Winhawk’s Youth Propels them to Second Victory of Season, Other Area Scores and Matchups

(KWMN)- Sophomore James Ramsey led the Winhawks with 16 points, highlighted by a two-handed slam in the first half, and Aden Pozanc and Clayton Mlynczak chipped in for 12 a piece as the Winona Boys topple La Crescent on their homecourt, 58-53.

“Feels good to get a win in this gym for those guys,” Head Coach, Kyle Martin said afterward. “They battled. They worked hard. They put their plan in motion, which is what you need here in February. [We’re] Building.”

Winona led early on, fighting through a slow start offensively to hold a 25-19 lead with under five minutes to play in the first half. La Crescent answered with an 11-2, to take a 30-27 lead into the break. For the majority of the second half, Winona played in a deficit, staying in the game, slowly gnawing away at the La Crescent lead.

Winona managed to tie the game up late at 50-50. In the final moments, the defense, and free throws got the job done for Winona, and they took home the victory. Their first on their home court this season.

The Winhawks earned just their second win of the season to move to 2-17 on the year. The record shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, being they’re starting multiple underclassmen, and grabbing more underclassmen off the bench for crucial minutes.

Martin told me before the game that his new message for the team was ‘putting the shovels away.’ Describing the message as one that emphasizes the notion that often times this team plays 25, even 30 to 33 minutes of really good basketball. It’s the brief and seemingly fleeting lulls the team goes on that leads to them ‘digging a hole’ as Martin put it. Those moments are the difference in many of their games this season.

Like against Albert Lea last Friday night, possessing a seven-point lead before digging one of those holes, and in turn losing the game.

“Towards the end of that first half, that’s where I felt that moment [coming]…We talked to them, ‘It’s O.K.’, they came out in the second half, they kept their heads, they believed, and the shovels were put away in the second half. I don’t see us taking ’em back out. Hopefully.”

The youth wave is no cliche. James Ramsey, Collin Serwa and Coby Mlynczak (who missed last night’s game due to injury), are all often featured in the starting lineup as sophomores.

Ramsey had arguably his best game of the season last night. Boasting a season-high 16 points, including an emphatic dunk in the first half.

“I love watching him play,” Martin said. “His energy is something that we can thrive off of, he can be our engine. He’s got big plays; he’s a momentum getter. Once we add that defensive piece to his game, and we excel at offense, I think he’s going to be a stud. A guy to watch.”

Clayton Mlynczak also played a big piece in last night’s game. The freshman scored 12 points, including two buckets late that were huge in finding the win. Martin says that Clayton proved he belongs on the court, regardless of his freshman status. Going on to say that he might be the team’s best passer, as well as one of the smartest on the team.

Mixing the youth with the likes of Seniors Aden Pozanc, and Deion Prolo, it feels like the Winhawks are starting to figure something out as sections are just around the corner.

Martin had a simple message for his team after the game, who will face Owatonna in a quick turnaround later tonight. That Message,

“Build.”

Other Area Scores and Matchups

Girls

Cotter (14-7) 53-43 Lake City (10-11)

Houston (14-7) 30-65 Grand Meadow (18-2)

St. Charles (4-16) 34-60 Pine Island (6-15)

Boys

Houston (12-6) 79-59 Grand Meadow (3-15)

Matchups for Tuesday Night

Girls

Kingsland (4-13) @ Rushford-Peterson (11-7)