South O’Brien traveled to Hartley February 6 to face a winless Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn team. HMS managed only seven points in the 65-7 Wolverine win. That set a South O’Brien record for fewest points allowed in a game. With the win the Wolverines finish second in the War Eagle Conference at 8-2. The only team ahead of them is Remsen St. Mary’s, a team South O’Brien defeated twice this season, with only one of those two games counting in the conference standings.
HMS was just 3-of-31 from the field with one three-point basket and no free throws attempted. The Wolverines stole the ball 17 times as the home team committed 20 turnovers. Derek Paulsen came away with five steals while Willie Conley and Ben Woodall each had three.
South O’Brien outrebounded the Hawks 29-12. Conley pulled down seven rebounds, Paulsen six, David Bottjen five and Jaden Kreber four.
The Wolverines got 12 points from Paulsen, 11 from Conley, 10 from Bottjen, nine from Caden Wittrock, seven from Kreber, five from Woodall, three from Gabe Moermond and two each from Justice Frerk, Brady Riedemann, Reese Lundquist and Aaron Funkhouser. Paulsen and Bottjen each supplied five assists and Lundquist had four.
The Wolverines shot an even 50 percent with 26 baskets in 52 attempts. They were nearly at that level on three-pointers alone, going 7-for-15. South O’Brien was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
S. O’Brien
21 17 17 10 – 65
HMS
5 0 0 2 – 7