Brett Przymus came down with a rebound.

By Byron Higgin, Mascot Publisher

"We took them right out of the game in the second half," said Minneota boys' basketball Coach Val Whipple after his team defeated Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 71-52.

Trailing 31-27 at the half, Minneota came out and scored 44 points to put the game away. The difference?

"We had a decent tempo," the coach said about the second half.

They had lots of troubles at halftime. Zac Corbin sat most of the first half with three fouls. Then Tony Noyes hurt his ankle and after the game had developed a knot the size of a baseball. Coaches were hoping it was a high ankle sprain and not a break. It was the opposite ankle from the one he hurt in football.

But in the second half this was a whole different team. Brett Przymus picked up his defensewhile Zac Corbin and Shane Hennen began putting the ball in the hoop.

"In the first half we missed too many cripples," Coach Whipple said, especially Will Kurka underneath. The second half they began going in for Kurka.

And RTR's offense, which was so effective the first half, fell off to just 21 second half points as the Minneota zone didn't allow RTR to get the ball inside.

Shane Hennen had 21 points with 11 assists. When he was told he had that many assists he said, "Yes!" Coach Whipple added, "That's been his goal."

Corbin ended with 17 points and seven rebounds. Kurka had a nice second half and ended with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Coming off the bench for a good night was Jacob Cheadle. he had nine rebounds. The same for Brandon Anderson, who scored eight points with four rebounds.

Przymus, while scoring just five points, had five defensive rebounds, five assists and four steals during a solid defensive night.

"I was happy with the ball game when we play that way (like they did the second half," said Coach Whipple.

The Vikings are now 2-1 on the year and host Renville County West at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.