zac Creviston led the way with 20. Allan Dostal had 15, Adam Balstad 12, and Nathan Stanelle poured in 11.

Defensively Jordan Holm did an outstanding job on Eagle sharp shooting guard Bret Johnson. Johnson was limited to 5 points and was harassed much of the night by Holm. Almost all Eagle shots were contested and the Gators did an outstanding job rebounding.

The Gators now continue their busy week with a game tomorrow versus Red Lake. Red Lake is a high octane team that can put up points in a hurry. It will be tough challenge for the Gators but one in which they are looking forward to. The game is at Northland Community and Technical College as part of their Super Saturday Showcase. Game time is 2:45 and the Gators hope to see you there as Red Lake always brings a big crowd wherever they go.

GATORS SWEEP RAMS

The BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Team played with passion and heart in their 83-48 victory over the Roseau Rams. The Gators who were coming off an 8 day break came out of the gate sizzling hot shooting 54% from the field in the first half. The Gators scored first and never looked back as they raced to a 48-24 halftime lead.

Although the Gators let up a little bit in the second half they were still able to build on their lead. All Gators who had playing time available got into the game and contributed one way or another.

Zac Creviston had another solid night scoring 29 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Allan Dostal also had a hot shooting hand and poured in 20. Jordan Holm had an extremely solid floor game and pumped in 14. Peter Wollin, who started in place of Tyler Maurstad who was home sick, ripped down 9 rebounds.

The win gave the Gators a 2 game sweep over the Rams this season. It also pushed the Gators record to 12-4.

BGMR will now travel to Grygla to take on the Eagles. The Eagles who had been struggling of late surprised many with a convincing win over Cass Lake on Tuesday night. Long time Grygla coach Vern Johnson always has his teams ready come tournament time and the Gators will have their work cut out for them against the hard working Eagle team.

The Gator basketball team would also like to take this time to congratulate teammate Allan Dostal and his family as Allan will be signing his letter of intent to play football as Bemidji State.

LACADASICAL PLAY COSTS GATORS

The BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Team made the 3 hour trip to Cass Lake to take on the heralded Panthers. BGMR however, seemed to forget that their was a basketball game and went through the motions in a 89-77 loss to the Panthers. BGMR managed to turn the ball over 26 times against the pressure defense of the Panthers and the Gators also managed to give up an incredible 17 offensive rebounds.

BGMR got little to no contributions from several of their players. Zac Creviston had an outstanding offensive night scoring 36 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Nathan Stanelle chipped in 17 points. No other Gator managed to make double figures and several had more turnovers than they had points or rebounds. Defensively Adam Balstad had a nice night, playing tough defense and had 3 assists.

Cass Lake was led by sharp shooter Martin Wind who poured in 26. Nate Howard had 18 and Ben Cameron absolutely muscled and banged the under matched Gators for 16 points.

All was not lost on the night as no Gator suffered an injury and were given a nice meal for the road by the Panther Boosters.

BGMR will now have a few days to lick their wounds and get back to work in practice. The Gators will have a tough four practices in which rebounding, developing stronger hands and playing tougher and with more heart will be stressed. The Gators hope to take this into their next game next Tuesday when the Gators travel to Roseau to take on the Rams. The Gators have a busy week next week as they will go to Grygla on Thursday and travel to Thief River Falls on Saturday to take on Red Lake.

GATORS WIN

Temperatures were below zero outside but the Gators Boy’s Basketball Team was sizzling in the Swamp as they ran away from the Lake of the Woods Bears by the score of 89-13. The Gators played tenacious defense much of the night and the young Bears were unable to muster much offense. BGMR took command of the game early and ran to a 51-8 halftime lead.

The Parents Night crowd was treated to even tougher Gator defense in the second half as the Gators limited the Bears to 5 second half points, with many of the Gator bench players seeing the bulk of the action.

Zac Creviston had 21 first half points and finished the game with 28. Jordan Holm poured in 13 and Allan Dostal dumped in 10. On a night in which all 14 Gators saw action 7 others got into the scoring column

BGMR now travels to Cass Lake to take on the Panthers on Monday night. The Panthers are a highly touted team and this will be a strong test for the Gators. Cass Lake has two 1,000 point scorers in Nate Howard and Martin Wind. Those two individuals can light it up from anywhere on the floor. Strong defense and ball control will be the key for the Gators.

