Photo by Jake Przytarski Minneota’s Thomas Hennen tries to score over a WWG defender during their game on Friday. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 71-62.

MINNEOTA - The top-ranked Minneota boys basketball team survived a second-half scare in the first round of the Candy Cane Classic, escaping with a 71-62 victory over the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers who came within five points of tying the Vikings late in the second half after trailing by 17 at halftime.

Playing in a tightly-contested game for the first time all season, Vikings coach Dave Busselman was happy to come away with the win but believes his team played timid at times.

“I think we played a little timid,” said Busselman. “We haven’t had a lot of close games, but a wins a win. This is a quality opponent.”

Both teams came out shooting red-hot from the field in the opening minutes of play beginning with Thomas Hennen draining a deep three to open up the scoring for the Vikings. Answering right back, the Chargers received baskets from Andrew Quade and Parker Freeburg down-low that tied the game at six apiece.

Slowly but surely Minneota began to create separation thanks to strong shooting from behind the arc that propelled the VIkings to a 10-0 run and a 24-14 lead.

Continuing to push the pace, the Minneota offense was lifted down the stretch of the first half by Nolan Boerboom, who pushed the team to its largest lead of the half at 38-18 before the Chargers received a late 3-point shot by Wyatt Christians to make it 38-21 at the half.

Staring down a steep deficit, WWG coach Derrick Jenniges made some key adjustments heading into the second half and established goals for the team to attack in order to get themselves back in the game.

“At halftime all we did was try to make a couple adjustments defensively, look for a couple pockets offensively and set a goal,” said Jenniges. “Like lets try to win the first six minutes (or) lets try to cut this thing in half, just small steps and I thought we did a great job.”

The plan worked as the Chargers began the second half on a 6-0 run and continued to battle even after Thomas Hennen knocked down consecutive 3-point shots to push the lead back to 17 points.

Midway through the half with the Vikings still holding a comfortable lead at 51-38, the Chargers took advantage of Minneota’s foul troublesand capitalized at the free-throw line to set in motion a 11-5 run and create a whole new ballgame with the score 56-49.

In need of an answer, the Vikings leaned once more on their strong outside shooting with Riley Buysse knocking down a critical 3-point shot that pushed the lead back to double-digits.

Unwilling to fold, Quade all but took over in the latter stages of the second half for the Chargers and brought the game to it’s closest score since the first half at 67-62. It would not be enough, however, as the Vikings picked up big free throws from Thomas Hennen to earn the 71-62 victory.

No stats were available at press time.

Both teams will return to action today to conclude the Candy Cane Classic with WWG taking on Heron Lake-Okabena at 10:30 a.m. while the Vikings take on the Lakeview Lakers in the championship at 1 p.m.

Looking ahead, Busselman is hoping for a stronger defensive effort in their next game.

“I think we need to play a little better defense,” Busselman said. “We’re going to try to come out with a little more energy and pressure the basketball.”

Facing a quick turnaround, Jenniges is hoping for his team to come to the gym well-rested in order to play at their full potential.

“It’s a tough turnaround,” said Jenniges. “We’re not going to get home until late and then have to wake up and do it again so most of all we just want to be rested.”