GM offense struggles in loss

Published 10:23 pm Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Grand Meadow's Caleb Leichtnam drives driving past Meford's John Lambert during the first half Wednesday night in Grand Meadow. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

GRAND MEADOW — The Grand Meadow boys basketball team couldn’t find any offense in a 60-22 loss to Medford in the GM tournament Thursday.

The Superlarks (1-6 overall) trailed 20-5 with 8:44 left in the first half and Caleb Leichtnam hit a three to make it 20-8 with 8:22 left but that was as close as GM would get.

The Larks had 19 turnovers in the first half and 35 on the night.

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“I think we set the game back fifty years,” GM head coach Chad Burmester said. “It’s hard when you’re not taking care of the ball.”

Medford (3-5 overall) hit just one perimeter shot and it shot 23 percent from the free throw line, but the Tigers made their living in the paint as they out-rebounded GM 41-25.

“We didn’t rotate on defense and we played like five individuals instead of one team,” Burmester said.

Burmester pulled his starters early in the second half and let his bench gain some experience.

“You wish the score would be the other way, but it’s good for those guys to get in a varsity game for an extended period,” he said. “We’re young on the bench and we’re still looking at what we have.”

Medford 30 30 — 60

GM 12 10 — 22

GM scoring: Bryce Benson, 8; Caleb Leichtnam, 6; Andrew Riedemann, 6; Dezmon Johnson, 2; free throws: 44 percent (4-for-9); rebounds: 25 (Benson, 8); turnovers: 35

Medford scoring: Daniel Peterson, 15; Alex Spinler, 12; Garett Taylor, 6; Alex Borwege, 5; Colby Judd, 4; Kade Cronin, 4; Jacob Pratt, 4; Kyle Clevenger, 2; Jon Lambert, 2; Elijah Chapple, 2; Tyler Herring, 2; Tyler Gedicke, 1; free throws: 23 percent (4-for-17); rebounds: 41; turnovers: 19