Photo by Jake Przytarski Minneota’s Jacob Citterman goes up for a shot during Monday’s home game against Ortonville. The Vikings won the game 57-47 over the Trojans.

MINNEOTA –After snapping their two-game losing skid with a hard-fought win over Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg last Thursday, the Minneota boys basketball team followed it up on Monday with another crucial victory at home over Ortonville in a 57-47 final.

The Vikings got off to an especially slow start on the offensive end of the floor to begin the contest as the Trojans carried the play in the opening minutes to take a 5-0 lead. Nolan Boerboom, who went on to finish with six points in the win, got Minneota on the board with a layup before baskets by Alex Saltzer and Joey Rybinski gave the Vikings the lead for the first time at 6-5.

Minneota’s top scorers Logan Sussner and Cale Sorenson ensured that their lead was in safe keeping by leading the charge offensively for the remainder of the half with a combined 18 of the team’s 28 points.

With the offense beginning to click, the Vikings were able to build up some momentum into the break with a 28-20 advantage following a made three-pointer by Sorenson. Sorenson led all scorers with 10 points through the first 18 minutes.

When play resumed for the second half, Sussner made his presence felt right out of the gate with a big rebound and a putback that drew contact for the foul. At the free throw line, Sussner made one of two of his shots to make it 29-20 before a pair of baskets by Boerboom gave Minneota its first double-digit advantage at 33-22.

The Trojans went on to battle back and make it a nine-point game after trailing by as many as 14 minutes earlier, but the comeback would fall short in the end as the Vikings had an answer for every Ortonville basket down the stretch to win 57-47.

Minneota (8-6) will be back in action today when the team travels to Madison to take on Lac qui Parle Valley (10-2) at 7:30 p.m.

Minneota 57, Ortonville 47

Minneota 28 29 — 57

Ortonville 20 27 — 47

Overall FG percentage: Minneota 35.1% (20-57); Ortonville 40.5% (17-42)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

SCORING: Minneota (Sorenson 21, Sussner 16, Boerboom 6, Saltzer 5)

REBOUNDING: Minneota (Sussner 24, Rybinski 10, Citterman 4)

ASSISTS: Minneota (Boerboom, Rybinski 2, Sorenson, Sussner 1)

BLOCKS: Minneota (Sussner 2)

STEALS: Minneota (Boerboom, Buysse, Rybinski 2, Saltzer, Sorenson, Sussner 1)