Union head coach Corey Lorenzen (center) is pictured speaking to his team during one of the final timeouts in the Valentine’s Day postseason opener against Columbus Catholic at home on Feb. 14. The Knights beat the Sailors that evening 45-37, moving on to Round 2 – something the team had not done since the 2015-2016 season. Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker

Helmed by first-year head coach Corey Lorenzen, the Union boys’ basketball team made it to Round 2 of the postseason this year – putting in a good finish against a dogged Jesup team, but ending the story there, losing to the J-Hawks 50-70.

“We got off to a slow start,” Lorenzen said of the Thursday, February 17, game in Denver against the J-Hawks. “[But] by the end of the first quarter, it was a five-point game and a six-point game at halftime.”

Despite the Knights’ steady work in the first half, Lorenzen said the J-Hawks just have a lot of firepower in their roster and started slowly chipping away, building their lead in the second half – something Union could not overcome on Thursday night.

“I think we probably played about as well as anyone has in the last couple of weeks,” Lorenzen said. “I’m proud of the effort of the boys. … Jesup roughed up Wapsie Valley [64-44 on Feb. 4] — they’ve been playing really well. We kind of ran out of steam.”

Thursday night proved to be the final game for a string of senior Knights players including three starters – forward/guard Grant Behrens, forward Danny Petersen, and guard/forward TJ Freeland. Lorenzen said it’s going to be tough losing that group of players, players who meshed extremely well on the hardwood.

Union senior, starting forward Danny Petersen (15) shoots a free throw during the Knights’ Valentine’s Day postseason opener against Columbus Catholic at home on Feb 14. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Offensive leaders during the Knights’ final game included Behrens and Freeland with 14 points apiece and Danny Petersen with 12 points.

“I could go on for days about those kids,” Lorenzen said. “Honestly, they mean the world to me. In one way or another, I’ve coached that [senior] group since fourth grade. They’re like sons to me, [particularly] TJ [Freeland], Grant [Behrens], Danny [Petersen], and Max Eikamp.”

Lorenzen’s roster boasted eight seniors this season – more than half the team – and he said they’ve laid the groundwork for next season’s team.

“It’s a really hard group to lose. No drama, they worked hard, they’re great kids. They were great leaders. They helped lay a foundation for Union basketball going forward. Role models for the younger kids. All the seniors, they showed up to practice every night, worked hard … never hung their heads.”

Lorenzen said he even had a rookie senior player come out this year – Adyn Schmuecker – who “did an amazing job.”

Union senior, starting forward/guard Grant Behrens (13) looks to pass during the Knights’ Valentine’s Day postseason opener against Columbus Catholic at home on Feb. 14. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Earlier in the week, on Valentine’s Day, the Knights took on Columbus Catholic – for the second time in less than two weeks, beating them both times – in Round 1 of the postseason.

The Valentine’s game was a good preview of things to come, Lorenzen said, particularly when it comes to 6 foot 4 inch Logan Rosauer, a sophomore who plays both forward and center.

“I told [Rosauer] last night I saw him improve this season,” Lorenzen said when asked to comment on Rosauer’s stellar play against the Sailors at home on Monday, Feb. 14. “He’s a great kid, has a great attitude. I think he’s fed off the leadership the seniors provided. … He’s worked hard to get better. … He was thrown into the fire this year. … He’s been playing at a high level the last month of the season.”

In addition to Rosauer, players returning next season with significant minutes on the court include starting point guard Ty Lorenzen and forward Mason Mullen, both sophomores.

Lorenzen has also had his eye on the eighth-grade team, which is undefeated this season.

Union senior, starting guard/forward TJ Freeland (24) works his way around the defense during the Knights’ Valentine’s Day postseason opener against Columbus Catholic at home on Feb. 14. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

“They’ve played a lot of basketball. There’s a lot of experience and talent in that [eighth grade] group. We’ve also got some underclassmen that are solid players. [In the] offseason we need to work to figure out what our varsity is going to look like.”

However the starting five shakes out for next season, they’ve certainly got big shoes to fill based on court composure alone.

The first time Union took on Columbus Catholic this season – a dramatic, non-conference match-up at home on Feb. 4 – was indicative of the Knights’ ability to keep the focus, Lorenzen said, no matter the opponent.

“The Columbus [Catholic] fans and players at times got out of control,” Lorenzen said. “And [the team and I] spoke about it at length, about how we had to keep our composure. We couldn’t allow their fans and their players to affect us and end up being negative about us. They did it. They rose above it.”

As the season comes to a close, Lorenzen said he’s been emotional and choked up at times.

Union sophomore Logan Rosauer (23) shoots from the free-throw line during the Knights’ Valentine’s Day postseason opener against Columbus Catholic at home on Feb. 14. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

“I told [the team] last night, ‘It’s going to be hard waking up tomorrow morning and start thinking about coaching without you guys.'”

The Union Knights finished the 2021-2022 season 3-5 in conference play, 12-11 overall.