GATORS BOUNCE BACK WITH VICTORY

The BGMR Gators Boys Basketball Team bounced back from Tuesday nights heartbreaking 1 point loss with a 88-53 victory over the Roseau Rams. The Gators left little doubt early in this one as they scored 56 first half points and took a commanding 28 point halftime lead. On the night the Gators blistered the basket shooting 54% from two point land and 78% (7 for 9) from three point land. Meanwhile the Gator full court defense took its toll on the Rams and led to several turnovers.

Zac Creviston again led the Gators in scoring with 20. He was joined in the double figure column by Allan Dostal and Jordan Holm with 14 points each. Senior Tyler Maurstad had perhaps his most aggressive game of the season and netted 10 points and ripped down 6 rebounds.

The Rams were led in scoring by Jordan Timmersman who had 12. Also in double figures were Ryan Olson and Eric Vatnsdal who scored 10 apiece.

The Gators will not have anytime to celebrate as they will take on the Lake of the Woods Bears tonight in the Swamp. Tonight is a special night in which all parents are honored between the junior varsity and varsity games. In is also a night in which the long standing tradition of having all seniors start a game will continue. This will mark the first varsity start for Senior Matt Green and one in which all fans are looking forward too as Matt is one of the hardest working Gators.

Although the Gator have only 1 game next week it will be a humdinger. The Gator boys travel to Cass Lake on Monday to take on the highly touted and defending Section 8A Champion Panthers. It will be a good road challenge for the Gators and one in which many basketball fans will have their eyes on.

HEARTBREAK

The BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Team suffered a heartbreaking 60-59 loss to the talented Storm from Stephen-Argyle. In a game that pitted two evenly matched teams the Storm hit several tough shots down the stretch and the Gators Jordan Holm 3 point shot at the buzzer rimmed out and sent the Gators into the loss column.

The Gators, who had fallen down by 9 in the second half, bit, scratched, and clawed their way back to put themselves in position to win the game down the stretch. BGMR however ran into foul trouble when Senior Allan Dostal fouled out with five and a half minutes left and senior Zac Creviston drew his fifth foul with a minute and a half left in the game. The Gator bench however played tough defense and the Storm missed a free throw. With just over 30 seconds on the clock the Gators had the ball and ran the time down to 12 seconds. After a time out Adam Balstad penetrated and eventually kicked out to Holm who had an open look but just missed on his 3 point attempt.

The Gators were lead in scoring by Zac Creviston. Despite receiving more attention than Barack Obama on inauguration day Creviston managed to pour in 30. Allan Dostal was the only other Gator in double figures as he netted 14. Stephen-Argyle received a strong game from senior Matt Borowicz who had 22. Sharp shooter Jared Jacobson poured in 11.

The Gators will now need to bounce back from a loss as they continue their tough week with a game against the Rams from Roseau. The Rams are a much improved team and have a good balance of inside and outside play. Ram coach Mike Hagel will have his team ready for this bitter rival.

This is also a reminder that Friday night is Parent’s Night as the Gators Take on the Bears from Lake of the Woods. Also at halftime of the varsity game members from this past summers 5,000 and 10,000 shot club will be recognized.

On Monday the Gators travel to Cass Lake to take on the high scoring Panthers. The Panthers have been averaging well over 100 points their past 5 games and have been showing that they are a force on the east side of the subsection.

The Gator boys hope that you can make it out and watch as their march to the post season continues.

GATOR BOYS SURPRISE WARRIORS

Stingy defense, patience on offense and hot first half shooting were all keys in the BGMR Gators 54-50 victory over the previously unbeaten Warroad Warriors.

BGMR used their tough defense and hot shooting while racing to a commanding 39-21 halftime lead. The Gators were blistering from the field in the first half going 7-12 from behind the 3 point line and 7 or 14 from two point land.

In a tale of two halves the Gator boys wanted to keep the fans interested and the relentless Warriors would not go down without a fight. For as hot as the Gators were in the first half shooting the ball they were just as cold in the second half. Warroad meanwhile continued to push tempo, switched from their vaunted 2-3 zone defense to a man to man defense and started to scratch and crawl their way back into the game. Warroad cut the Gator lead down to 2 with just over 2 minutes to play but BGMR got a critical basket from Zac Creviston and played hard nose defense down the stretch to preserve the victory.

Allan Dostal led the Gators in scoring with 19. Creviston chipped in 18 to be the lone Gators with double digits. Another key for the Gators was the rebounding of Adam Balstad who pulled down 6 rebounds from his guard spot. The Warriors were led in scoring by Matt Adams who had 19. Jack Phetganyhare and Brent Culleton threw in 10 each.

