Scoring machine comes to NHS

Talk about it

The following is another “Have Fun or Get Out of the Way” column by Don Leighton and Mike Granlund and their alter egos, Lance Boyle and Billy Pirkola, which runs occasionally in The Superior Telegram.

Northwestern High School in Maple has been the site of some outstanding high school basketball scorers.

Jolene Anderson of South Shore, the Wisconsin girls’ basketball all-time leading scorer, played a few games there. The leading boys scorer in the state, Alex Cook of Washburn (29.4 points per game), played in the Donavon Mackey Classic, and Jason Klobucher of Northwestern even had a game named after him a few years back when he scored 20 points in one quarter.

Well, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

The Minnesota Transitions Wolves come to Maple tonight to take on the No. 8 ranked Northwestern Tigers and bring a resume that none can match. The team is averaging 93 points per game, and since a 70-67 loss to Minnetonka, has reeled off 11 straight wins, averaging 103 points in that span.

Individually, Kevin Noreen averages 38.5 points per game and is the all-time leading scorer in Minnesota basketball history with 3,727 points. He broke the record Jan. 25 against Minneapolis Roosevelt. He didn’t stop there as he has averaged just less than 50 points per game in his last six games.

At 6-foot-10, Noreen will shoot 3-pointers or go inside, presenting matchup problems for most teams. Northwestern will likely guard him with 6-foot-8 Donnie Hissa or 6-foot-5 guard Tyler Forsythe. Noreen will play for Boston College next year and appears headed for 4,000 points in his career.

Oh, stop Kevin Noreen, and his little brother, Kyle Noreen (a 6-foot-6 junior), will hurt you. He averages 19 points per game. Minnesota Transitions, a charter school, is ranked second among small schools in Minnesota.

Boyeling in the Perkolator

l With Northwestern securing the Heart O’ North Conference championship and Superior capturing the Lake Superior Conference title, local teams are looking forward to the WIAA tournaments beginning March 2.

NHS will surely get a No. 1 seed in Division 2 while the Spartans are looking at a probable No. 2 seed (and a bye) behind unbeaten Antigo in Division 1. A win at home tomorrow over Chippewa Falls will be vital for Superior. In Division 4, South Shore is a likely top seed unless Drummond knocks them off tonight. Solon Springs and Northwood will be lobbying for a top 4 seed and a home game as the coaches meet this weekend.

l NHS coach Dan Cowley reached a milestone Jan. 29 with his 200th victory as a varsity coach. Overall his teams are 203-112, excluding Thursday night’s game at Bloomer.

l UWS’s overtime win at UW-Eau Claire Wednesday secures a playoff spot in the WIAC this season. Or does it? With the top six teams qualifying, the Yellowjackets are now sixth but may have to undergo the agony of tie breaking procedures after Saturday’s games. Junior Forward Jake Smith came up big again with 31 points in the Eau Claire game.

l Lance and Billy want to remind you not to eat, and pledge a dollar for each pound you hope to lose. The money will go to Superior and Douglas County Food Shelves and will be multiplies times ten in food thanks to an agreement with major U.S. food suppliers.

For more information, e-mail dleigh1273@aol.com or call 218-391-0254.

Opinions and/or story ideas can be e-mailed to dleigh1273@aol.com or wgranlund@centurytel.net.

Tags: have fun or get out of the way, collections, sports, superior, basketball, prep