In a non-conference matchup against the Royalton Royals on Tuesday, the Osakis boys basketball team jumped ahead early and never gave the lead back.
Seven minutes into the contest, Osakis led 18-2 thanks to intense defensive pressure, getting out on fast break scoring opportunities, and attacking the rim on offense.
“We built (the lead) with great transition defense,” Osakis head coach Matt Hoelscher said. “We did a great job of applying ball pressure, we forced long shots, we got rebounds and we were able to get out and run.”
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This combination of good perimeter defense, rebounding, and attacking the basket led Osakis (6-2) to beat Royalton (2-6) 65-49. It was the Silverstreaks first game against a Section 6AA opponent this season.
At the forefront of the Silverstreaks’ offensive attack was senior forward/center Brady Mages. The 6-foot, 4-inch post player led all scorers with 15 points while shooting an efficient 60% from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. He also had a team-high four assists.
Mages and the rest of the Silverstreaks were very efficient inside the arch, shooting 52% (24/46). That helped Osakis make up for 23% shooting from three (3-of-13).
Mages was one of three Silverstreaks to reach double figures in points, as senior guard Bauer Klimek added 12 points, and junior guard Stewart Jones added 10 points as well.
On the defensive end, the Silverstreaks had 14 steals. Sophomore Kyle Mages led them in steals with four. The 6-foot-3 forward also grabbed seven rebounds, which was second highest on the team as senior forward Carter Watnaas brought down 10 rebounds.
Osakis built a 38-22 lead by halftime that it would never see dip below 10 for the rest of the contest.
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Hoelscher said that he thought the team’s energy out of the gates was “great” but that Royalton was able to get back in the game in the final four minutes of the first half.
“The game [of basketball] is a game of runs,” Hoelscher said. “We’re gonna get hot, they’re gonna get hot, so we’ve got to find ways to not let them get on a roll. The energy is good. We just have got to maintain it whether we’re up 20, down 20, or a tie game.”
Osakis’ largest lead of the night was 19 when it was ahead 24-5 with 6:30 left in the first half.
But Royalton didn’t go away without a fight, outscoring Osakis 17-14 the rest of the half thanks to stringing together some made three-point jumpers.
In the first six minutes of the second half, the Royals fought back into the game as Osakis saw its lead trimmed to 44-34 with about 12 minutes to go.
“We have to find ways to stop the bleeding, and when we have leads to maintain it,” Hoelscher said.
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Osakis did find a way Tuesday to stop the bleeding and increase its lead and ultimately it’s margin of victory, to 16 points.
The Silverstreaks moved to 3-0 at home so far this season.
As to how to build off of Tuesday’s win, Hoelscher said it’s about finding ways to build on big leads.
“We just got to do better, better as a staff, as a group, because what we end up doing is we get leads, and then we start playing lackadaisical,” Hoelscher said. “We don’t move our feet, we start fouling, we take bad shots, and we let guys come back out and run.”
Following this home win, Osakis hits the road to face West Central Area (7-1) on Thursday.
Osakis 65, Royalton 49
Osakis totals - FG- 27-59; Three-point FG - 3-13- FT 8-12; Assists - 14; Blocks- 2; Rebounds- 34; Steals- 14; Turnovers- 19.
Osakis - Brady Mages - 15 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds; Bauer Klimek - 12 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals; Stewart Jones - 10 points, 1 assist, 6 rebounds; Isaac Maddock- 7 points, 1 rebound; Chayce Meyer 4 points; Mekai Hoelscher 4 points, 1 rebound; Carter Watnaas- 3 points, 3 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
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