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Alanson Viking’s Bryan Rellinger Shoots Down Bellaire Eagles Hopes for Victory

The Alanson Vikings plundered the mighty Eagles of Bellaire in an unforgiving onslaught that left no doubt about which team was supreme in the Ski Valley. Trouncing their closest rivals in a 72-58 victory; the Vikings are now the undisputed team to beat thanks to superstar performances by silent court assassin Brandon Burkhart and fiery point guard Bryan Rellinger.

The Eagles’s game plan to foul out Burkhart out early was a brilliant tactical move in theory, if not in practice, as the Viking’s ice cold determination adapted its trademark run and gun type play with lightning quick passes to Bryan Rellinger.

It was Burkhart’s first game after a head injury against Gaylord St. Mary’s earlier this year benched the calm, quiet inside force, who drew two charge fouls and three personals early in the game. Foul trouble kept Burkhart down to only 18 points, well below his average. Most of those were off rebounds and pinpoint passes to point fierce Bryan Rellinger who scored with impunity at every opportunity.

Bellaire’s tactical advantage early in the game amounted to nothing against a horrid shooting night that saw the Viking’s converting turnovers left and right while the Eagles couldn’t get their shooting off the ground.

“They played a good game. They took us out of our game early,” said Bryan Rellinger, referring to Bellaire’s valiant attempt to diffuse the Viking’s typical speed game. “They’re a definite rival already. It was tough trying to control the adrenaline.”

“Bellaire missed the shots early. They’re a good team, the score didn’t do them justice. If they had hit a few shots off their thirty-three X offense, it would have been a different game,” concedes Bryan.

But that’s all about the entire tousled red haired warrior conceded as his cool, calculating eyes let you know he wasn’t about to ignite Eagle pride before the next Viking-Eagle match set for Alanson on Feb. 22.

The Viking ballhandler is every bit as in control on and off the court as he told of his college plans. “I’ve been accepted to U of M and MSU. I’ll probably be going into Engineering. I’m leaning toward the chemical area.”

That’s the kind of systematic thinking that makes Rellinger the undisputed mastermind of the Alanson’s seemingly erratic looking offense.

With Burkhart in trouble, Rellinger went to work driving for two, then staying behind to for an outside pass that the inevitable 3-pointer. He finished with 26 and slammed any hope for an Eagle win although this is the closest game of the year.

That could change as Alanson is set to play equally undefeated Brimley Bays. Better get your tickets for that one early.