The Gators have a busy week. BGMR travels to Stephen on Tuesday night to take on the Storm. The Storm have been playing outstanding basketball and seem to be rounding in tournament form. It will be a tough road match-up for the Gators against a team that they have split with already this season.

BGMR returns home on Thursday to take on the Roseau Rams. The Rams are a much improved club and all records can be thrown out the door when these two rivals meet.

Friday is Parents Night and the struggling Bears from Lake of the Woods will come to town. Although the Bears haven’t won a game yet, Coach Bob Lane always has his Bears ready to play the Gators.

The temperature has warmed up and we hope that the Gator faithful can continue to come out and support the team as Gator Nation has been that needed sixth man all year.

GATORS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS

Temperatures outdoors were hovering around -30 degrees but the Swamp was hot with action as the BGMR Gators and Marshall County Central Nordics went toe to toe in high school boys basketball. In a game of spurts the Gators managed a few more spurts and came away with a 76-66 victory over the Nordics.

Leading by 5 at halftime the Gators came out and took control of the game in the second half and raced to an 18 point lead. The relentless Nordics however took the personality of their fiery coach and clawed back to within 9. The deficit however was too much to overcome and the Gators hit their free throws down the stretch to come away with the victory.

The Nordic’s Colby Owens whom the Gator coaching staff refers to as a young Shaq led all scorers with 27. Owens also ripped down 10 rebounds for the double double. The Gators were paced in scoring my Zac Creviston who had a quiet 23. Jordan Holm notched 17 and Allan Dostal poured in 15.

The Gators will now go on the road for their next two games. On Friday night the Gators travel to Warroad to take on an undefeated Warrior team. The Warriors have raced to an 8-0 start and are playing some great basketball. It will be a tough match-up for the Gators but a good test to see where the Gators are at.

On Tuesday the Gators travel to Stephen to take on the Storm. The Storm have also been playing well as of late and this will be another tough road test for BGMR.

GATORS HANDLE WILDCATS

Using a suffocating defense and playing perhaps their most complete game of the season the BGMR Gators ran past the Tri-County Wildcats 71-25. The Gator defense limited the Wildcats to 15 first half points and tighten up even more in the second half allowing only 10 points. A defensive spark came from Senior Matt Green who was outsized much of the time he was in but limited any individual he guarded to no points.

Meanwhile the Gator offense was clicking on all cylinders. The Gators shot 42% from the field and were 10 for 21 from 3-point land. BGMR had 4 individuals reach double figures in scoring. Zac Creviston led the way with 21 points with 19 of them coming in the first half. Allan Dostal poured in 15, Nate Stanelle continued his hot shooting with 14 and Brian Rhen contributed 10 points coming of the bench.

The win pushed the Gators record to 7-2. After having the weekend off the Gators will continue with their home stand tomorrow night when the Nordics from Marshall County Central come to the Swamp. The Nordics, are well coached and have a STRONG post player in Colby Owens. Owens is an intimidating inside force and will require a lot of attention from the Gators. Coach Jake Rantanen always has his team ready to play the Gators. It will be an intense match-up of two bitter rivals. Brave the cold and catch a hot high school basketball contest.

The Gators will hit the road on Friday when the travel to Warroad. Warroad is having an outstanding senior and has a veteran line-up that features a lot of size and ability. It should make for a great contest and a great week for Gator Basketball.

GATORS LASSO PONIES IN SWAMP THRILLER

The BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Team continued their winning ways with a hard fought 71-66 victory over the Ponies from Warren-Alvarado-Oslo. In a game that featured two of the areas premier players in the Gators, Zac Creviston and Ponies, Casey Larson, it was the play of the Gators bench that eventually led to victory.

Offensively the Ponies 3 point offense struggled a bit early and the Gators raced to a 43-34 halftime lead. The Ponies however came out of the half and eventually tied the game. The Gators did manage to retake the lead yet suffered through some serious foul trouble when starters Jordan Holm and Zac Creviston both fouled out at the 8:00 and 6:00 minute mark respectively. Many of the fans in attendance thought that with these two fouling out it would mean dume for the Gators. When many of the fans thought the refrigerator door was closed, the butter was getting hard, the eggs were coolin, and the jello was jiggling the Gator bench ripped open the refrigerator and chewed up all the leftovers. Sophomore Nathan Stanelle and Senior Allan Dostal provided a calming influence down the stretch as the tough Pony team made several runs. The Gators were cool from the free throw line as they iced the game and finished the game going 20-27 from the charity stripe.

