Double OT Win Highlights Lady Knights’ Week

There are good games and there are great games.  Good games are competitive and have drama.  A great game is competitive, has drama, a big comeback, and multiple buzzer beaters, plus regulation can’t contain it.  Great games leave memories.  Kingsland girls basketball at Hayfield firmly falls in the latter category.   For one half, Steve Hauser’s Knights looked like they would fall to Hayfield again though (the Vikings are 4-0 versus Kingsland the past two seasons including a pair of playoff defeats).  Hayfield hit 7 of 14 triples.  Natalie Beaver had four.  They led by as many as 18 (32-14) and 13 at the half (32-19).  The lead grew to 36-19 early in the second, but then Kingsland got hot.  They scored on 10 of 13 possessions (9-14 FGs) pulling to down 45-41.  And when Hayfield got some breathing room (49-41), the Knights charged with a 14-1 run to take a 55-50 lead.   The Vikings then spurted 12-3 to lead 62-58 in the final minute.  Up two (62-60) in the final 0:15, Hayfield missed a chance to ice the game (hit one of two FTs).  Down 63-60, Knight senior Sam Wernimont hit a huge 27-foot three-pointer (0:02) tying the game, effectively sending it to OT!  There, the Knights built a 68-63 lead.  But Beaver hit a three (0:25), cutting the lead to one (68-67).  After the Knights split two free throws (69-67), Hayfield got a timeout on their end of the floor.  In the final 4.4, they missed a three but got an offensive rebound put-back at the buzzer (or maybe after it) from Chelsea Christopherson to send the game to double OT tied 69-69!  In the second session, the Vikings ran out of “Skol.”  Team King out-scored Team Hay 9-2 for a 78-71 victory!  Ellie Buchholtz (23 pts, 9 rebs, 3 asts, 5 stls) led the Knights in scoring.  But Audrey Webster (who came in averaging 4.2 PPG) had a career-high (18 pts, 7-13 FGs, 4-9 threes, 5 rebs, 4 asts) including 16 in just the second half, where she hit all four of her threes.  Wernimont (15 pts, 4-9 threes, 6 rebs) also hit four total trifectas.  Anika Reiland (7 pts, 11 rebs, 7 asts, 5 stls) was everywhere.  Miner (9 pts, 3-3 FTs, 4 rebs) helped, scoring five in the second OT.  Beaver (25 pts, 7-20 threes) and Kristen Watson (21 pts, 6-7 FTs, 6 stls) led the Vikings.  Watson had 16 in the second half.   The Knights prevailed despite making 10 of 28 free throws (35.7%).  Hayfield had 33 turnovers, Kingsland 25.  The Knights scored 41 points off turnovers (Vikings 23), including getting 27 points in transition (Hayfield nine).  The Knights then had no problem with Lyle/Pacelli, winning 69-35.  Buchholtz (20 pts, 8-15 FGs, 6 rebs, 8 stls) led the way.  Wernimont (10 pts), Reiland (10 pts, 4-6 FTs, 8 rebs, 5 asts, 5 stls), Shelby Beck (8 pts, 7 rebs), Webster (6 pts, 5 rebs), and Merredith Farlinger (6 pts, 7 rebs) helped.  Winners of six in a row, the Knights (4-0, 6-1) lead the SEC-West.    

