Tuesday's boys' basketball game between Watertown and Mitchell was a rematch of last year's AA state title game, though the teams on the court both looked drastically different than last year.
The result was the same though, as Watertown beat Mitchell 55-41 at the Corn Palace in a game that largely turned into free-throw practice for the visiting Arrows.
Watertown didn't shoot especially well from the foul line, but made up for it with 39 attempts, including 23 in the first half alone. The Arrows finished 24-for-39 from the foul line; Mitchell was 3-for-4.
"You can't let a team shoot 39 free throws and you shoot four, and expect to win a basketball game," Mitchell coach Gary Munsen said. "That's just not going to happen."
Mitchell was firing on all cylinders early before the free-throw disparity allowed Watertown to take control. Brett Young scored the Kernels' first 10 points and 18 of their first 22 as Mitchell raced out to a 22-13 lead with 5:56 left in the first half.
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"Brett Young really hurt us early," Watertown coach Brian Norberg said. "We didn't do a very good job of coming off screens. You know you're going to get screened a lot trying to guard him, and we did a very poor job early."
But as the Kernels began to turn the ball over and scored only two points in the remainder of per game) and assist-turnover ration (1.5).
"I think it's really important we handle the pressure on their home floor," Hemenway said. "I think they're going to get up on us and guard us and really try to force shots. So I think it's imperative we handle the ball and make sure we are a sharp-passing team."
The Mustangs boast three of the league's top scorers in Nick Thompson (15.4), Seth Atkins (14.3) and Eddie Mars (14.7), but Dakota Wesleyan will answer with Wiebe (16.4 points per game), Chase Walder (10.7), Ike Muoneke (10.5) and Mitch Bain (10.4).
The Dakota Wesleyan women also have a tough game tonight.
The Tiger women (11-12, 4-7) take on the undefeated and top-ranked Mustangs at 6 p.m. Morningside is 23-0 and 11-0 in the GPAC. It hasn't had a game closer than 10 points since Nov. 14, and has won all of its GPAC game by double figures.
The Mustangs have a very balanced offense. Autumn Bartel leads the team with 14.3 points per game, but Brittany Williamson (12.9), Laura Nelson (12.6) and Dani Gass (10.9) also average double figures. Gass also averages 5.4 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 4 steals per game.
Allison Johnson leads the Tigers with 15.5 points per game and Sarah Mortenson is second with 10.6. Mortenson and Johnson are tied with 56 assists apiece and Mortenson has a team-high 47 steals.
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"They're very good, obviously," DWU women's coach Aaron Kahl said of Morningside after Sunday's game against Hastings. "We're going to have to put forth our best effort."