BGMR was led in scoring by Stanelle who finished with 21 points. Creviston netted 20 and Dostal spun in 14. The Ponies were led by Casey Larson with 20 and Ryan Oas chipped in 19.

The Gators will continue their home stand on Friday night when the Wildcats from Tri-County come to town. Tri-County has been playing some excellent ball and are coming off a big win against Red Lake County. It will be a tough match-up for the Gators as the Wildcats have 6’8” center Tony Sang. BGMR however will look to defend their home territory in this 6 Star Conference match-up

GATORS SWAMP HUSKIES

The Goodridge Huskies showed the effects of not having a game for 2 weeks as the BGMR Gators Boy’s Basketball Team raced to an 86-50 victory. BGMR had leads up to 18 points in the first half but the pesky Huskies chopped it down to 12 at half. The Gators full court pressure took its toll on the Huskies in the second half with the Gators outscoring the Huskies 46-22 in the second half in route to the 36 point win.

BGMR had an outstanding shooting night from sophomore Nate Stanelle. Stanelle finished the night with 23 points, going 9 for 12 from the field including 4 for 5 from behind the 3 point line. Zac Creviston had another solid outing scoring 16 points, ripping down 7 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists. Also scoring in double figures for the Gators were Jordan Holm with 14 and Allan Dostal with 10. The Huskies were lead by Brett Bakken who dumped in 23.

The Gator’s major downfall on the night was the missing of several point blank shots in the paint. It is something the Gators will have to correct as they continue their season.

BGMR is at home again tonight when the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies come to down. The Ponies feature an explosive offense led by Cassy Larson and Ryan Osas. The Ponies have garnered votes and are pushing their way into the state rankings. This should be an outstanding match-up in a classic 6 Star Conference game. These two teams have won the conference the past 3 years and this game is a big step in deciding who will be the front runner this year.

Please keep in the mind that the Gator Parents will be hosting their annual Team Supper and Silent Auction Tonight. The proceeds help with the Gators summer program. Come on out and enjoy a taco in the bag and other treats and put in a bid for some outstanding auction iteams.

FLYERS CRUSH GATORS

Showing why they were a preseason top ten team in Class 3A the Little Falls Flyers crushed the BGMR Gators 77-33 in the opening round of the Little Falls Holiday Boys Basketball Tournament. The stifling Flyer defense held the Gators scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the game and when the Gators did have an open shot they were unable to convert. Although the Gator defense was equal to the challenge in the first 4 minutes of the game, Little Falls started clicking on all cylinders and led 44-26 at halftime.

Any hope for a Gator comeback was dashed by the Flyers when the Flyers opened up the second half with a 7-0 run. The Gators then lost all focus and were especially inept on the offensive scoring only 7 points in the second half. Meanwhile the Flyers dominated inside with Dan Kornbaum leading the way with 23 points. The Flyers also were scorching hot from outside going 9 for 17 (53%) from three point land.

A lone bright spot for the Gators was the play of Zac Creviston. Creviston notched 17 points and 8 rebounds. The Gators also showed some signs of good team basketball even though they hadn’t played a game in nearly 3 weeks.

With the loss the Gators would challenge Albany for third place in the tournament. Albany lost their first round game to a talented Pequot Lakes team.

GATORS CAPTURE THIRD

Showing resiliency and determination the Gators defeated the Huskies from Albany 82-68 to capture third place in the Little Falls Flyer Holiday Tournament. The Gators who had suffered a 44 point loss the previous night bounced back with a vengeance and controlled the Huskies for most of the game.

In a game in which the Huskies had a size advantage the Gators played outstanding team basketball and were also fundamentally stronger than the Huskies.

BGMR had several strong performances from many individuals. Adam Balstad played outstanding defense on the quick Husky guards. Tyler Maurstad picked up 7 rebounds and dished out 3 assists and Peter Wollin stepped in during the second half and showed that he could provide a physical inside presence that has been missing.

The Gators however received huge performances from seniors Zac Creviston, Allan Dostal and Jordan Holm. Each played the way they are capable and expected too. Creviston had 17 points and Dostal had 18 points at half. Creviston ended the game with 29 points and 9 rebounds and Dostal ended up with 19 points and 5 rebounds. Meanwhile Holm hit several key shots when the Gators were in a bit of an offense slump and these shots dashed any hopes of a Husky comeback. Holm ended up scoring 11.