GMLOS Wins 10th Straight Via Two Shut-Outs

The word shut-out is typically reserved for football and baseball.   A wrestling shut-out is a lot harder to come by.  But with some schools experiencing a shortage of numbers, and other programs boasting strength, scores can get ugly.  GMLOS wrestling is strong.  They hosted a Saturday triangular and only ‘home” on the scoreboard flashed points.  Randy Smith’s group beat Triton 70-0.  The ‘Dogs won five by forfeit; Cole Sheely (106), Aiden Quintana (113), Cohen Wiste (126), Cameron Sneed (195), and Christian Luthe (285).  They won five more by pin; James Jacobsen (120), Braxton Wiste (132), Lucas Winfield (138), Donovan Felten (145), and Rece Voigt (152).  Daniel Smith (160 > 6-0) and Noah Sayles (182 > 9-6) won by decision, Christian Jacobsen (170> 13-4) by major decision.  GMLOS also blanked Austin 75-0.  The Bulldogs won six by forfeit; Quintana (113), J-Jacobsen (120), C-Wiste (126), L-Winfield (138), Smith (160), and Sneed (195).  They took six more by fall; B-Wiste (132), Felten (145), Voigt (152), C-Jacobsen (170), Sayles (182), and Luthe (285).  Voigt’s win was his 100th.  Sheely (106) opened with the dual’s only to-length match, an 11-8 decision win.  It was GMLOS’ second and third shutouts in four tries.  Seven of the 11 pins were in the first period.  The Bulldogs have won 10 straight, the nearest test a 45-31 win over Caledonia/Houston.  GMLOS (10-2) is ranked #8 in Class A with seven ranked wrestlers including five in the top five; Anthony Romero (#2 at 106), Felten (#7 at 145), Voigt (#2 at 152), Smith (#3 at 160), Jacobsen (#5 at 170), Sayles (#2 at 182), and Sneed (#6 at 195).  Romero has yet to wrestle this year.    

Gopher Wrestling Wins 10th Match

While GMLOS rolled, a showdown builds. Fellow wrestling power, Class A Lean and Mean Chatfield also went 2-0 on the week, winning two Saturday home duals.   Matt Mauseth’s group first beat Byron 54-23.  Gage Bartels (106), Ben Carrier (113), and Carson Rowland (120) started things with a pins (18-0) and Chatfield wasn’t threatened.  All nine of the Gophers wins came by fall, seven in the first period.  Cody Guenther (132), Lukas Carrier (145), Tate Karver (160), Seth Goetzinger (170), Grady Schott (182), and Campbell Berge (220) joined the pin-parade.   The Gophers then beat PEM 51-22.   Chatfield won the first five bouts, including 120 (Rowland), 126 (Nathan Allen), and 132 (Guenther) by forfeit.  The Gophers built a 27-0 lead only for PEM to take four straight from 138-160, pulling to down 27-18.  Gopher stand-outs Goetzinger (170) and G-Schott (182) ended the run with pins.  Berge (220) and Caden Nolte (285) ended the match with pins.  B-Carrier (113) had Chatfield’s fifth pin.  Bartels (106 > 3-2) started things with a decision win.  Chatfield’s sole loss is to fellow Class A Lean and Mean 5-0 Dover-Eyota 37-21.  Gophers T-Karver (#9 at 152), Goetzinger (#4 at 160), G-Schott (#8 at 170), and A.J. Karver (#4 at 220) are ranked in state.  The latter hasn’t wrestled lately.  Chatfield’s closest win was a 17-point victory over Kenyon-Wanamingo.  The Gophers (10-1) have scored 50 plus point nine times.

