BLOOMFIELD — It may not have been an ideal way to go into the playoffs, but the Wausa Vikings boys basketball team still feels like it can make a postseason run.
That was the thought as Wausa headed into its Subdistrict D1-6 game on Feb. 20 and the hope was everything would come together even if the regular-season finale of 2023-24 could qualify as a massive hiccup.
The third-seeded Vikings (11-10) opened up the postseason with a rematch against the rival Bloomfield Bees (13-7), the second seed, who entered the contest on the heels of an emphatic 52-29 home win over Wausa on Feb. 16.
The winner will play either the top seed and host Plainview Pirates (14-7) or potentially the fourth-seeded Winside Wildcats (9-11), who beat the fifth-seeded Homer Knights (2-17) 67-33 on Feb. 19.
The Bees stung the Vikings on Feb. 16 behind a 34-13 first half – including 16-3 after the first eight minutes – and flew to a 2-1 lead in the season match-ups.
Senior Cashe Carlson (12 points) and junior Brady Bloomquist (five points) led Wausa in the defeat.
“We had a terrible start – we didn’t execute what we wanted on the offensive end,” Vikings head coach Tim Schindler said. “The guys played better in the second and third quarter, but still nowhere near their ability.”
Schindler hoped playing Bloomfield a fourth time, and this time in a playoff game, would come in handy as per familiarity breeds contentedness.
“We know everything about each other,” the coach said. “I love my team.”
Bloomquist said Wausa’s defense has been its calling card all season and that could come in handy to keep the season going.
“We do a good job taking on screens and everything, and it all comes from practice,” Bloomquist said. “We practice hard and are good as a team. With the young guys and old guys playing together obviously, it is going to take a bit of time to figure it out. We have done a good job figuring it out as the year goes on.”
Bloomquist added the offense does have its “ups and downs,” but the Vikings go into each contest with a pragmatic approach.
“We don’t think we will outscore someone, but we’re going to go in and try to out-defend a team,” he said. “We always know that we’re going to be in a game because of our defense.”
Bloomquist said Wausa has improved in using the post for its offensive success, and movement off the ball has been key in increasing the inside game, making more of an impact. Getting more players involved in the attack also hasn’t hurt.
“It just was a confidence thing for the younger players,” Bloomquist said. “They probably weren’t so confident shooting right away. But now they played a good amount of games in high school; they realize that it doesn’t matter. You’re going to shoot if you’re open, and if it doesn’t go in, you got to go to the next shot and just keep going and be confident with everything.”
