Glenville-Emmons earns postseason win at home

GLENVILLE — The Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball team defeated Alden-Conger 55-50 in a slugfest between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in Section 1A on Tuesday.

“When we talked to our seniors before the game, we told them this was the last time they are going to play in this gym,” Glenville-Emmons head coach Jared Matson said. “They all really stepped up.”

A 3-pointer by Derek Van Ryswyk gave the Wolverines an eight-point lead, and Nick Anderson extended the advantage to double digits (10-0) with a basket in the paint.

With more than half of the first-half in the books, Alden-Conger had yet to score.

A jump shot from Dom Ofsdahl broke the dry streak for the Knights. The basket began a 19-9 run for Alden-Conger.

“We were down, and we fought back,” Alden-Conger head coach Bill Hintz said. “We’ve been down in many games, but we’ve never given up.”

In the second half, another 3-pointer by Van Ryswyk gave Glenville-Emmons’ a five-point lead. But, Alden-Conger’s Matt Erickson scored on thee straight possessions to give the Knights their first lead of the game (25-24).

“Like I tell the guys all the time, basketball is a game of runs,” Matson said. “We’ll make a run, and we’ve got to know that they will as well.”

Glenville-Emmons answered on its next possession with a 3-pointer by Derek Olson. Olson scored again on the next possession to give the Wolverines a 29-25 lead.

“Our seniors played hard,” Matson said. “Derek got a bloody nose in the second half, ran to the locker room, plugged it up with something and came right back out.”

Alden-Conger re-captured the lead shortly thereafter on a three-point play by Elijah Hallman (30-29).

Glenville-Emmons hit shots from downtown on its next two possessions to take a lead it would not relinquish.

Alden-Conger finished the season 3-21 overall, 1-9 in the Valley Conference and 1-8 in Section 1A-West.

Glenville-Emmons is 6-20 overall, 4-14 in the Southeast Conference and 5-16 in Section 1A-West.

The Wolverines advance to play at No. 1 seed Blooming Prairie at 7 p.m. on Thursday.