Chatfield Boys Ride Johnson to Five Straight

The third week of the regular season proved fruitful for Chatfield boys basketball.  A match-up versus R-P was a good one between a pair of plus-five-hundred TRC squads.  With the Trojans looking to play a half-court game and the Gophers looking to transition, said philosophies contrasted leading to a battle of attrition.  Jeff DeBuhr’s group led most of the first half most of the game (by single digits).  After leading 32-27 at intermission the Gophers built a 38-29 edge early in the second.  R-P never fell out of striking range.  Courtesy of its half-court 1-3-1 defense, Chris Drinkall’s guys held the Gophers scoreless over eight late possessions.  R-P pulled to down 45-43 (2:55).  They missed a chance to tie their next possession.  The game’s key score was delivered by Gopher senior Henry Gathje.  His only points of the game came on a three-point-play (1:14), giving Chatty a 48-43 lead.  Gopher sophomore Drew Schindler made three of five free throws thereafter.  In the final 0:10 seconds, trailing 51-48, R-P’s Trey Olson rimmed out a game-tying three just before the horn.  The Gophers prevailed!  Reid Johnson (18 pts, 4-9 threes, 7 rebs, 3 asts, 4 stls) led the way.  Schindler (10 pts) was the only other Gopher with more than five points.  Cole Johnson (5 pts, 7 asts) and reserve Sam Backer (4 pts, 4 rebs, 4 stls) helped.  Thirty-seven of R-P’s 48 points and 25 of their 28 individual rebounds came from Justin Ruberg (17 pts, 9 rebs, 3 asts), Luke O’Hare (10 pts, 4-4 FTs, 9 rebs), and reserve Ben Wieser (10 pts, 5-10 FGs, 8 rebs).  R-P (18 of 52 > 34.6%) took more shots due to offensive rebounds (Trojans 15, Gophers 8), but made less than Chatfield (20 of 43 > 46.5%).  Three nights later, Chatfield trekked up County 7.  Guard Reid Johnson couldn’t miss, scoring 30 points and hitting eight threes in the first half, as Chatfield scored 56 in the stanza.  They hammered D-E 87-58.  Johnson finished with 37 points (12-17 FGs, 8-11 threes, 5-6 FTs, 5 rebs).  David Castleberg added a season-high (15 pts, 5-8 FGs, 4-5 FTs, 11 rebs).  Cole J. (9 pts, 6 stls) and Ben Fretland (8 pts, 4-6 FGs, 4 rebs) helped.  The Gophers (4-1, 5-1) are off to their best start since the 2005-2006.   Chatfield, PEM (4-1, 4-1), and St. Charles (1-0, 1-0) are top the TRC West. 

SG Boys Take Two,  Set Up Showdown

The Spring Grove boys (6-1, 6-1 SEC) prepared for the upcoming SEC showdown with Randolph by completing league sweeps of defending champion Schaeffer Academy, 59-43, and Houston, 64-15. Schaeffer (2-4, 2-4 SEC) handled the ball much better in this 16-point home loss than in the 39-point pounding just 11 days previous at SG.  Grove scored the first seven points but clung to a six-point lead well into the second half before finally pulling away with a 14-2 run.  SG outscored the visitors 18-0 in fast breaks in a 16-point win. Caden Grinde poured in 27 points (5-6 FTs) along with 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals.  Stellar contributions came from forward Carson Gerard (12 pts, 8 rebs, 3 stls) and freshman Elijah Solum (7 pts, 4 rebs, 3 asts.).  Schaeffer eighth grader Ethan VanSchepen scored 14 points. The 49-point win over Houston followed a previous 51-point pummeling of the young, winless Hurricanes (0-7, 0-7 SEC).  Houston scored first in each half but was held to only six field goals all night.  Noah Kingsley scored 10 of the ‘Canes’ 15 points.  For SG, Caden Grinde had 17 points (8-12 FGs) and 7 assists with only one turnover.  Solum (11 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts, 3 stls.) was strong all around, and Gerard added 12 points (6-6 FGs). Freshman Jaxon Strinmoen came in for 8 points, 8 rebounds.

