Cherry Boys Hoops Celebrate State Title With Community
Tigers' first-ever boys basketball state championship
CHERRY, Minn.- In the middle of a winter storm, the Cherry community packed themselves into a town hall to celebrate the Tigers boy’s basketball team, fresh off their 78-40 Class A State Championship win over Fertile-Beltrami.
“The support that we’ve had this season has been incredible,” said Head Coach Jordan Christiansen at Sunday’s celebration. “All the comments that I’ve seen and the texts about everyone in Cherry down in the state tournament, it was unreal.”
Fans also got a chance to share their thoughts on the Tigers’ historic run to the title.
“You guys have a lot of fans not just around here,” commented a former Cherry basketball player. “Anywhere from this part of the state and out of state, you guys have a lot of people watching you guys, and I’ve heard a lot of positive words, so I’m proud of all of you guys.”
“Thank you all for your support throughout the season and coming out today.” said senior and team captain Isaac Asuma. “It means a lot to all of us it’s really special to have a great community behind us.”
Asuma will now head to college after achieving his ultimate goal on the hardwood. Both he and Tigers have come a long way since his debut season on the team. “(In) My seventh-grade year, we went 0-23, So now we’re state champions which is pretty cool.”
“I’ve been a coach for five years,” said Christiansen. “My first year was (Isaac) as an eighth grader, so I don’t know anything different. He’s just a true leader and a leader by example. It’s pretty crazy that he’s been voted Captain by his teammates since the eighth grade. And I’m the one counting up all the votes and he’s received every vote for five years.”
“It hasn’t really hit me yet that this is my last game with them,” says Asuma. “So, I’m just like taking everything in and then I’m sure I’m going to miss them tons but I’m just excited for the next chapter.”
While Isaac begins his college career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, his brother Noah will take over the reins in leading Cherry’s state title defense.
“I know that we’ve just played together for so long that it might be a little bit different,” says Noah. “But next year is a new year and we’ll just have to keep back at it.”
Christianson will also be back for his sixth year at the helm. And much like his star senior, he’s allowed himself to change for the better during his tenure with the Tigers.
“I am a tough coach. I can be a tough coach.” Christianson admits. “But this is such a close goofy, crazy, funny crew and (I) just really let them be themselves.”
“He’s definitely a tough, tough coach, but he’s super encouraging.” says Isaac. “He’s going to give you all the confidence in the world. So, I think that’s something that helps everybody on our team a lot. He puts in so much time making our scouting reports, staying after practice just talking to everybody, seeing how they’re doing, so we’re blessed to have such a good coach.”
And with a team full of upstanding, hard-working gentlemen raised in a community bursting with support, winning almost becomes a sure thing.
“You know, some kids want to go in like, ‘Hey, let me go get my stats up really quick.’ These guys don’t care.” says Christianson. “They want to share the ball, they want to make the right basketball moves, they want to just make the play right there. There’s no jealousy, there’s no beef, there’s no nothing stupid. It’s just, ‘I want to see you succeed.’ And that’s easier said than done.”
