by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Thief River Falls boys basketball team is in the Section 8AA final four for the third in the past four seasons following a 76-68 upset win over second-seeded Perham Saturday night at Perham High School.
The 2024-25 has been a season of close losses against the highest-seeded teams in the section for Thief River Falls. One of those losses was a home setback against Perham on Feb. 25. The Prowlers fell behind by double digits early in that contest and came up short in a 72-67 defeat.
The Yellowjackets went on to be seeded second in the Section 8AA field, while the Prowlers slid to the number seven seed. The Prowlers’ 72-62 win over the Roseau Rams on Thursday night set up the section quarterfinal rematch in Perham.
“We were pretty confident that we could be there with them,” said Head Coach Jon Hams. “We were confident that we could hold their best down. He was definitely a concentration.”
Alex Blume scored 25 points for the Yellowjackets in the teams’ first meeting. He still made an impact, but was held 14 points in the rematch.
Both teams came out on fire Saturday night in a game where neither team held a double-digit lead at any point.
“It was a back and forth first half,” Hams said. “We scored 20 points in the first half of the first half. Both teams were throwing haymakers at each other. We were more efficient. We shot 29 free throws to their 12.”
Hams said a similar game plan will need to be used to slow down third-seeded Barnesville in Wednesday section semifinal game.
“When we play on Wednesday night, it’s going to be the same thing,” Hams said. “They have a couple guards to slow down. We need to pin them to a side. It’s going to be a matter of slowing them down enough. [Gannon] Bolgrean, [Grant] Quiggle and [Nicholas] Robideau. We have to hold those guys down.”
Prowlers knock off
Rams in 8AA opener
Thief River Falls overcame a one-point halftime deficit to defeat Roseau 72-62 in the opening round of the Section 8AA playoffs Thursday night at the Lincoln High School Brickhouse.
The Prowlers led most of the first half, but the Rams rallied late to take a 33-32 lead into the locker room. The Rams led for a stretch in the second half before the Prowlers regained control down the stretch.
The Rams had huge nights from Jordan Borowicz, who scored 39 points in 37 minutes on the court, and Jake Borowicz with 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
“We had a couple leads in the first half but Jordan [Borowicz], kudos to him, keeping his team in the game,” Hams said. They played with the lead most of the second half. The turning point was that we just wore those two out.”
The Prowlers took the lead for good in the final five minutes.
Leading the Prowlers in scoring were Wilcox and Nelson. Both players finished with double-doubles, with Wilcox scoring a team-high 29 points and 12 rebounds; and Everett Nelson with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
“Everett is averaging a pretty nice double-double,” Hams said. “Bridger has been an all-around stat stuffer. Another double-double, but he is also getting a lot of assists.
“Against Perham, we needed some other guys to score,” Hams added. “We got Gannon with 11 and Wyatt [Nelson] with eight. That spreads the weath just enough that they have to guard other guys.”
Scoring
1 2 T
Roseau 33 29 62
Thief River Falls 32 40 72
Roseau – Jordan Borowicz 39, Jake Borowicz 16, Lincoln Bachwite 3, Aiden Evitts 4.
TRF – Bridger Wilcox 29, Wyatt Nelson 9, Everett Nelson 12, Landon Wikert 6, Gannon Zutz 9, Lucas Rantanen 5, Dylan Osowski 2.
Scoring
1 2 T
Thief River Falls 37 39 76
Perham 36 32 68
TRF – Bridger Wilcox 35, Wyatt Nelson 8, Everett Nelson 22, Gannon Zutz 11.
Perham – Alex Blume 14, Cole Reuter 11, Will Baker 8, Cypress Thiel 11, Maddux Swentik 16, Nathan Rustad 8.
Section 8AA
• First round byes – East Grand Forks, Perham and Barnesville.
• First round games, Thursday, March 6 at high seed – Hawley 51, Park Rapids Area 49; Pelican Rapids 78, Menahga 20; Warroad 76, Wadena-Deer Creek 44; Thief River Falls 72, Roseau 62; Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 59, Crookston 51.
• Quarterfinals, Saturday, March 8 at high seeds – East Grand Forks 73, Hawley 68; Pelican Rapids 79, Warroad 67; Thief River Falls 76, Perham 68; Barnesville 61, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 58.
• Semifinals, Wednesday, March 12 at Concordia College – East Grand Forks vs. Pelican Rapids 6 p.m.; Thief River Falls vs. Barnesville 7:45 p.m.
• Championship, Friday, March 14 at Concordia College, 8 p.m.