Lady Gophers Take Down Second Unbeaten

It is still pretty early in the season.  Being “unbeaten” isn’t the  begin-all-end-all of just how good a team is yet.  But on the wings of beaten previously perfect St. Charles (5-0) in OT, Chatfield’s girls knocked off #10 in A Blooming Prairie (5-0).  The Blossoms rode Megan Oswald.  The 5’10” post had 12 (pts) and 10 (rebs) in the first half.  BP led 26-15 at halftime.   But the Gophers then tightened their defense, forcing others to make shots.  Oswald had BP’s only four points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.  Chatfield went 18-4 to take a 33-30 lead.  Free throws were key late.  The Gophers were 8 of 9 in the final four minutes (started the game 1 of 4).  Tessa McMahon made three (3:41) to put the Gophers up 44-42.  Jaiden Zimmerman hit five of five in the final 1:20, including two (0:29) that gave Chatfield a 48-43 lead.  But BP cut that edge to just one (48-47) due to an Oswald jumper, a Gopher turnover, and then a pair of Oswald free throws.  Zimmerman was then one of one (0:10.9) with a lane violation to make it 49-47.  In the final ticks, BP’s Bobbie Bruns missed a two-point shot and Oswald an offensive rebound point-blank put-back.  The Gophers prevailed 49-47!  Zimmerman (15 pts, 5-5 FTs, 5 asts) scored all hers in the second half.  Kara Goetzinger (10 pts, 5-7 FGs) also hit double figures.  Peyton Berg (7 pts, 6 rebs), Mollie Henry (7 pts), and McMahon (6 pts, 5 rebs, 6 asts) helped.  Oswald had 25 (pts), 19 (rebs), and 7 (stls) for BP.  Chatfield won the free throw line (9 of 13 to 5 of 12), but again got beat on the offensive boards (17 to 5), thus giving up a bunch of second chance points (18 to 5).  BP was 2 of 21 from three. 

Hot Shots

Grand Meadow girls (4-2, 4-4) went 2-0 on the week, beating M-C and avenging a loss to Southland.  Houston’s Noah Kingsley had a career-high 21 points, but Mabel-Canton beat the ‘Canes 60-39.  Lanesboro boys (4-2, 4-3) then hit 15 of 24 threes to beat M-C 84-44.  Justin Ruberg, Luke O’Hare, and Ben Wieser combined for 50 points as R-P (3-3, 4-3) beat FC 86-59.  Zach Haugerud had 20 in defeat.  Grand Meadow boys, L-O boys and girls, Houston girls were idle on the week (COVID/COVID tracing).   LARP (5-7) dropped a tight wrestling duals to Westfield (39-36) and K-W (42-27).  Four of the Screamin’ Eagles seven losses have been by 15 or less points.    

Boys Basketball

(2/1 – 2/6)

Lanesboro 37, Randolph 50 (L: Sawyer Johnson 14 pts (4-6 FTs), 6 rebs, 3 asts; Hayden Lawstuen 11 pts (4-6 FGs), 9 rebs.  Burros trailed 24-6 at half (ended last 12-plus minutes of half without a point), shot a season low 23.6% from the field) 

M-C 60, Houston 39 (M-C: Cayden Tollefsrud 16 pts (6-6 FTs), 7 rebs; Gavin Johnson 14 pts, 11 rebs, 4 stls; Jaymeson Tollefsrud 10 pts; Jordan Larson 6 pts, 4 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls, H: N. Kingsley 21 pts (3-12 threes), 12 rebs, 5 stls; Kenny Grupe 6 pts, 10 rebs) 

FC 48, L/P 82 (FC: Zach Haugerud 18 pts (6-10 FGs, 5-7 FTs); Trevor Hershberger 8 pts) 

M-C 44, Lanesboro 84 (L: Mason Howard 17 pts (5-9 FGs, 4-8 threes, 3-3 FTs); Ben Snyder 11 pts (5-7 FGs), 8 rebs; Ryan Holmen 10 pts (5-9 FGs), 7 rebs, 4 asts; Carter Clarke 9 pts; Reece Benson 9 pts (3-4 threes); Wilson Storhoff 6 pts, 5 asts.  M-C: G. Johnson 16 pts (8-10 FGs); J. Tollefsrud 7 pts.  Burros hit 15 of 24 threes (62.5%) with thirteen guys scoring.  M-C > 3-4, 3-4) 