With the win the Gators moved their record to 4-2. The Gator will take a couple days off for the New Years but will have a busy week next week. The Gators will be at home for the first time in close to a month when the host the Huskies from Goodridge. The Huskies will be looking for a little revenge as the Gators beat them in overtime earlier this season. An extremely talented Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony team comes to the Swamp for a game on Tuesday night. The Ponies have been picked by many as the team to beat in Section 8A and feature a powerful offensive team lead by Cassy Larson and Ryan Oas. To continue the busy week and the week long home stand the Gators take on Tri-County. Tri-County has struggled offensively this year but are always well coached and play tough defense.

The Gators hope that fans can brave the winter weather and come on out to the Swamp to catch their Gators in action. The team is playing hard and is getting better each game.

GATOR BOYS CAPTURE THIRD PLACE IN OVERTIME THRILLER

A relentless Goodridge Huskies team gave the BGMR Gators everything they could handle and then some but BGMR prevailed 66-64 and captured third place of the NCTC Holiday Tournament.

The Gators were out hustled and outplayed most of the game by Goodridge. The Huskies held a 6 point lead with 3 minutes remaining in the game. The Gators however did not roll over and fought back to tie the game when Zac Creviston hit a 3 pointer with 10 seconds left. After a time out the Gator defense forced the Huskies into a tough shot which was off the mark and forced overtime. In overtime the Gators were able to limit the Huskies to only 4 points but managed only 6 of their own but enough to pick up the win.

After sitting much of the first 3 games because of foul trouble Gator senior Zac Creviston had a monsterous night. Creviston scored 27 points, had 24 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. Jordan Holm also netted double figures in scoring with 13 points. Brett Bakken had a huge night for Goodridge. Bakken scored 25 points and hauled down 6 rebounds but ended up fouling out with 2 minutes left in regulation. Jordan Anderson and Brian Verbout also scored in double figures with 18 and 12 points respectively.

BGMR has now concluded their pre Christmas schedule going 3-1. The Gators will now have a week of practice before taking a week off for the holidays. The Gators will be back in action on December 29 when the travel to Little Falls to take on the Flyers. The Flyers went to state last season in Class 3A and have returned virtually their whole line-up. It will be a tough match-up for the Gators but one in which BGMR is hoping to show that there will be continued improvement.

The Gator Boys would also like to take this time to wish all of Gator Nation a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope to see you at the games as we have a busy schedule in January with several games being played at home.

STORM SURGE PAST GATORS

Poor shooting, spotty defense and horrible rebounding were the kiss of death for the BGMR Gator Boys Basketball Team in their 54-39 semifinal loss to Stephen-Argyle. The Strom defense smothered the Gators and BGMR was unable to muster any type of consistent shooting and team offensive play in the 15 point loss.

Trailing by 5 at halftime BGMR started the second half on a 5-0 run and tied the score. The Gators however went the next 10 minutes without scoring and the Storm took advantage of BGMR’s inept offense. The Gators managed a paltry 15 points in the second half. Zac Creviston led the Gators with 12 points, but again found himself in foul trouble and missed substantial time. No other Gator scored in double figures. The Storm meanwhile landed 3 individuals in double digits and were lead by John Safranski’s 15 points.

On Thursday night the Gators will be battling Goodridge for third place of the NCTC Holiday Tournament. The Gators hope to see you there as this will be their last game until after Christmas when the Gators will travel down to Little Falls for a tournament.

GATORS STOMP IN TOURNAMENT OPENER

The BGMR Gator Basketball team came out uninspired and slow in their first round match-up versus Red Lake County but soon got their heads into the game and ran away with an 80-51 victory over a young Rebel team.

Every Gator that suited up for the game got into the scoring column. The Gators were again led by sophomore Nathan Stanelle who poured in 15 points. Junior Brian Rhen contributed 14 points and Zac Creviston who again deciding he like sitting next to the coaching staff and found himself in foul trouble pumped in 12.

The catalyst for the Gators on this night however seemed to be Jordan Holm who picked up numerous steals, had 11 points and recharged a Gator team that looked like they were sleep walking for the first 10 minutes of the game. Holm pestered the Rebel guards like a little kid wanting Christmas to come early. This led to several Rebel turnovers and many more offensive possessions for the Gators.

With the win the Gators now move into tonight’s semifinal play and will take on the familiar Storm from Stephen-Argyle. This is a rematch of Friday nights game and one in which the Storm will be seeking revenge. It should be an outstanding match-up with a berth into the championship game on the line.

