“We started out very well and settled in nicely after getting the offense going early, which started with our defense,” commented Barnesville Head Coach Matt Askegaard. “We changed a few things up schematically and went back to our bread and butter, mainly our half court man-to-man. The last game and a half I felt I spread us to thin by going with some 3/4 trap, which there will be a time and place for that, but we need to focus on what we do best defensively and that is straight up man-to-man. I told the boys we need them to take pride in who they are guarding by keeping them out of the middle of the paint. This also allows for better, more under controlled closeouts.”

Leaders for the Trojans were Tate Inniger (19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Carson Hagen (12 points, 2 assists, 2 steals), Owen Riddle (11 points), Gannon Bolgrean (11 points, 11 steals, 4 assists), Isaac Maneval (9 points, 3 rebounds) and Wyatt Suter (7 points, 6 rebounds).

“We also had the same focus on the offensive end,” continued Coach Askegaard. “Yes, we want to push the ball, but when it's not there we cannot force it. We did a much better job tonight of not just moving the ball, but moving it and allowing our cutters to cut and have some easy looks at the basket. When that happens it allows for some wide open shots on the perimeter and we knocked a bunch down tonight. Owen Riddle hit 3 in the first half and Carson Hagen had another good night from deep going 4/5. I didn't mention Tate's 19 and Gannon's 11 which were all in the 2nd half. We are very tough to guard when we are sharing the ball.” 

Barnesville is now 7-3 overall, 2-2 in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference and they will host DGF at 2:30 on Saturday.