FC 59, R-P 86 (R-P: J. Ruberg 19 pts (7-14 FGs, 5-7 FTs), 8 rebs, 5 asts, 4 stls; L. O’Hare 17 pts (8-14 FGs), 8 rebs, 3 stls; B. Wieser 14 pts (7-10 FGs), 6 rebs.  Grady Hengel 11 pts (4-5 FGs), 7 rebs, 7 asts; Andrew Hoiness 11 pts (4-5 FGs, 3-4 threes).  FC: Z. Haugerud 20 pts (4-9 threes, 4-4 FTs), 5 rebs; Will Parker 14 pts (7-7 FGs); Bryce Corson 2 pts (1-3 FGs), 9 asts; Jake Fishbaugher 9 pts; T. Hershberger 8 pts.  Trojans started game 28-7.  FC hit nine of 10 shots to end half, closing to down 43-33 at intermission.  The lead stayed double digits the entire second half.  R-P shot a season-best 35-64 from the floor (54.7%).  They hit 11 of 13 free throws (84.6%), their third straight game of 80%-plus at the line, sixth game of 70%-plus.  FC was 23 of 50 from the field (46%), but had 20 turnovers.  R-P scored 27 points off turnovers.  Falcons > 0-2, 1-3) 

Kingsland 53, Southland 71 (Knights > 1-4, 1-5)     

Girls Basketball

(2/1 – 2/6) 

Randolph 69, Lanesboro 66 (L: Malia Tessum 17 pts (7-12 FGS), 5 asts, 3 stls; Brielle Ruen 15 pts (3-8 threes), 7 rebs, 6 stls; Kaci Ruen 14 pts (5-10 FGs), 12 rebs; Sydney Taylor 9 pts (4-6 FGs).  Burros held leads in first half, including by as many as seven (18-11).  Rockets built 15-point second half leads.   The closest Lanesboro got thereafter was the final tally.  Burros shot season-best 42.9% from three (6-14).  Free throws: L 8-16, R 11/14) 

GM 40, M-C 28 (GM: River Landers 11 pts (3-6 FGs), 10 rebs; Sydney Cotten 10 pts, 4 asts, 4 stls; Lexy Foster 6 pts, 7 rebs.  M-C: MaKenzie Kelly 15 pts (three 3’s); Jordyn Newgard 8 pts.  Larks over-came 12-9 halftime deficit, out-scoring Cougars 31-16 in second half) 

FC 40, La Crescent/Hokah 51 (FC: Kelly Ristau 10 pts, 5 rebs; Alyssa Britton 8 pts; Kammry Broadwater 4 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts.  FC shot a season-low 20.8% from the field (15-72)) 

Cotter 39, R-P 70 (R-P: Kaylee Ruberg 13 pts; Isabelle Olson 10 pts)

Schaeffer Academy 37, SG 41 (SG: Jordian Leahy 18 pts (8-11 FTs), 6 rebs, 3 stls; Addyson McHugh 7 pts, 12 rebs.  SG’s 8 turnovers – fewest in 8 years, overcame frigid 21% shooting.  SG (2-2, 2-3) scored the final five points in four-point win)

R-P 33, FC 60 (FC: K. Ristau 11 pts (5-8 FGs), 4 rebs, 3 blks; Maddie Krage 10 pts, 7 rebs; Regan Hanson 9 pts (4-7 FGs); A. Britton 8 pts (4-7 FGs), 4 rebs.  R-P: K. Ruberg 10 pts, 7 rebs; Emarie Jacobson 7 pts, 5 rebs.  Falcons: 2-3, 4-3.  Trojans: 0-5, 1-5) 

Southland 48, GM 51 (GM: R. Landers 15 pts (7-9 FGs); Kendyl Queensland 12 pts (5-5 FGs); S. Cotten 9 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts; L. Foster 6 pts, 6 rebs.  Larks avenge a loss to Rebels, shooting 19-29 from field (65.5%) and 11 of 13 from the line (84.6%).  Queensland and Cotton hit back-to-back threes late in the second half to put GM up, shift momentum) 

