Prep Boys Basketball: Section 5A Playoffs: Trojans handle Bertha-Hewitt, 79-50

Four Sebeka players rattled the rims to post double figures as the second-ranked and top-seeded Trojans handled fourth-seeded Bertha-Hewitt 79-50 in the West Subsection 5A semifinals Saturday in Wadena.

"I was really happy with the way we played in this game. We know that Bertha-Hewitt is well coached and going to throw everything at you on defense.” Sebeka coach Jon Lillquist said. “To score points on them you have to do a lot of things right so I was pleased at the way we played offensively.”

The Trojans limited the Bears to 30 percent (7-for-23) shooting in the first half and started the game on a 7-0 run enroute to a 38-19 lead at the break.

Bertha-Hewitt come out of the locker room and played much better in the second half, going 18-for-34 (53 percent) from the floor, but it was too little and too late as the Trojans (26-2) led as much as 38 points (79-48).

“We had some stretches in the second half where we didn't play as well on defense and that's one part of our game that will need to improve.” Lillquist explained. “We played great as a team though, and had contributions from everyone.”

John Clark nearly posted a triple-double for the Trojans in the victory. The senior led all scorers with 22 points, and led the team with eight rebounds and seven assists.

“John had a great individual game,” Lillquist stated. “When he's passing the ball like that we are really tough to beat.”

Sebeka shot 48 percent (32-for-67) from the floor and outrebounded the Bears by one, 39-38 in the victory. Cody Pulju netted 20 points and Ryan Sharp added 18 points to go with his four rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Paul Funk capped the Trojans parade of double digit scorers with 10 points.

Sebeka will play Upsala in the west subsection finals at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Long Prairie.

Section 5A Playoffs
No. 1 Sebeka vs. No. 4 Bertha-Hewitt on March 12 (in Wadena)
Bertha-Hewitt 19 31—50
Sebeka 38 41—79
Bertha-Hewitt
No scoring summary available
Sebeka
Jason Sharp 7, John Clark 22, Cody Pulju 20, Paul Funk 10, Ryan Sharp 18, Reid Redetzke 2