Cards' state wait ends

CROSBY-The last time Cromwell-Wright sent a boys basketball team to the state tournament, there was just one champion crowned. The next year, boys basketball would move to the four-class format as we know it today. That 1996 boys state tourney was the final year of a two-year experiment that mixed small schools with large schools that resulted in one champion in the end. Both years, Minneapolis North would come away winners of the "Sweet Sixteen" tournament format.

Although Minneapolis North has made several trips back to the big dance - winning some more titles along the way - the feeling of just making the boys state tournament had eluded the Cromwell-Wright Cardinals boys since making their lone visit 23 years ago.

Until now.

Last Friday, in front of a nearly filled Crosby-Ironton High School gymnasium, the Cardinals were crowned the Section 5A Champions with a 65-52 win over Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa.

"It's a dream come true for all of us," said junior guard Micah Pocernich, whose seven three-pointers and 37 points total were well above the rest of the field in the biggest ball game of his team's life. "We've been playing sports together for 10 years now, and we've always been competitive. This was a lot of fun."

The two teams traded punches in the early going with several lead changes, but a 19-18 score in the first half was as close as the BBE Jaguars would get the rest of the way. Cromwell-Wright closed the first half on a 14-5 run to lead by 10 at the break, 33-23.

Pocernich continued his three-point accuracy in the second half, along with a defense that forced the Jaguars into turnovers and missed shots and took them out of their game. The lead eventually expanded to nearly 20 points, but Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (17-13) pulled to within seven points late. They didn't get any closer, as Micah went six for six from the foul line late to clinch the game for Cromwell-Wright (25-3), winners of 15 straight games entering this week's state tournament.

Micah's 37 points led the Cardinals, and his brother, senior guard Marcus Pocernich, added 11 of his own. Cardinal senior forward Cameron Cahoon figured in the scoring with 10 points.

Marcus said it's not always easy playing against an opponent you haven't seen before.

"We weren't expecting them," Marcus said. "We were expecting other teams, but I give them (BBE) a lot of credit. They're an excellent team and they have a bright future."

That bright future for the Jaguars was on display in the game, as freshman guards Ashton Dingmann and Will Van Beck scored 22 and 11 points.

Unseeded Cromwell-Wright's opponent in the Class A quarterfinals was Section 8A champion Ada-Borup (28-1), the team seeded No. 2 in the tournament. (The quarterfinal game was scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, after the Pine Knot News went to press.) The other teams in the Class A field include: Spring Grove, Springfield, Christ's Household of Faith, Henning, Westbrook-Walnut Grove, and North Woods.

Asked if he thought he'd ever get to coach in a state tournament, Cardinals coach Bill Pocernich was characteristically humble. "There are a lot of coaches better than me that have never been here before," he said. "One coach I know of has over 500 wins and has coached 37 years and has been to two section finals, and lost them both. It's not necessarily coaches, but the players. Things have to go your way. We were relatively healthy, and we got the right match-ups ... the stars aligned."

So a father, his two sons, 12 other talented individuals, an assistant coach, a school and the residents that surround it are heading to the biggest stage in Minnesota boys basketball Thursday for the first time since "Twister" and "Independence Day" were hit movies, the musical group No Doubt was belting out the hit "Don't Speak," Bill Clinton was president, and the Chicago Bulls were starting a three-peat run.

It's always better sharing it with the ones closest to you, Micah Pocernich said. "It's a lot of fun when you can combine the three things you love: your family, friends and basketball," he said. "It's special.

Older brother Marcus agreed. "It's a dream come true," he said. "We're a team, we're inseparable ... it's been a lot of fun."