D-E 63, Chatfield 40 (C: K. Goetzinger 16 pts (8-12 FGs), 8 rebs.  Gophers shot 2-22 from deep.  Chat:  1-3, 2-3) 

Lanesboro 48, M-C 21 (L: B. Ruen 13 pts (3-12 threes), 8 rebs, 6 stls; K. Ruen 13 pts (6-8 FGs), 11 rebs; S. Taylor 10 pts (4-8 FGs), 8 rebs, 5 asts; M. Tessum 0 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts, 6 stls; Kendall Stettler 6 pts (3-3 FGs).  M-C: M. Kelly 7 pts; Lauren Wyffels 4 pt, 10 rebs.  Burros > 3-3, 3-4.  Cougars > 2-5, 2-5)    

Wrestling

LARP 36, Westfield 39 (LARP lost four of the first six weights, all by fall, to trail 24-9 after 138.  They then won five straight, getting forfeits at 152 (Gable Speltz) and 182 (Tyler Kryzer), pins at 160 (Brennan Corcoran) and 170 (Colin Klug), and a decision at 145 (Caleb Mueller > 9-2), to go ahead 36-24.  Westfield took the last three weights, by decision and then two falls, to win the dual in the very last match.  Tyler Kreidemacher (113) also had a pin for the Screamin’ Eagles, Carter Jonsgaard (126 > 9-4) a decision win); LARP 27, Class A Lean and Mean Kenyon-Wanamingo 42 (S-Eagles dropped the first two weights to trail 9-0.  They then won two (pins by Jordan Zibrowski and Carter Jonsgaard at 120 and 126) to go ahead 12-9, only to lose three (132, 138, and 145) to trail 27-12.  They then won three of four from 152-182, getting a 5-1 decision from G. Speltz (152), a pin from C. Klug (170), and a forfeit at 182 (T. Kryzer).  Both teams forfeited 195 leaving the score 30-27 K-W heading to 220.  The Knights took the last to weights each by fall) 

FCLMC 27, St. Charles 42 (FCLMC won three of the first four weights to lead 15-3.  Match was tied 15-15 (after 138) and 21-21 (after 152).  The Saints took their first lead at 160 (27-21).  SC won 152, 160, 170, 182, and 220 to overcome early deficits and get the win.  Wolves took 113 (Rowan Lieb), 145 (Cale Anderson), and 195 (Oliver Hoeltzle) by forfeit.  Kyle Daniels (126) had a pin and Kane Larson (106 > 4-0) a decision win for FCLMC. Heavyweight was a double forfeit.); FCLMC 18, PEM 61 (Wolves three wins came by forfeit at 120 (Connor Wingert), 126 (Kyle Daniels), and 132 (Seth Rolfs).  PEM also took three forfeits (160, 220, 285), but won the eight matches wrestled) 

St. Charles 33, FCLMC 42 (FCLMC took the first three weights to lead 18-0.  St. Charles took six of the next seven to lead 33-24 heading to 182.  But FCLMC took 182 (O. Hoeltlze), 195 (Devin Troendle), and 220 (Seth Semmen) by forfeit, with 285 a double forfeit.  Wolves came back to win 42-33 just one night after losing to Saints 42-27.  R. Lieb (113) and C. Anderson (145) also won by forfeit.  K. Larson (106) and C. Wingert (120) won by fall.  Wolves > 3-6)   

Gymnastics   

Cal/SG 112, Pine-Is./Zumbrota-Mazeppa 142.975 (Warrior team score was better than all but one of last year’s meets. C/SG: Braelyn Lange was fourth all-around (29.650), seventh grader Macy Kraus fifth (5.975) and Brianna Johnson sixth (5.550))

*Fillmore County Journal Sports page is a written collaboration by Paul Trende and Lee Epps.