Southland boys basketball team holds off Winona Cotter
Published 11:00 pm Monday, December 22, 2014
Soutlhland’s Josh Anderson gets inside for a score against Winona Cotter’s Noah Nachtigal in Adams Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
ADAMS — The Southland boys basketball team has matured a little bit more with each game this season, and the squad took a pretty big step forward in Adams Monday night.
The Rebels held off a late run from Winona Cotter to walk away with a 77-69 win.
Southland had led 60-47 with 6:20 left in the game, when the Ramblers (1-8 overall, 1-6 Three Rivers) caught fire. Cotter scored 21 points over the next five minutes to get within 70-68, but Southland was able to hold on.
Jackson Koenigs hit a pair of free throws to make it 72-68 Rebels with 1:21 left and Cotter never had a chance to tie the game.
“The best thing is we stayed composed with the kids that we had out there,” Southland head coach Matt Webber said. “I’ve got a young squad.”
Josh Anderson, a junior center, and Chris Webber, a sophomore guard provided the bulk of the offense for the Rebels (5-5 overall, 3-4 Three Rivers). Anderson scored 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting with nine rebounds and Webber had 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, while going 9-for-11 from the field.
Webber, who fouled out of the game, played just a handful of minutes in the second half, but he still managed to score 10 points in the second frame.
“I’m his dad and I’m hard on him,” Matt said. “Coach [Scott] Retterath and I keep reminding him he’s got to stay on the floor. He’s effective when he stays on the floor. He’ll learn.”
Southland’s James Landherr looks to make a pass against Winona Cotter in Adams Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Chris said that he’s aware that he needs to avoid foul trouble and he said the seniors on the team have done a good job of helping out the younger players, which also include starting guard Jared Landherr, a freshman who had 10 points Monday.
“All of the seniors are helping us develop and they set us up for shots,” Chris said.
The Rebels have now won four of their last six games and Anderson said the team is feeling much better about where it stands now.
“It’s going better now,” he said. “The ball is flowing around more and we’re getting easier shots. They’re getting me the ball a lot and I just try to make my shots.”
Southland will take a week off before it plays in the Hayfield tournament Dec. 29.
Cotter 27 42 — 69
Southland 36 41 — 77
Southland scoring: Josh Anderson, 23; Chris Webber, 19; Jackson Koenigs, 13; Jared Landherr, 10; Michael Schmitz, 8; James Landherr, 4; free throws: 53 percent (18-for-34); rebounds: 45 (Anderson, 9); turnovers: 19
