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The Dogs held a one-point lead, 33-32, at halftime and then exploded for 53 points, while holding the Huskies to 17 points, in the second half. They outscored the Huskies by 36 points in the second half.

Senior Cory Nietfeld scored 80 points in three games last week, as the Dogs won two of three and improved to 4-1 so far this season in hoops. He was also named a Top 100 player by Minnesota Basketball News.

Junior guard Colin Spooner and senior forward Ben Moser both had big second halves off the bench for the Dogs. Spooner scored all 18 of his points in the second half, including two three-pointers. Moser scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half.

"Better defensive intensity and court awareness in the second half made a big difference for us," said coach Phil Carlson.

Senior forward Cory Nietfeld led the Dogs with 30 points, including 22 points in the first half before the Dogs got more balanced scoring in the second half. He scored the Dogs' first seven points of the game and their last nine points of the half.

With the win, the Dogs are 1-0 in the West Central Conference North. This week, the Dogs will host New London-Spicer on Friday in a key conference game.

Albany 32 17 - 49 Paynesville 33 53 - 86

Paynesville--	15	15	- 60
Paynesville--	15	15	- 60

SCORING: (FG-FT/FTA-PTS)
Albany 49 - Cole Schiffler 4-1/3-10; Justin Voss 3-2/2-8; Drew Kierzek 2-0/0-6; Kurt Overman 3-0/0-6; Robbie Stiller 2-1/1-5; Kevin Young 2-0/1-5; Matt Evans 2-0/2-4; Ian Hofforth 1-0/0-3; Cory Voss 1-0/0-2; TOTALS: FG 20, FT 4/9, 3's 5.

Paynesville 86 - Cory Nietfeld 13-3/5-30; Colin Spooner 7-2/2-18; Ben Moser 5-4/9-15; Nathan Nietfeld 4-3/3-11; Shane Kampsen 1-2/2-5; Elliott Wall 2-0/0-4; Ted Hoffman 1-0/0-3; TOTALS: FG 33, FT 14/21, 3's 6.

STATISTICS: 3-pointers - 6 Spooner 2; Hoffman 1; Kampsen 1; Moser 1; Cory Nietfeld 1; Rebounds - 33 Cory Nietfeld 11; Nathan Nietfeld 7; Moser 5; Assists - 20 Hoffman 5; Cory Nietfeld 4; Nathan Nietfeld 4; Wall 3; Steals - 16 Cory Nietfeld 4; Wall 3; Hoffman 2; Spooner 2; Svejkovsky 2; Blocks - 7 Cory Nietfeld 2; Nathan Nietfeld 2.

Benson Tourney
The Bulldogs (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season to host Benson at the Benson Holiday Tourney on Friday before rebounding to pound Hancock on Saturday and take third place.

The Dogs took a 38-34 lead in the first half in a battle of unbeaten teams (both 3-0 entering the game), but Benson outscored the Dogs 39-31 in the second half to win 73-69.

The battle with Benson featured a scoring duel between senior Cory Nietfeld of Paynesville (30 points), assisted by senior Ben Moser (19 points) versus Benson senior Daniel Fragodt (40 points).

Moser scored 17 points, including three three-pointers in the first half as the Dogs took the lead. Nietfeld matched Fragodt with 20 points in the second half, but Benson prevailed by four points.

"This game had the makings of a playoff," said coach Phil Carlson. "It was back and forth throughout the game, and we won the first half while Benson won the second half and the game."

"I felt very confident in what I saw from our team," added Carlson. "This loss was not a setback but fuel for our fire!"

Benson proceeded to win the tournament title by beating MACCRAY on Saturday 75-58. Last year, Benson went 22-4 and qualified for the Class AA state tournament.

"It was good to see our team step up in an intense game with a very good opponent," said Carlson.

Against Hancock, the Dogs jumped to a 43-21 lead in the first half, building a 22-point lead. They had to overcome five three-pointers by Hancock in the first half.

Cory Nietfeld led the Dogs with 18 points in the first half (20 for the game). Sophomore Nathan Nietfeld added 11 points in the first half (finishing with 13).

Moser, who made two three-pointers in the first half, led the Dogs with eight points in the second half (scoring 14 points total). Junior reserve Ted Hoffman added seven points in the second half (ending with nine points).

All 11 varsity players scored for the Dogs in the game, including senior Mike Houske, who scored his first varsity points since a serious car accident between his sophomore and junior seasons with a second-half hoop.

Benson 73, Paynesville 69

Paynesville--	38	31	- 69
Benson--	34	39	- 73

SCORING: (FG-FT/FTA-PTS)
Paynesville 69 - Cory Nietfeld 8-13/14-30; Ben Moser 7-2/2-19; Nathan Nietfeld 3-0/2-6; Colin Spooner 1-2/2-4; Mitch Marlow 1-0/0-3; Elliott Wall 1-0/0-3; Alex Svejkovsky 1-0/0-2; Tyler Zimmerman 1-0/0-2; TOTALS: FG 23, FT 17/23, 3's 6.

Benson 73 - Daniel Fragodt 17-4/5-40; Eric Lee 4-1/3-9; Brett Collins 2-2/2-6; Mitch Enderson 3-0/0-6; Mitchell Kent 2-0/0-6; Aaron Lindahl 3-0/0-6; TOTALS: FG 31, FT 7/10, 3's 4.

STATISTICS: 3-pointers - 6 Moser 3; Marlow 1; Cory Nietfeld 1; Wall 1; Rebounds - 30 Marlow 9; Cory Nietfeld 9; Assists - 16 Nathan Nietfeld 5; Ted Hoffman 3; Steals - 15 Cory Nietfeld 4; Nathan Nietfeld 4; Shane Kampsen 2; Moser 2 Blocks - 3.

Paynesville 72, Hancock 39

Paynesville--	43	29	- 72
Hancock--	21	18	- 39

SCORING: (FG-FT/FTA-PTS)
Paynesville 72 - Cory Nietfeld 10-0/1-20; Ben Moser 5-2/2-14; Nathan Nietfeld 5-2/3-13; Ted Hoffman 4-1/2-9; Alex Svejkovsky 1-2/4-4; Mike Houske 1-0/0-2; Shane Kampsen 1-0/0-2; Mitch Marlow 1-0/0-2; Colin Spooner 1-0/0-2; Elliott Wall 1-0/0-2; Tyler Zimmerman 0-2/2-2; TOTALS: FG 29, FT 11/18, 3's 3.

Hancock 39 - Brandon Foss 4-0/0-10; Derrick Foss 2-0/0-6; Ben Hacker 2-0/0-5; Andre Grick 2-0/0-4; Austin Schmigdall 1-2/2-4; Tanner Gramm 0-3/3-3; Dan Tiernon 0-3/3-3; Rick Foss 1-0/0-2; Joe Newhouse 1-0/0-2; TOTALS: FG 14, FT 5/6, 3's 6.

STATISTICS: 3-pointers - 3 Moser 2; Nathan Nietfeld 1; Rebounds - 32 Moser 6; Cory Nietfeld 6; Svejkovsky 6; Nathan Nietfeld 5; Assists - 12 Cory Nietfeld 3; Svejkovsky 3; Steals - 16 Kampsen 4; Moser 4; Cory Nietfeld 4; Blocks - 7 Svejkovsky 4; Cory Nietfeld 2.