Anderson’s hoop nets VCC a split
When the game’s on the line, the Vermilion Ironmen want Anthony Anderson to have the ball.The sophomore all-stater and pre-season All-American showed why last Saturday at Worthington.Anderson’s last-second drive to the basket gave the Ironmen a 76-74 community college basketball win over Minnesota West, salvaging the last half of a weekend roadswing.After the Bluejays tied the game at 74 with 12 seconds left, Vermilion turned things over to Anderson.“ He’s the guy we want with the ball,” said Vermilion Head Coach Paul McDonald, who watched his team improve to 5-2 on the season. “We took a timeout right before they shot their second free throw and set up a play. (Anderson) took a bigger kid to the basket, and we had (Joe) Mews in the corner and Gavin (Erickson) flaring off the screen. If they converged on him he could have got it off to one of them for a good shot, but he took a bigger kid right to the basket and scored.”Anderson’s game-winner capped off a furious rally by the Ironmen, who trailed 69-59 with five minutes to go.Vermilion cranked up its defensive pressure down the stretch, forcing several Minnesota West (5-3) turnovers that led to scoring opportunities.Trailing by three with under a minute to go, a three-point play by the Ironmen’s Emory Williams tied things up.Vermilion later gained a two-point lead but the Bluejays tied in on a pair of free throws by Russell Griese.Anderson, who finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, took over from there.Williams finished with a double-double, including a team-high 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Ironmen.Mews added 18 points and five steals. Erickson wound up with seven points for the Ironmen, who connected on nine three-point shots, including six by Mews.Griese had 13 points and was one of four Bluejays to reach double digits.The game was tied at 37 at the half, but the hosts went on a 17-3 run to start the second stanza.Ridgewater 77, Ironmen 72Vermilion’s battle with Ridgewater the night before was very similar, except the Ironmen weren’t able to complete a comeback.The Warriors led by 17 in the second half, only to see VCC rally to take the lead with 3:30 to go.“After that we missed a four-footer and then four or five put-backs, and we turned it over twice,” said McDonald. “They played well, by far their best game of the year, and we got into some big-time foul trouble.”Anderson scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds for the Ironmen, while Mews canned five three-pointers on the way to 17 points.Erickson and Williams poured in eight points each and Brandon Allen contributed six points for Vermilion.Reserve Dante Bogard led Ridgewater (2-5) with 20 points.• The Ironmen hosted Rochester last night and Riverland (Austin) is in town today for a 3 p.m. nonconference game. Vermilion goes to Minneapolis next weekend for a tournament hosted by the Marauders.
