Back-to-back wins...and Prayer Warriors needed

Today we have learned of very tough news out of Norway Lake Township, where a serious pickup-UTV accident has put three middle school/high school aged boys into intensive care. The boys, who are ages 10, 11 and 15, were riding in the UTV when it was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado 4x4 on Highway 9 east of Sunburg on Sunday. The initial 911 call from the accident was placed at 3:49 p.m. I can report that the road conditions were snowy and icy, although there is no clarity on the initial circumstances of the crash, which remains under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol. The UTV that the boys were in was southbound on 95th Street Northwest, while the pickup was eastbound on Highway 9.

This news is supremely tragic for B-B-E as the boys are all siblings and are residents of Norway Lake Township. They are the children of Lara Dahl, who is B-B-E's business manager based at the high school. The oldest is a super involved, warm-hearted student at NL-S senior high school. This has hit far too close to home in more ways than one. The news is absolutely tragic, regardless of the fate of the three boys. I grew up just a couple miles east of the accident site. The Dahl family needs our prayers in the most urgent way. While all employees of B-B-E are important, of course, I will go out on a limb and say that Lara is a sharp, caring and kind member of the B-B-E administrative staff who works mostly behind the scenes to keep the school running at a high level. Right now none of that matters, as all that we need to pray for is for her three sons to pull through this tragic accident. Every mom on earth needs her children. I pray with every fiber in my being that they pull through this. They are at Children's Hospital in the Twin Cities.

For the accident that took place on December 20 north of Elrosa that has Kyle Lieser in the hospital, I don't have good news to report other than that Lieser remains on life support in the ICU. He is a 2008 B-B-E graduate and a father of two, and a new baby is on the way in his family. It is one of the most tragic accidents I have heard of in my life.

It is a horrific experience to rush to an emergency room at a hospital where a loved one is being delivered by ambulance. I lived through that on December 22 when my wife was rushed from Glenwood to St. Cloud while trying to survive the threat of a deadly blood clot. You feel like you are living in a movie. Everything around you seems surreal, and life outside of what is in front of you - your loved one fighting for their life - all but ceases altogether.

Some good sports news to report...
Tonight on the home court, the B-B-E Jaguars girls' basketball team played an absolutely terrific game and defeated Litchfield 80-51 while scoring a season high and moving above .500 to 7-6 overall. This second straight win helps set them up for a very tough road game, as the Jaguars now prepare for a trip south to Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City high school (in Grove City) on Thursday.

The Jaguars had four players in double figures, and they shot 47 percent from the field with 10 three pointers.

Litchfield, which had just won two of their past three games, falls to 3-8 overall with the loss. They compete in the rugged Wright County West Conference and also in Section 3AA.

That's all for now. Please pray for the Kyle Lieser family and the Lara Dahl family. It is heartbreaking in immeasurable ways. Also, please hug your children and your spouse and anyone else you love dearly. Life is far too short, and it is always precious.

Other basketball news and area scores...
On Saturday at the Target Center, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City's girls' basketball team continued their outstanding season as they defeated Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 45-44. Last season, a very young Falcons team went 5-20, but they showed signs of improvement all season long. Every area team knew they would be much improved this season, and they certainly have been. K-M-S is another team that looks to have a banner season, so that was a marquee win for the Falcons. The Falcons are 7-3 going into their home game this Thursday against our Jaguars. The Fighting Saints drop to 8-4 overall.

Area girls' basketball scores on January 8:
Annandale 76, Foley 68
Ogilvie 90, Barnum 69 (Quite a shootout between Section 5A teams...Barnum lost to our Jaguars in the section finals last year)