Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

submitted by Gregg Iverson

The Roseau Rams boys’ basketball season is underway and they are three games in. This team has a completely different look from last years. After graduating ten seniors off of last year’s team, this year’s team has one senior, in Jace Hulst, who did play a key role coming off the bench last year. Two others, David Nelson and Jere Bender also saw some playing time. After a record-breaking year, this year, Coach Hayden, his staff and the team will have their challenges.

First game of the year was on December 3rd at home versus Thief River Falls. This also happened to be a double header with the girls playing as well. Great entertainment value for the price of one admission!

This would be the first game for the Prowlers as well. You can imagine that both coaches would be implementing a few different looks and plays trying to get a good chemistry. The start of the first half was back and forth, with TRF coming out with the early lead. About half way through the Rams would take the lead at 10-9. That would be the last lead the Rams would have and would find themselves down at the half, 36-18. Roseau did make up a little ground in the second half, but the 18-point deficit was just too much. They ended up losing 75-49. My takeaway on this game, was that there were just too many missed shots from under the basket or close enough to, that should have been made. Leading scorers for Roseau were David Nelson and Aiden Walsh, each with 10 pts.

Two days later, 12/5, the Rams would find themselves in the gym at Grygla, taking on the Goodridge-Grygla Chargers. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it, the gym in Grygla has not been too kind to the Rams over the years! Coach Hayden, just two games into the season, is still trying to feel out the players and into what roles and what combinations are going to work out best. G-G would put the first two points on the board, but then the Rams would answer back with their only lead of the game at 3-2. After that it was pretty much back and forth, but Roseau just could not get on the plus side of the margin. The Chargers would have a narrow 25-23 lead at the half. The ball just wasn’t falling through the hoop for Roseau tonight. Shooting a dismal 29% from the field and going 6-32 for 18% from three point land. Tough to make up any ground with those figures. Roseau would end up losing this one 50-41. A few other things I noticed in the stats is that the Rams had twelve steals, Grygla had 24 turnovers, but we lost the rebound battle and only had two second chance points. That will be something that needs to be improved upon. Leading scorers for Roseau were Jed Dunham 15, Dave Nelson 11, and Jace Hulst 10.

December 10th, Roseau would travel to Lancaster to take on the Kittson County Central Bearcats. This team is a co-op of Lancaster, Hallock, Kennedy, and probably a few from the Lake Bronson area as well. Basketball is THE sport with the towns in the Red River Valley area. Good consistent programs year end and year out. KCC would score first and never gave up that lead through the rest of the game, with only two ties at 5-5 and 12-12. The Bearcats would be up by 13 at the half, 33-20. The second half scoring would be better with KCC having the edge 28-27. Final score, KCC 61 Roseau 47. The most glaring stat that stands out to me in this game and has been pretty much the same in the previous two games is the low three pt shooting percentage. This game the Rams were 3-21 for 14%, versus KCC’s 50%. Now I’ve heard many sports announcers and analysts say, “You live by the three, you die by the three.” That is correct, however, this is definitely something the Rams need to improve on. Practice those shots more or be more selective in their shots. Leading scorers for Roseau were Jace Hulst 15 and Jed Dunham 11.

Next up for Roseau will be Warroad at home on 12/12, EGF at home on 12/17 and Northern Freeze away on 12/20. Hope to see you at some games. Remember to support all Ram activities, it’s the best ticket in town!