We defended well, we rebounded better than normal and we just had more energy than them. We wanted it a little more than them.”

Park senior guard Mac Maluski

After a rugged week, Park’s Wolfpack for a much-needed win in boys basketball Saturday afternoon.

Park led Columbia Heights 31-25 at the half, then held on for a 72-68 victory in the Southside Showcase at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis.

After Park led by around 8 to 10 points most of the second half, Columbia Heights closed to within 58-56 with 6:12 to play and the rest of the game was a dogfight. Columbia Heights took a 65-63 lead with 3:33 remaining.

Anthony Giadyu’s basket gave Park a 70-67 lead with a minute left. Both teams then missed on possessions before Columbia Heights closed to 70-68 with one free throw. Park’s Leo Eiden Giel then scored for a 72-68 lead, Columbia Heights missed and that was the ball game.

The win came after the Wolfpack dropped two tough decisions to East Ridge and then White Bear Lake in Suburban East Conference contests.

Park head coach Isaiah Wallfred kept the team in the locker room for an extended time after the game, just talking to the players about the week.

“We just talked about what a tough week it was to be honest with you,” said Wallfred. “We played so unbelievably well at East Ridge. For us to take them to overtime and have a three-point lead with a minute to go and to lose that. I think that was really disheartening and I think it takes an emotional toll. And I wanted to acknowledge that.

“Then we went to White Bear and I think it sort of had lingering effects from East Ridge,” Wallfred continued. “We talked about the mental aspects of it and then today we had to come back. It’s not easy to play a tough conference game on the road and then play at noon the next day. I can tell you right now, I’m not scheduling that next year. So, we talked about that and then we talked about how we’ve played 11 games this year and nine of the 11 have been on the road or at a neutral site. We have only had two home games and once again that’s scheduling. It won’t happen again next year. I wanted the guys to understand we’ve been through some tough stuff already, which is good, working through adversity. And that I’m really excited about this team. We should have beat Faribault, we should have beat East Ridge. We were right there against teams that are ranked or probably will be ranked in the state. We just have to get back to that feeling.” 

Park is now 5-6 on the season, but only 1-4 in the SEC. Columbia Heights slipped to 3-11 overall.

“We were just talking about how we’ve come off some hard losses this week and we need to bounce back and we got lucky to get out with this win but a win’s a win and we just need to use it as momentum to go into our next games,” said senior forward Eiden-Giel. “We’ve got a stretch of home games after a lot of away games and we’ve just got to use that momentum to get a win streak rolling.”

Senior guards Giadyu scored 25 points and Miskir Esayas had 12 to lead the Wolfpack Saturday. Aaron Sandin added 9 points Brandon Bihm had 8.

It was a bit of a closely called game with 19 fouls called on Park and 13 on Columbia Heights. Park’s Adrian Davis, Keon Moody, Eiden-Giel each finished with four fouls.

“We defended well, we rebounded better than normal and we just had more energy than them,” said Park senior guard Mac Maluski. “ We wanted it a little more than them.”

The Wolfpack hosts Roseville (3-8, 1-4) Wednesday, then plays at Woodbury (5-6, 3-2) Friday, both games with 7 p.m. start times. The Roseville game will be just the third home game of the season so far for the Wolfpack.

East Ridge 80, Park 72 (OT)

Visiting Park gave favored host East Ridge a fierce battle before falling Tuesday.

The Raptors outscored visiting Park 11-3 in overtime to win a tight contest in Suburban East Conference boys basketball Tuesday night. East Ridge led 38-28 at the half but the Wolfpack stormed back with a 41-31 edge in the second half to force overtime. Anthony Giadyu scored 26 points to lead Park offensively. Aaron Sandin added 13, Brandon Bihm scored 9 and Miskir Esayas and Mac Maluski had 8 each.

White Bear Lake 70, Park 54

Park led 28-26 at the half but host White Bear Lake outscored the Wolfpack 44-26 after intermission to earn the conference victory.

No scoring totals were available.