Boys’ basketball returns home in fine style with rousing win

Playing at home for the first time in the month of December, the Glencoe-Silver Lake boys’ basketball team ran roughshod over visiting Norwood Young America on Friday, Dec. 21.
The Panthers, who have been on the road since a season-opening win on Nov. 30, improved to 2-0 on their home court with a 68-42 defeat of their Section 2AA rival.
After a slow start to the game that saw the Raiders holding a 4-0 lead over four minutes into the contest, GSL heated up on the offensive end and promptly took the lead for good.
After a free throw from guard Dane Schwirtz gave the Panthers their first point at the 4:25 mark of the half, GSL needed just 20 seconds to score its next four on a pair of buckets by forwards Gabe Roepke and Gage Alsleben.
With the Panthers cranking out scorching defensive heat via the full court press for most of the contest, NYA wilted under the pressure at the hosts ran into the halftime locker room up 38-24.
The second half featured more of the same, as GSL was unrelenting in its press.
A layup by Ty Christensen less than six minutes into the half gave the Panthers a 50-29 lead and they kept their edge in the low-to-mid 20-point range for the remainder of the contest before winning by 26.
Roepke and fellow forward Austin Barrett led a balanced GSL offensive effort with 14 points apiece.
Guard Mitchel Klockmann chipped in 11 points. Ten Panthers scored in all.
The victory came on the heels of a 70-50 loss at St. Peter on Tuesday, Dec. 18, that concluded a six-game road trip.
Roepke led GSL with 14 points in the defeat.
The 1-1 week gave the Panthers a 5-3 overall record heading into the holiday break. The NYA win upped GSL’s record against Section 2AA rivals to 5-1 on the season.
The Panthers are now home until Jan. 15. GSL hosts its annual holiday tournament this Thursday and Friday, tipping off against Lester Prairie at 7:15 p.m. Thursday night.