GATOR BOYS WIN OPENER

Courage, heart and fortitude are all adjectives that can be used to describe the Gators 57-53 win over the Storm from Stephen-Argyle. The Gator bench was forced into action early and responded to the challenge. Already without starter Allan Dostal (because of sickness), BGMR lost starting guard Adam Balstad within the first 10 minutes of the game with an apparent ankle injury. The Gators also had early foul trouble and were forced to sit standout forward Zac Creviston for long stretches because of fouls. The inexperienced Gators however fought of several runs by the Storm and down the stretch managed to seal the victory at the free throw line.

Leading by 4 at halftime BGMR pushed their lead up to 12 in the second half. The relentless Storm however tighten up the defense and got an outstanding offensive contribution from 6’5” center Matthew Borowicz. Borowicz had 16 points on the night with 10 coming in the second half.

Not to be outdone Gator sophomore guard Nathan Stenelle poured in 16 and was as cool as ice from the free throw line going 8 for 10. Although Creviston was in foul trouble for much of the night he did manage to pour in 14 points and ripped down 10 rebounds. The Gators did not manage to land any other players with double digit scoring but had Max Thompson and Peter Wollin throw in seven each and Brian Rhen and Jordan Holm knocked down 6 and 5 respectively.

The Gators will now play at the NCTC Holiday Tournament. The Gators open up tournament play on Monday at 3:00 and will face the Rebels from Red Lake County. The Gators are two time defending champions of the NCTC Holiday Tournament and hope to build on Friday night’s victory. The Gators are hoping for a roaring afternoon crowd and even if Gator fans can’t make it too the game they can listen to it on KTRF radio out of Thief River Falls.

GATOR BOYS LOOK TO CONTINUE THEIR WINNING WAYS

With over 33 student athletes signed up to play basketball the BGMR Boys Basketball Team is looking forward to the 2008-2009 campaign. The on court success the Gators experience last season going 24-4 will be tough to beat, however an energetic group is looking forward to the challenge.

Gone from last years team are; Jordan Creviston, Tyler Aune, Brandon Peterson and Carl Gaukerud. The loss of these three seniors to graduation is a major blow to the Gators as they combined for over 30 points per game, 15 rebounds, and 4 steals a game. BGMR does return 2 starters and have a slew of youngsters who will be fighting for playing time.

Seniors Zac Creviston and Allan Dostal will be looked at to lead the way for the Gators. Creviston is a player to watch in the area and has amassed over 1,200 career points. Creviston poured in over 19 points a game last season and was often assigned the opposing team’s best offensive player to guard.

Dostal has two years experience as a varsity player and gives BGMR the tough edge that is needed. Dostal is also a great defender and consistently hits the midrange shot.

Other seniors who will be battling to see the floor are Nick Ellis, Matt Green, Tyler Maurstad and Jordan Holm. Holm is the only one who saw extensive playing time as a junior and has the shooting touch that can kill opposing defensives. The others have been waiting for their chance and will have a chance to prove they deserve to play.

The junior class has 11 young men who are part of the basketball program. With that being said it should make for some intense practices and competition for playing time. Adam Balstad and Brian Rhen have shown that they may have the upper hand but Peter Wollin, Max Thompson, Corey Graff, Domario Rhen, and Micah Erickson could push for playing time. None of them have much if any varsity experience so it will be a growing process for all involved.

Sophomore Nathan Stanelle looks to have gotten much stronger over the summer and seems to want one of the guard spots for BGMR. Stanelle is an intelligent player and if he has improved his shooting consistency will get a heavy look by the Gator Coaching staff. Although they have some talent the other sophomores will need to realize what it takes to be successful at the varsity level in order to see varsity time

Freshmen Jakob Anderson and Nick Dostal gave up a lot of their time this past summer and chose to play with the Gators summer team. Both showed a lot of promise. Overcoming their inexperience will be a key as the pressure of playing varsity basketball is tough on even the veteran players.

The Gators will open up practice on November 24th. Their first game will come shortly after as the Gators will take on a tough Stephen-Argyle Storm team on December 5th.

The subsection will be a wide open race as many teams will be equal. The team that is playing best down the stretch, avoids injuries, comes together as a team, and gets a little lady luck will be the team that advances to the Section Tournament.

The Gator Boys Basketball team invites you to come along for the ride as they start their quest for an outstanding season. BGMR has experienced historic crowds the past two seasons and are looking to pack The Swamp every night. BGMR will play a fun, full court brand of basketball and will be a team that the communities in the school districts can be proud of.

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