By Brian Hansel / Wadena Pioneer Journal
The Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines were two points shy Friday night in a strong bid for their first victory of the 2014-2015 basketball season.
The Wolverines went toe-to-toe with Park Rapids in a Mid-State duel that ended in a 58-56 victory for the hometown Panthers.
Jason Mielke's WDC team, which lost the bulk of their scoring to graduation last spring, got 16 points from Tanner Horn and 12 from Dacotah Mittag. Konnor Stueve and Alex Redfield dropped in eight apiece.
The Wolverines kept the game close through both halves. WDC trailed the Panthers 32-29 at the halftime break.
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Jordan McCollum led a balanced scoring effort by the Panthers with 11 points. Hunter Jewison tallied 10.
The Wolverines will host Pillager Thursday and will wrap up the regular season Friday on the road against Lake Park-Audubon.
PARK RAPIDS (58)
Riley Massie 5, Adam Herberg 4, Nicolas Lopez 8, Damion Hanke 5, Jordan McCollum 11, Derek Porozinski 6, Remington Hagen 5, Hunter Jewison 10, Tanner Becker 4.
WADENA-DEER CREEK (56)
Konnor Stueve 8, Tanner Horn 16, Jack Goeden 4, Alex Carlson 5, Wyatt Fitzsimmons 2, Alex Redfield 8, Noah Ross 1, Dacotah Mittag 12.
Wadena-Deer Creek 29 27 - 56
