It was a week where SEC teams were on display, culminating in the SEC Showcase at Mayo Civic Center.
Winds Blow Strong
in Houston
With a 4-0 week, Houston’s squads’ winds whipped. Dale Moga’s girls notched two SEC wins. Mabel-Canton fell on Tuesday. The ‘Cane defense essentially pitched a first half one-hitter. The Cougars were held to three points (one field goal, one free throw). It was 33-3 at half. M-C’s shots fell more in the second, but Houston prevailed 57-28. Emma Geiwitz (21 pts, 8-16 FGs, 6 stls), Sydney Torgerson (15 pts, 12 rebs, 7 stls), and Becca Rostad (14 pts, 5-9 FGs) hit double figures. Payton Danielson (7 pts, 11 rebs, 6 asts, 5 stls) scored or assisted on 9 of 10 Cougar field goals. Lauren Wyffels had a team-high 10 points. Houston then got the 10:00 AM game of the Saturday SEC Showcase. They battled West squad GM. The ‘Canes led the entire second half. Versus Houston’s half-court 1-3-1, the Larks had a span of 29 possessions that yielded two points (1-24 FGs, 16 TOs). Frosh Sydney Torgerson (16 pts, 6-11 FGs, 9 rebs) scored Houston’s last ten points to get the “save” in a 39-32 win. Geiwitz (19 pts, 7-26 FGs, 7 stls) led the ‘Canes in scoring. The duo had all but four Hurricane points. Jenny Albrecht had 11 rebounds. Riley Queensland (20.6 PPG) was one of five Larks with 6 points. It was Houston’s second win versus GM in 13 tries. The Hurricanes (4-0, 6-3) lead the East ahead of Lanesboro (5-1, 5-4). Houston’s three losses are to Z-M (7-4), D-E (8-2), and Turkey Valley (8-1). Trent Vix’s boys also went through the same two teams. M-C fell handily, 79-44. Alex Van Gundy (27 pts, 6 stls), Mikkel Schutte (25 pts, 13-19 FTs, 15 rebs, 4 asts, 6 stls), and Caiden Danielson (19 pts, 4 stls) combined for 71 points. It was Van Gundy’s sixth straight 23-plus-point game. Ethan Underbakke (10 pts, 6 rebs) led the Cougars. The ‘Canes then played GM (6-1) at the SEC Showcase. An eight-point 33-25 ‘Cane lead was erased courtesy of a 17-4 GM run to begin the second half. The Larks led 42-37. Houston then spurted 12-2 to lead 49-44. With it 58-54, Jaden Abraham had a big offensive-rebound put-back (60-54). Schutte then hit 7 of 9 free throws in the final 1:01 to ensure a 67-58 victory. Schutte (20 pts, 15 rebs, 8 asts, 2 stls, 3 blks), Van Gundy (15 pts), Danielson (15 pts, 6 rebs), and Noah Kingsley (10 pts) all hit double figures. Colt Landers had a game-high 34 points. Houston won big at the free throw line (18 of 22 to 5 of 5). The Hurricanes (3-2, 6-3) are winners of four straight.
Kingsland Girls
Commandeer West
Kingsland’s girls already led the SEC West heading into the week. Two more league victories put them firmly in the early driver’s seat. Steve Hauser’s girls already held a win over GM when they took down L/P 58-39. The win allowed the Knight to get through the top two perennially west powers, to get through all West foes once without a defeat. Sam Wernimont (13 pts, 4-13 threes), Ellie Buchholtz (11 pts, 5 asts), Merredith Farlinger (10 pts, 14 rebs, 8 blks), Audrey Webster (9 pts), Allysa Link (9 pts) and Anika Reiland (1 pt, 0-1 FGs, 7 rebs, 6 asts) made it a team effort versus L/P. Olivia Christianson had 25 of the Athletics. Team was again the word versus M-C at the SEC Showcase. Starters Buchholtz (family event) and Shelby Beck (shoulder) didn’t play. The Cougars came back from double digit deficits in both halves. Two MaKenzie Kelly free throws tied the game at 42 (under 4:00). Knight Alyssa Link hit a three, then a free throw (46-42). Reiland went coast-to-coast (48-42). The Knights prevailed 53-43. Link (15 pts, 11 rebs, 3-6 threes), Wernimont (11 pts), and Farlinger (12 pts, 14 rebs, 4 blks) hit double figures. Farlinger, a 6’0” junior, is averaging 4.8 blocks per game. Kelly (19 pts) and Payton Danielson (12 pts) led the Cougars. The Knights (4-0, 6-3) lead the West over GM (4-2, 5-4). Kingsland’s three losses have been to #19 in AA Goodhue (8-1), Central Elkader (8-1), and D-E (8-2). M-C is 2-3, 4-6.
Burro Squads Kick Some Foes
Though not as noteworthy as Houston’s squads, or Kingsland’s girls, Lanesboro’s teams did some kicking. The girls started by beating L-O handily, 61-30. Brielle Ruen (16 pts, 5-10 FGs), Jessie Schreiber (11 pts, 9 rebs, 4 asts), and Sophia Simes (11 pts, 6 rebs) hit double digits in the win. Bret Klaehn’s group then took on the SEC Showcase versus L/P. Olivia Christianson was a steal/lay-up menace, as the Athletics led early 17-7. But Lanesboro went 10-0 in response. They still trailed 26-21 at half-time. L/P then had just eight points (4-19 FGs, 10 TOs) the first 14:00 of the second half. Lanesboro built a 48-34 lead and prevailed 50-42. In doing so, they ended a 17-game (mostly lopsided) losing streak to L/P that dated to 2010. Payton Benson (16 pts, 5-9 FGs, 3-6 threes, 11 rebs, 6 stls) led the way. Simes (9 pts, 6 rebs), Ruen (9 pts), and Schreiber (8 pts, 12 rebs) helped. It was cathartic for seniors like Benson and Simes. The past two years, they fell to L/P 60-13, 64-21, 60-34, and 48-24. The Burros improved to 4-1, 5-4. They went 2-11, 4-22 last year. Sandwiched in between, the boys got a big and wild rivalry win at Fillmore Central. FC’s offensive glass work led to an early lead (11-8). But a 10-0 Burro spurt made it 18-11 visitors. At half, the orange and black led 25-21. A 7-0 Lanesboro run propped a 34-25 early second half lead. But FC responded with an 8-0 spurt to pull to down 34-33. Minutes later, the Falcons went on a quick four possession, four-score, 11-3 jolt. They went ahead 44-39. Then a boomerang. Burro soph J.T. Rein hit two threes, then got a hustle steal (resulting in points). His efforts keyed a quick five possession, five-score, 12-0 Lanesboro run. They re-took the lead at 51-44! FC got as close as 58-55 (1:58). They had a defensive rebound, but immediately authored a long pass turnover. Matt Asleson’s group got the win 66-59. Frosh John Prestemon shined (career-high 25 pts, 7 asts). Sawyer Johnson (11 pts, 5 rebs, 6 stls), Ryan Holmen (10 pts, 8 rebs), and a hustling Rein (8 pts, 8 rebs) helped. Zach Haugerud (21 pts, 7-13 FGs, 7 rebs) and Haidyn Gunderson (17 pts, 15 rebs) led the Falcon cause. FC had 28 turnovers (versus no full-court pressure) to Lanesboro’s 15.