Mannie Ukutegbe took over in the second half to spark Aitkin to a 70-41 Mid-State Conference victory over the Park Rapids boys basketball team at the Area High School gym on Friday, Jan. 31.
The Gobblers led 33-29 early in the second half before the 6-foot-7 senior center scored 18 points during a 22-5 run. Ukutegbe converted a three-point play and hit four free throws before throwing down a dunk as Aitkin led 42-30 with 12:45 to play. A basket off a rebound, another three-point play and an alley-oop dunk gave the Gobblers a 55-34 advantage with 7:50 left.
Jeff Haas hit a 3-pointer to make it 55-37 with 7:18 remaining before two 3-pointers by Hunter Nissen gave Aitkin a 62-37 advantage with 5:40 to play. Park Rapids managed only four free throws the rest of the way.
A 3-pointer by Mason Yliniemi and layups by Haas and Nick Michaelson gave the Panthers a 10-8 lead with 12:09 to play in the first half. A 3-pointer by Kade Hopperstad gave Aitkin a 13-10 edge at the 11:25 mark. The Gobblers would lead the rest of the game.
A layup by Michaelson and two inside baskets by Gabe Arola kept the Panthers within 18-16 at the 7:57 mark before Nissen and Jaelend Williams hit 3-pointers as Aitkin led 24-18 with 6:13 remaining before the break. A jumper by James Hartig and a 3-pointer by Noah Morris cut the gap to 24-23 at the 4:02 mark and Hartig hit another jumper as Park Rapids trailed 31-26 at the half.
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Ukutegbe opened the second half by scoring off a rebound before Haas hit a 3-pointer as the Panthers trailed 33-29. The senior center dominated inside and Nissen hit another 3-pointer as Aitkin claimed a commanding 21-point lead.
Ukutegbe’s 29 points and Nissen’s 17 points led the Gobblers, who improved to 4-3 in the conference and 9-9 overall. Aitkin defeated the Panthers 50-35 on Dec. 17.
Haas finished with 12 points as the Panthers fell to 1-6 in conference games and 2-16 overall. Pequot Lakes and Detroit Lakes share the top spot in the conference standings with 6-1 records.
AITKIN: Gabrio 0 2-2 2, Ukutegbe 10 9-13 29, Nissen 5 3-4 17, Hagen 1 0-0 2, Hopperstad 3 2-2 9, Price 0 0-0 0, MacDonald 1 0-0 2, Williams 1 1-2 4, Much 1 0-0 3, Palm 1 0-1 2. Totals: 23 (FG), 17 for 24 (FT).
PARK RAPIDS: Hartig 2 01 4, Haas 4 2-5 12, Michaelson 4 1-2 9, K. Brandt 0 0-0 0, Morris 1 0-0 3, Olson 0 0-2 0, Reish 0 1-2 1, Arola 2 0-2 4, Walsh 0 1-2 1, Yliniemi 1 0-0 3, Harmon 0 0-0 0, VanBatavia 0 1-2 1, H. Brandt 0 0-0 0, Phillippi 0 0-0 0, Ohm 1 1-2 3. Totals: 15 (FG), 7 for 20 (FT).
Halftime: Aitkin 31, Park Rapids 26. Three-pointers: Nissen 4, Hopperstad 1, Williams 1, Much 1, Haas 2, Morris 1, Yliniemi 1. Team fouls: Aitkin 15, Park Rapids 19. Fouled out: Michaelson.
EGF defeats Panthers
East Grand Forks broke open a close game at halftime with a 44-28 run in the second half in a 68-48 Section 8AA victory over the Panthers at East Grand Forks on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Julian Benson (19), Tyler Aamodt (15), Nathan Willett (14) and Sam Votava (10) scored in double figures for the Green Wave, who improved to 8-0 in section games and 15-0 overall. EGF was rated No. 7 in the latest state Class AA poll.
Michaelson (15) and Shawn Ohm (11) hit double figures for the Panthers, who fell to 1-9 against section opponents.
PARK RAPIDS: Haas 1, Arola 5, Yliniemi 3, Michaelson 15, K. Brandt 6, Ohm 11, Morris 7.
EAST GRAND FORKS: Willett 14, Vasek 4, Votava 10, Haavig 2, Aamodt 15, Benson 19, Mahar 2, Campos 2.
Halftime: EGF 24, Park Rapids 20.
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