Beckman hopes 3rd time charm against Solon

By Jeff Johnson The Gazette DYERSVILLE [--] Dan Correy was asked if he would take his Dyersville Beckman boys['] basketball team giving up the same number of points tonight it gave up in its district final this week. ["]Oh, yeah,[""] the coach chuckled. ["]That would definitely be all right with me.[""] Beckman picked up an offensively challenged, 31-26, victory over Cascade, a school record for fewest points allowed. The Blazers (19-5) have set a school mark this season by allowing just 43 points a game. On the other side, Beckman[']s opponent in a 7 p.m. Class 2A substate final at Marion High School is top-ranked and offensively prolific Solon. You might remember the Spartans short-circuiting the scoreboard in a district opener against Alburnett with 106 points. So this obviously is a matchup of opposites. ["]We[']ve got to play some defense and hope Solon is off a little bit,[""] Correy said. ["]Defense has been what has carried us all season.[""] The teams finished 1-2 in the Wamac Conference[']s East Division, playing twice in the regular season. Solon (24-0) won in early January, 72-46, then it was a much closer 59-51 game at Solon three weeks later. Correy pointed out his team was down by just two points with 22 seconds left. It[']ll take another effort like that for Beckman to have a chance to win and qualify for the state tournament. ["]We just hope the third time[']s a charm,[""] Correy said. Northern Iowa recruit Matt Morrison (16.7 points) runs things at the point for Solon, which averages 78 points. Six-foot-seven center Tucker Wentzien gives the Spartans a great inside-outside game, averaging 12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Ben Weeks (12.5) and Ben Bergman (10.1) are Solon[']s other double-figure scorers. Beckman is led by juniors Blake Olderding (11.8 points per game) and Joe Ament (10.4). In a 1A substate final tonight a Prairie High School, it[']s No. 4 Iowa Mennonite (23-1) taking on Clinton Prince of Peace (19-5).